Sporting Achievements!

[jo]

Our country wins its first Olympic gold medal!

In weightlifting!

Mabuhay/Bravo, Hidilyn Diaz

I didn't see it, but she was reported to have sung our national anthem loudly as it was played at the medal-giving ceremony. This gold medal will join her silver medal in the Rio Olympics in 2016!


PS: Her extraordinary story drew headlines from the NYTimes, WashingtonPost, Time and People.

[jo]

Medvedev wins US Tennis Open!


www.msn.com/en-us/sports/tennis/medvedev-ends-djokovics-bid-for-year-slam-at-us-open/ar-AAOmMgM?ocid=uxbndlbing

Associated Press
Medvedev ends Djokovic's bid for year Slam at US Open
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer 25 mins ago


NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s bid for the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men’s tennis since 1969 ended one victory short with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Daniil Medvedev in the U.S. Open final on Sunday.
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A lot of Djokovic's issues had to do with the No. 2-ranked Medvedev, who used his 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) frame to chase down everything and respond with seemingly effortless groundstrokes — much the way Djokovic wears down foes — and delivered pinpoint serving.

Novak (aka Nole) played with a lot of internal pressure... and it showed in his level of frustration ( the racket abuse) and the emotional burden ( he was openly crying during a break) --

but it doesn't take away from the achievement of Medvedev.

Of the Next-Gen players, I have always been most fearsome of him as a threat to the current GOATS. His serve and groundstrokes ( and very fast and smooth movements are amazing) are the stuff of champions. He is not controversial and seems like a happy type of athlete ( enjoying the game immensely) and continues to impress with his win record this year.
He also has a great sense of humor. He stuck his tongue out when he fell to the ground ( what tennis finalists do when they win the championship) after his triumph! Most of them cry for what they have achieved but his gesture reflected his happy attitude.

Congrats to Daniil Medvedev!



Jo

[jo]

Hugh, who is a great fan of Nole -- acknowledged Medvedev's win!

[jo]

Yay -- Mad Max wins his 1st F-1 World Driver's Championship!

Stunning last lap...and victory for Max Verstappen!

He was such an aggresive teenaged driver years ago but has now matured and become an exciting racer with controlled aggression.

The last lap was one of the most breathtaking sports moments that I have ever seen! I think I held my breath until that checquered flag came into view and Max was the first to cross the line. WOW!!!!

edition.cnn.com/2021/12/12/motorsport/max-verstappen-win-formula-1-world-title-spt-intl/index.html

[jo]

What a match - all five hours and twenty-one minutes!

[jo]

From the NYTImes --

EDIT: The author has replaced the original article.

y


Rafael Nadal Wins the Australian Open, His 21st Grand Slam Title

Novak Djokovic overshadowed the first Grand Slam of the year before it began, but Nadal pulled off an epic comeback over Daniil Medvedev that broke his tie with Djokovic and Roger Federer in men’s singles major career victories.



By Christopher Clarey
Jan. 30, 2022

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal shook his head, as if in disbelief. Then he moved to the net to shake the hand of his opponent, Daniil Medvedev, and it was then that it seemed to sink in. Nadal stood alone in the record book with 21 career Grand Slam men’s singles titles, one more than his rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Suddenly, Nadal punched the air like a prizefighter, flexing his arms like a bodybuilder, pumping his fists overhead, then dropping to his knees as tears flowed.

Nadal’s five-hour-and-24-minute triumph, after being down by two sets, thrilled a raucous crowd on a warm Sunday night at Rod Laver Arena. It came just a day after Ashleigh Barty of Australia won the women’s singles title, the first home court win at the Australian Open in 44 years.

But if the final weekend of the first major sporting event of the year ended in singular fashion, the beginning was anything but.



Two weeks ago, just hours before the first matches, Australian authorities deported Djokovic, a perennial favorite in the tournament and Nadal’s longtime rival, for entering the country without being vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Nadal’s victory, and with it the claim of being the sport’s most decorated Grand Slam men’s singles champion, was a cruel twist for Djokovic, a nine-time champion of the event who received an exemption from the Australian tennis federation to play unvaccinated but was then told to leave the country after his visa was canceled and an appeal was rejected.

