This is a moment for Rafael Nadal, just for him and all to himself and about himself. It's about one man whose career was in doubt just a year ago, suffering in his personal life, then recovering, rebuilding and retooling.Just one year ago, he wondered if he could ever get to this moment. Now, already, he has reached every mountaintop. The last one came Monday night, when he won the US Open for the first time, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
It's a personal moment, not about where he stands in history, though that's what tennis fans talk about. Honestly, I'm going to get to that, too, in a minute.
Just 24 years old, and Rafael Nadal has already won all four majors Grand Chelem or Grand Slam. He is the seventh man to do it.
Not only that, but also this might be the best year any men's player has ever had, as he has won majors on three different surfaces requiring three different styles. When Rod Laver won the Grand Slam, he won on just two surfaces. Not even Roger Federer, with his record 16 major titles, has ever won majors on three surfaces in the same year.
Well, there I go, already into history-talk.
But when Rafael Nadal dropped to the hard court on his knees, held his fists over his head and squeezed his eyes shut, it was not about history or Federer. It was about Rafael Nadal being all that Rafael Nadal can be.
tennis.fanhouse.com
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