The personality of the legendary Spanish tennis player is comprised not only of a strong, seasoned character, but also of a series of philosophical thoughts that he brings together inside
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Rafael Nadal continues in the race for a new final of Roland Garros (Reuters)
Rafael Nadalis a unique case in world tennis and, although at 35 years of age he is still more relevant than ever, he has already written his name in the golden pages of sports history by waging epic battles not only within the rectangle against different rivals, but also on an introspective level against himself.
Among all the nicknames he has earned throughout his career, without a doubt one of the ones that most identifies him is the one of Gladiatorfor his battle-hardened style, his endurance and his physical strength. However, another nickname like The Philosopher would also suit him well, a product of the mentality with which he faces, not only each game, but everything that surrounds it. his sports life.
Based on an article published by CNN:This world-class athlete speaks like Aristotle and acts like Confucius. We can all learn from him, It is understood that tennis, as a discipline, is one of the sports where the head weighs the same or more than the rest of the body, and it is in this aspect that Rafa takes distance from his greatest rivals. His personality is based on a philosophical approach that distinguishes him from the rest, a character that brings together many virtues of Aristotelian, Stoic and Confucian thought.
These characteristics, which he demonstrates both on and off the pitch, can be explained in at least four lessons he gave throughout his career and continues to give even during his eighteenth Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal is the current number 5 in the ATP world ranking (Efe)
1- Accept suffering.
Rafael Nadal demonstrated repeatedly that he is able to play despite any physical pain, as well as to recover from major injuries in a short period of time. Without going any further, during the Indian Wells final that he played in March, the tennis player surprised everyone at the press conference after his defeat against Taylor Fritz by reporting that, “when I breathe and when I move it is as if I had a needle inside all the time. It makes me feel a little dizzy because it’s painful.”
Hours after these statements, it was learned that the man from Manacor had played that duel with a cracked rib due to stress. A month later, Rafa was ready to compete in the Madrid Open. “I always said it many, many times, you have to learn to live with these kinds of moments, and also to enjoy this suffering. It’s what we work for, for the exciting moments.”
A few words that identify him at various times that he went through during his career and that are strongly linked to some Aristotelian philosophical thoughts that teach that suffering is related to morally good actions, and that suffering and pain fulfill an important role in the development of a virtuous personality.
“Athletes often experience suffering as instrumental and intrinsically good.A victory that requires an athlete to fight to the end is perceived as more valuable than a victory that involves little suffering,” he said in a dialogue with CNN Francisco Javier López Frías, associate professor of kinesiology and philosophy at Pennsylvania State University.
Rafael Nadal is looking for a new Roland Garros for his record
2- The importance of rituals
Rafael Nadal < b>has at least 10 rituals that he performs in each presentation. His obsession with water bottles, which must be carefully placed in a certain position near his chair, his way of walking on the court and his body gestures before receiving the serve or putting the ball in play, are some of them.
However, the Spaniard does not define these actions as obsessive but as routine: “Some call it superstition, but it is not. If so, why would I keep doing it over and over again, win or lose? It’s a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my environment to match the order I’m looking for in my head”, he explained.
This is another one of the philosophical characteristics that cover the Matador, which is linked to Confucianism. Confucius, a renowned Chinese philosopher, highlighted the importance of carrying out rituals to have a good life, they are transformative. These rituals keep Nadal centered.
Rafael Nadal has already become a world tennis legend ( Reuters)
3- Humility
Another characteristic attributed to the former number one in the ATP ranking is humility. This trait also marked the Balearic from its beginnings until today. He was never heard of speaking ill of a rival or questioning a defeat. With the fans he also tends to have a similar attitude, taking his time to sign autographs or take photos with them without excuses.
Again, this attribute also goes back to the Aristotelian movement and other Christian thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas. “Those who exhibit temperance prevent their appetites from completely controlling their actions. Humility and asceticism go hand in hand. Ascetic individuals discipline themselves to keep their appetites in check and focus on what really matters. Frias added.
4- Don’t worry about what you can’t control
To understand this last lesson, the best example is what happened in the historic 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer. There, during one of the breaks, the Spaniard told his uncle: < b>“Calm down. I’m not going to lose this match. Maybe he’ll win it, but I’m not going to lose it.”
A speech by Rafa that can be linked to stoicism , a thought that “embraces self-control, virtue and indifference to what we cannot control”, highlighted the professor at Pennsylvania State University. The tennis player is aware that he cannot control the result, but he does know that there is one aspect of his performance that he can control: his dedication and effort.
It is because of these points, among others , that Rafael Nadal is not only synonymous with physical skill but also with mental balance. The Spaniard is a clear example of a complete athlete in which he highlights his physical power ahead of a brilliant mind.