As his legal fight with the Australian government eclipsed everything else, Djokovic became an antihero for the anti-vaccination crowd and a national fixation in Serbia, where he is the country’s most famous international celebrity.

Serbian-Australians and vaccine opponents rallied in front of the hotel where Djokovic was being kept, which also housed asylum seekers, some of whom had been held for two years, casting an uncomfortable glare on another Australian immigration issue. The Australian government, with its powerful immigration laws and coronavirus control measures, was determined to make an example out of the star athlete. The affair highlighted the tensions between sports federations and national authorities, cast doubt on the ability of Djokovic to play in the three remaining Grand Slam tournaments this year and enraged a country weary from its strict Covid-19 protocols of the past two years.

In contrast to Djokovic’s hostility toward vaccines and other health recommendations, Nadal has said he would not question the guidance of the world’s top experts, and he has gone out of his way to express gratitude for countries that have allowed tennis tournaments during the pandemic. He also said before the tournament that one player was not “more important” than a Grand Slam event, saying, “If he’s not playing, the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open.”



Nadal made certain of that.

“This has been one of the most emotional nights of my tennis career,” he told the cheering crowd, and later said: “If we put everything together, the scenario, the momentum, what it means. Yeah, without a doubt probably have been the biggest comeback of my tennis career.”

Nadal, 35, returned from a chronic foot injury that had him considering retirement late last year and then came back on Sunday in a match he trailed by two sets to win, 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Though Nadal sprinted to the players’ box to embrace his father, Sebastián, he struggled to walk in the aftermath of his victory, collapsing to the floor of the players’ gymnasium and hobbling up the steps to give a postmatch news conference that began at 2:42 a.m. on Monday in Melbourne.

“I was not ready physically for these kind of battles, honestly,” Nadal said. “I am super, super tired in all ways. I even can’t celebrate. But it was the day to give everything, no? I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the fight. I enjoyed the emotions. At the end to have this trophy with me means everything.”

The trophy also meant a lot to Barty. On the 100th anniversary of the first women’s event at the Open, Barty’s match drew huge local television audiences on Saturday as she became the first Australian to win the singles title since Chris O’Neil in 1978, striking a chord on the court as she embraced the former champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who, like Barty, is of Indigenous Australian heritage, and who has become a friend and mentor.

Another woman became a focus early in the tournament, when protesters concerned about Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who has mostly disappeared from public life after she accused a former top Chinese leader of sexual assault, wore T-shirts bearing the slogan: “Where is Peng Shuai?” The shirts were banned, but after criticism from the 18-time major singles champion Martina Navratilova and others, the Open reversed its policy, and a thousand of the shirts were given to fans at the women’s final.



Then came Sunday and Nadal’s grueling and successful pursuit of No. 21.



Nadal did not only trail Medvedev, who was seeded No. 2, by two sets on Sunday. He faced three break points on his serve in the sixth game of the third set, trailing, 0-40, after Medvedev played a scrambling point. But Nadal did what he has done since he burst onto the tennis scene nearly 20 years ago as a longhaired teenager in pirate pants.

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He fought. He thought. He fought and thought some more against an opponent who was 10 years younger and had pushed Nadal to the five-set limit in their first major final at the 2019 U.S. Open before losing to Nadal in four hours and 49 minutes.

Sunday’s final turned out to be considerably longer, but Nadal delivered a reminder of the classic matches he had played in Rod Laver Arena and beyond.

They have not all ended happily for him, particularly in Melbourne, where he won the title in 2009 before losing four straight finals, in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019.

“I was repeating to myself during the whole match that I lost a lot of times here having chances,” Nadal said. “Sometimes I was a little bit unlucky. I just wanted to keep believing till the end, no? I just wanted to give myself a chance.”

It was a match overflowing with long rallies, one of which, in the second set, extended to 40 shots. There were huge momentum shifts, dazzling winners on the fly and the stretch, and an unusual number of break points saved and converted as two of tennis’s supreme returners and defenders worked.

The pro-Nadal crowd often greeted Medvedev’s errors with cheers, sometimes shouting during serves and between his first and second serves despite the chair umpire John Blom’s admonishments.



After it ended, at 1:11 a.m. on Monday in Melbourne, Djokovic and Federer, who is now tied for second with 20 major singles titles, congratulated Nadal in social media messages.

