ENDEAVOR
After winning the Australian Open last Sunday in a thrilling, come-from-behind five-set match triumph over Daniil Medvedev, Rafael ‘Rafa’ Nadal is now being hailed as the G.O.A.T. — acronym for the Greatest of All Time — in the history of men’s tennis singles competition. This is on account of the fact that with his latest victory, he has won 21 grand slam titles, one more than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Like many of my friends, I am still awed by the epic game that Nadal and Medvedev played; their championship match on the hardcourt at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, lasted all of five hours and 24 minutes. Medvedev, the losing finalist, graciously congratulated Nadal and said how he wished Rafa, 10 years his senior at 35, could have become a tad more tired — but simply did not.
Nearly 15,000 spectators — all wearing face masks to comply with COVID protocols — filled the Rod Laver Arena to capacity. With most of them cheering Nadal, it was a tall order, too, for the second-seeded Medvedev to keep his focus. To his credit he appeared almost stoic, not showing even a faint smile, and engaging the umpire in spirited repartee’ during a break to denounce that the latter had not called out unfair heckling from a spectator.
I have long admired Rafa Nadal for his sheer guts and bravado — aside from his unique antics as a certified tennis star. For this reason, I suggested the nickname Rafa for my grandson, hoping somehow that he, too, could acquire or develop some of the tennis star’s endearing traits.
But first, it may be well for us to delve a bit on the etymology or origins of the acronym G.O.A.T.
According to Grammarphobia, it could have originated from the use of the ‘generic’ term “goat” in sports. It is probably the erroneous shortening of “scapegoat” into goat that has now evolved into the popular use of the G.O.A.T. acronym. By definition a “scapegoat” is an innocent “fall guy;" in contrast, the “goat” is one who has blundered especially at a crucial point in a game. A prime example is a football player who misses a game-winning kick in a penalty shootout that hands over victory to the opposing team.
As Rafa Nadal excelled in the men’s singles event in tennis, he has not been a scapegoat or a goat — and now he’s the G.O.A.T.
How long could he retain this singular honor?
The scenarios for Djokovic to quickly tie, then surpass Nadal to seize the honor of being the G.O.A.T. — by winning two of the next three grand slam tournaments at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open — all involve his possible change of heart on the COVID vaccine, so these may be a futile speculative exercise.
Roger Federer is the other player who could match or surpass Nadal’s achievement but he has not played competitively for some time and has not declared or demonstrated an appetite for getting back into the fray.
In my view, Rafa Nadal’s tenure in being the G.O.A.T. is a well-deserved honor by dint of his outstanding personal qualities that have brought on his phenomenal athletic feats.
What is the secret behind his being extremely competitive against world-class athletes? In the book Chatter, Dr. Ethan Ross quotes Nadal: “What I battle the hardest in a tennis match is to quiet the voices in my head. He writes further: “His quirky customs on the court, which many of his fans find amusing but strange, provide him with a perfectly reasonable method of doing so.” This includes carefully and neatly arranging his towel, drinking bottles as well as his playing equipment. Note, too, that before executing a serve, he uses his large sweat band to wipe his face, as well as his nose and ears.
His superior mind control shone through in his recent triumph over Medvedev.
In 2010 he and his parents established the Rafa Nadal Foundation to pursue a vision founded on the belief in the “transformative power of sports and education, two tools that allow children and teenagers to go as far as they can regardless of their background and social condition, even for those who have learning difficulties or disability.” Its three major programs are: promotion of sports talents through study-and-play scholarship programs in Spain and in the USA; social integration of vulnerable children through acquisition of tennis playing skills; and care programs for young people with intellectual disability.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the foundation pivoted with agility and resilience, two of Rafa’s remarkable traits. Beyond the services directly provided to children and youth, the foundation extended financial and material assistance to their families. This mirrors Rafa’s compassion and kindness, traits that even his fellow world-class athletes greatly admire.
Regardless of how long he could hold on to the G.O.A.T. distinction, Rafa Nadal has clearly earned a secure spot in the hearts and minds of millions of his admirers.