RAFA: THE LIVING LEGEND

       
               RAFA: MY STORY! An Autobiography of Tennis Player Rafael Nadal. This book was on my wishlist for long time and now finally I bought it and read it. At instant it has become one of my favourite books. Not just because it's about my most favourite sportsman but also it's been written very gracefully. I couldn't resist myself from writing something about the book and Rafael Nadal. I am not an expert but as an amateur I strongly recommend this autobiography to all, specially to people with interest in sports. 

                     

      This book is written by Rafael Nadal and Co-author John Carlin. Already this book has been appreciated by experts as one of the best Autobiographies written by athletes. Remarkable thing is Nadal has written the book at the age of 26, such a young age. As there are two authors, it is written from point of view of both of them , which makes it more interesting. The book starts with the 2008 Wimbledon final match Nadal vs Federer and this match continues in every chapter till the end. Game to Game , Set to Set. The continuation is so smooth that reader doesn't feel cut off from the flow of reading when it switches from match to Nadal's life memories.  It is beautifully written book indeed. The whole book keeps the excitement till the end. I actually couldn't stop smiling while reading it till the end.

             

            We people only watch these players on screen in action. We cheer for them , we appreciate them when they win but we criticise them and doubt their skills when they lose. We never know actual hard work behind their success or hard times , injuries behind  their failure. That's why I feel that people should read this and other books about athletes so that they will know the hardship any sportsman faces to become what he is. After reading this autobiography my respect for Rafael Nadal has increased tremendously. In this book he has revealed all the things that made him a better player ,a better human being, how hard he trained since his childhood, how his family played a vital role in his life, his fears, his achievements, everything..

           

         Rafael Nadal belongs to  Mallorca in Spain. He lives with his whole family (parents , sister, uncles , aunts and grandparents) This is how they like in Mallorca, living together as big family, doing everything as family. Family is his greatest strength. Family which provides sense of security , peace and love. Rafa values his family the most in whole world. Same he feels about his friends and his team. He respects, loves and values each and every member of this little world of his. He says that whatever he has achieved today is because of his family and his team which is inseparable part of his life.

       

          In Childhood Rafael wanted to become a football player. His uncle Miguel Angel was a pro football player. Rafa himself is a Big Real Madrid Fan. He also likes to play golf. He admires Tiger Woods very much among all sportsmen. Then he Started practising tennis with his uncle and coach Toni Nadal and his uncle saw great potential in him to become pro tennis player. Rafa chose tennis over football and that choice proved very right for him. While training with his uncle , he never got special treatment than other boys,  rather he had to train much harder than others. His parents and uncle always taught him to keep his feet on ground, to respect his opponents. Nadal is always admired by world not only for his tennis but also for his humbleness and fighting spirit. He tells that this lesson of humility is given by his parents , uncle and Mallorcan Culture. In his hometown , he is only Rafael Nadal and not a celebrity. That is the only place where he gets the peace of mind and be himself. It is also surprising to read that whenever he wins tournaments or grand slams, they never make fuss of it , never throw big parties and he likes it that way.

        Tony Nadal ,his uncle and coach constantly gave him lesson of Endurance and dedication. Physical and mental Endurance. Rafa is well known for his incredible mental strength. He has won many great matches which he was about to lose because of his  ability to endure. He tells in this book about his one Tournament when he was a teenager. It was Spanish Under-14 National  Championship. He broke his little finger in first round but didn't pull out of the tournament. With that broken finger he fought through all rounds and won the final. What an incredibly strong  person he is... ! It reminds me of his Australian open final of 2014 against Wawrinka. He Was suffering from severe back pain from first set  but he completed the match. He lost but won respect of people. He completed match just for Wawrinka's sake. So That he wouldn't  feel his victory incomplete. That sense of responsibility make him great player.  Talking about Injuries, Rafa is full of them. He had been diagnosed with a very rare disease of a bone in his left foot. He calls it his own version of "Achilles' heel". It could have been finished his career. He has to wear specially made shoes to provide comfort to that bone which can't be cured totally.  Later he  suffered from Knee Injury for which he had to take Painful injections in his knee to get rid of it completely. Despite of all these injuries, he reached to the Top Of Rankings at the age of 25. He is  absolute Superhuman!!!

 

    There is one more very important part of his nature which makes him great human being. Humility, Humbleness. Though he is one of the elite tennis players, he keeps his feet on ground. He respects his every opponent whether that opponent is top seeded or not. He never underestimates his opponent and never presumes his victory unless he actually wins. Whenever his opponent hits a good shot, he immediately appreciates it on court. In person he is good friend of fellow tennis players. In his after match speeches also he always congratulates and appreciates his opponents for their good play. That's why he doesn't only win titles but also million hearts of people.

      

     World sees Rafael Nadal as A Gladiator , Perfectionist, Fighter,  Extraordinary  Tennis Player But As a Person , he is very simple ordinary boy . John carlin describes him as "Superman and Clark Kent". In book Nadal has revealed many amusing things about himself. He Craves for Olives but doesn't like cheeze. They say he is a fussy eater. He is very protective of his mother, sister. His mother and sister tell that he is uneasy with darkness, and swimming in deep sea, Speedy driving, storms and lightnings. Accepting weaknesses is not something everyone can do. But Rafa does. He is not ashamed of who he is and that makes him greatest. He keeps his personal family life away from Glamour of his celebrated life. His family and his girlfriend also likes to keep it that way.

       

         Now talking about his achievements its  incredible to see what he has achieved at such young age.

         He won his very first tournament at the age of 8 which was Under -12 Championship of Balearic Islands.

        His First ATP Title at the age of 15. Davis Cup at 18.

        He won First Grand Slam that is French Open at the age of just 19.

      In 2008 , he won his First Wimbledon Title, Olympic Gold Medal and took the Number One place in the World Rankings.

          2009 , His first Australian Open Title.

      2010, he Won 3 Grand slams in one year , including first US Open Title which completed his Career Grand Slam making him, at the age of 24 , the Youngest Player to achieve this in open era which is unbreakable record.

     & Now after 3 years of publication of his Autobiography , There are some more records on his name. Record of Most French Open Titles which is 9 times till date , is almost unbreakable record. Also record of winning 5 French open title in row. These numbers clearly prove that why he is called "THE KING OF CLAY."

          In next few years he will be breaking record of Roger Federer of most Grand Slam Titles which is currently 17.

       Also he holds record of winning atleast one Grand slam title per year in 10 consecutive years .

    There are  many ATP Tournament records he holds as well and more will be there. All these statistics are simply unbelievable. These numbers speaks for his greatness.

          There is too much to write about this awesome athlete but words are less. He is determined and hungry for more. His humble attitude as human Off court and ferocious , determined attitude as player On court makes him Bestest of the Best. More importantly A Good Human Being.

  

I AM AND I ALWAYS WILL BE DIE-HARD RAFA FAN.....!!!