“A few months ago we were joking about both being on crutches,” Federer wrote on Instagram. He added: “I’m proud to share this era with you.”

“Amazing achievement,” wrote Djokovic, who praised Nadal’s “always impressive fighting spirit that prevailed another time.”


Nadal did not win a Grand Slam tournament in 2021 — losing to Djokovic in the semifinals of the French Open, the tournament where Nadal has reigned supreme, then playing only one more tournament for the rest of the season.

There were discussions about retirement as he struggled to resolve his foot problem. But Nadal remained passionate about the game, and after recovering from the coronavirus in late December, he flew to Australia to try again.

When the final was over, Medvedev praised Nadal. “Huge respect for beating me because I tried my best,” he said.



Nadal, like Djokovic, has now won all four of the major tournaments at least twice. But the Grand Slam titles record has, for better or worse, become the benchmark for success in the modern game, when players routinely play all four Grand Slam tournaments. Serena Williams, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles, is still chasing Margaret Court’s record of 24. Williams, who is 40, did not compete in Melbourne because she is recovering from an injury.

Federer came within one point of No. 21 in the 2019 Wimbledon final before Djokovic went on to win. Djokovic came within one match of No. 21 in last year’s U.S. Open final before Medvedev routed him in straight sets.

But Nadal surprised the field in Melbourne, as well as himself. And yet he knows the race is not quite finished.

“At this moment in history, it’s true that I’m the one with the most,” he said. “Of course I would be happy to finish with the most, but for me it has never been an obsession. Whatever happens from now with Novak, Roger or me, we have all exceeded any expectations we could have had when we were young.”

[jo]

[jo]

[njr]

^ What does the (5) mean? I don’t see it here for that match, but see other numbers in parentheses on other matches:

www.sportingnews.com/au/tennis/news/australian-open-live-schedule-results-scores-aussies-how-to-watch-weather-tickets/ejhuhge4fe9f1rm6mymfv5n1e

[jo]

TIME has included Rafael Nadal among 2022's Most Influential and had Tom Brady write about Rafa's role-model status.

What is surprising is this CNN Feature!

Could it be because many recent injuries have provoked many instances of retirement predictions. He will be 36 in a few days' time.

This world-class athlete talks like Aristotle and acts like Confucius. We can all learn from him.

By John Blake, CNN

Updated 1348 GMT (2148 HKT) May 27, 2022

(CNN)Sports, it's been said, reveals character. It also reveals something else: philosophy.

There's no better example of this than Rafael Nadal, the 35-year-old professional tennis player who's competing this week at the French Open. Nadal is not just a gladiator on the court -- he's a philosopher at heart.
You may know Nadal's tennis credentials. The Spaniard has won a record 21 Grand Slam titles and 13 French Open tournaments. He's revolutionized the sport with his ferocious topspin forehand, his freakish strength and his relentless drive. He is arguably the greatest male tennis player ever.

But it is Nadal's mind that may separate him from his greatest rivals. His ability to play with physical pain, to come back from devastating injuries, to problem-solve during a match -- all are part of his greatness. So is his attitude -- his visceral delight in competing, whether he wins or loses.

He also has a rare philosophical approach to tennis and life that one sportswriter described as a "model of humility, empathy and perspective."

It turns out that Nadal, who may be playing in his last French Open, embodies many of the virtues taught by philosophers and sages such as Aristotle, Confucius and the Stoics. Even if you don't play tennis, there are at least four lessons this great champion can teach.




Lesson 1: Embrace your suffering

Rafael Nadal hits a backhand in his marathon third-round match against David Goffin of Belgium at the Madrid Open on May 5, 2022.
Rafael Nadal hits a backhand in his marathon third-round match against David Goffin of Belgium at the Madrid Open on May 5, 2022.

The moment: In May, Nadal returned to competition at the Madrid Open after suffering a stress fracture in one of his ribs earlier in the year (he played an entire match with that fracture in a previous tournament rather than forfeit the match).
Though opponent David Goffin held four match points against him, Nadal came back and won a grueling match that lasted three hours and 10 minutes. Afterward Nadal said:

"I always said it many, many times, you have to learn how to live with these kind of moments, and also to enjoy this suffering. It's what we work for, for thrilling moments."

What it means: Nadal was born into an affluent family. He hails from Mallorca, Spain, an idyllic vacation spot off the coast of Spain. He never struggled to break into the professional tennis through the traditional route of playing small tournaments in far-flung places and staying in cheap hotels. He was a teenage prodigy who has never suffered in the conventional sense.

And yet there is no contemporary athlete who seems to relish an almost monkish attitude to self-denial and suffering as Nadal. He has played with constant pain throughout his career, battled in some of the most exhausting matches in tennis history and excels on clay courts, a surface which places a premium on endurance. Enjoying suffering is a theme he returns to in many of his interviews.

It's also a theme in several philosophical traditions, which insist that suffering and pain play an important role in developing a virtuous moral character, says Francisco Javier Lopez Frias, associate professor of kinesiology and philosophy at Penn State University.

Aristotle and other philosophers taught that "suffering often accompanies morally good actions or even that the worthiest moral choices always involve pain," Frias says.
"Athletes often experience suffering as instrumentally and intrinsically good," Frias says. "A victory that requires an athlete to fight until the end is perceived as more valuable than a victory that involves little suffering. Nadal is a perfect case study for philosophers who examine the importance of pain in athletes' experiences. He seems to place greater value on victories achieved in difficult, painful situations."




Lesson 2: The importance of rituals

Rafael Nadal adjusts a water bottle during his quarterfinal match against Frances Tiafoe of the United States at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne.
Rafael Nadal adjusts a water bottle during his quarterfinal match against Frances Tiafoe of the United States at the 2019 Australian Open in Melbourne.

The moment: At the 2015 Australian Open, Nadal was closing in on a victory when something unexpected happened. His water bottles, which he had arranged in precise positions near his chair, fell over. A ball boy dashed over to return the bottles to their upright position, with the labels facing the court as Nadal had intended. Even Nadal had to laugh along with the spectators because his water-bottle routine is part of a well-known array of on-court tics.

One newspaper even devoted a feature to identifying 19 "bizarre" on-court Nadal rituals. They include: always walking on the court with one racquet in his hand, waiting until his opponent first crosses the net during changeovers and tugging at the back of his shorts in the exact same way before he serves. Some people call him obsessive-compulsive, but Nadal says there's a purpose behind his routines.

"I put the two bottles down at my feet, in front of my chair to my left, one neatly behind the other, diagonally aimed at the court. Some call it superstition, but it's not," he once said. "If it were superstition, why would I keep doing the same thing over and over whether I win or lose? It's a way of placing myself in a match, ordering my surroundings to match the order I seek in my head."

What it means: Confucius, China's greatest philosopher, would have given Nadal a high-five. The 5th-century philosopher emphasized the importance of developing rituals to lead a good life. For example, he always straightened his mat before sitting down and would never teach while eating. He said little rituals in our lives cultivate good character.
In Nadal's case rituals help him stay calm in incredibly stressful situations. They can do the same for others outside the tennis court.

Rituals are transformative, according to Confucius, because "they allow us to become a different person for a moment," and they create a "short-lived alternative reality that returns us to our regular life slightly altered," Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh wrote in "The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life."
"He [Confucius] wasn't just straightening his mat because he liked things to look neat," they wrote. "He understood that seemingly minor actions such as arranging the place where people would sit would create a different environment that could affect them profoundly. The modern-day equivalent of the mat ritual might be our dinnertime routines: When we set the table, perhaps laying our placemats and napkins, even lighting candles, we step out of our regular lives and create an alternative reality for ourselves and those with us."





Lesson 3: Be humble

Rafael Nadal is interviewed by anchor Candy Reid of CNN International on September 14, 2010, in New York City after winning the 2010 US Open.
Rafael Nadal is interviewed by anchor Candy Reid of CNN International on September 14, 2010, in New York City after winning the 2010 US Open.

The moment: When Nadal won the 2010 US Open at age 24 he became one of the youngest male players to capture all four Grand Slam titles. After the match, someone asked him if he considered himself better than his great rival, Roger Federer. Nadal said discussions about him being superior to Federer were "stupid" because it was obvious that Federer was better.
Some athletes build their reputation on their confidence. Muhammad Ali declared himself the greatest. Michael Jordan reveled in his cutthroat competitiveness. But if one could distill Nadal's sports brand into one word it might be humility. It's a constant theme in his career.

He rarely if ever touts his achievements, refuses to put down his rivals, travels in public without large entourages and lingers after matches and practices to sign autographs. That reputation is one reason why Nadal was awarded the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award by his fellow players for four consecutive years.

"People sometimes exaggerate this business of humility," he once said at a press conference. "It's simply a question of knowing who you are, where you are, and that the world will continue exactly as it is without you."

What it means: The importance of humility or modesty can be traced back to Aristotle and Christian thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas, Frias says.

"Those who exhibit temperance prevent their appetites from both fully controlling their actions and their appetites being irrelevant to their actions," he says. "Like Aristotle, Aquinas connects humility to the ability to wish what is fitting to our capacities, accepting the limitations God has given us.

"Again, humility and asceticism go hand in hand. Ascetic individuals discipline themselves to keep their appetites under control and to concentrate on what truly matters. In exercising humility, Nadal reinforces the ascetic traits of his moral character. "





Lesson 4: Don't worry about what you can't control

Rafael Nadal reaches for a shot against Roger Federer in the Wimbledon men's final on July 6, 2008, considered by many the best tennis match ever played.
Rafael Nadal reaches for a shot against Roger Federer in the Wimbledon men's final on July 6, 2008, considered by many the best tennis match ever played.

The moment: The 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer is widely considered the greatest tennis match ever played. The match had everything: jaw-dropping shotmaking, rain delays and a dramatic finish as daylight was fading on Wimbledon's Center Court.

It was also a match that Nadal almost lost. When Federer stormed back from a two-set deficit to tie up the match, many expected Nadal to be emotionally crushed. But during a break in the match, Nadal said something interesting to his coach and uncle, Toni Nadal.

"Relax," Nadal told Uncle Toni. "I'm not going to lose this match. Maybe Federer will win, but I'm not going to lose it."
What it means: Nadal's quote reflects the wisdom of Stoicism, a philosophy born in ancient Greece that "embraces self-mastery, virtue and indifference to what we cannot control."

Nadal has taken the same stoic attitude to the ups and downs to athletic competition and fame throughout his career. It may be one reason he has competed at a higher level than many of his peers who have since retired, and why he has defied experts who said he wouldn't play into his 30s because of his punishing style.

'My day-by-day is difficult:' Rafael Nadal suffers from chronic foot injury ahead of French Open
'My day-by-day is difficult:' Rafael Nadal suffers from chronic foot injury ahead of French Open

"Nadal seems to approach his matches quite stoically. He acknowledges that he cannot control the outcome of the match. The outcome depends on many variables, including luck and the opponents' performance," Frias says. "Not even his performance is within his control entirely. He can get injured or be outplayed by an opponent's superior performance. However, he knows there is one aspect of his performance he can control: his dedication or effort."

Nadal's philosophy also reflects the way he sees his opponent, Frias says. The player sees sports as a "mutual quest for excellence."

"In this view of sport, a competition is not a zero-sum game with only one winner," Frias says. "Rather, everybody who engages in the competition benefits from doing so. After all, he has famously praised his opponents and talked about how much he's enjoyed confronting them, even when they have defeated him."

Father Time eventually defeats all opponents. At previous French Opens, Nadal was considered a lock for the title. But younger rivals are threatening to depose the man known as the King of Clay.

Whatever happens at this French Open, one outcome is certain. Win or lose, Nadal will react not just as an athlete but as a philosopher -- with humility, temperance, and as someone who "enjoys the suffering" that comes with every noble pursuit of excellence.

[jo]

This is why people admire and love RAFA NADAL!

From Tennis.com

RAFAEL NADAL’S SECRET WEAPON IS SOMETHING ALL CAN COPY—AT ROLAND GARROS AND BEYOND
By showing concern for injured Alexander Zverev, the 21-time Grand Slam champion displayed a level of humanity too often missing at all levels of the game.

By
Joel Drucker
Published Jun 03, 2022



WATCH: Nadal spoke to the press after his semifinal victory over Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros.

As the world has seen now for nearly 20 years, Rafael Nadal’s extraordinary footspeed once again was on display, today in his Roland Garros semifinal versus Alexander Zverev. Across the width, forward, sideways, defense, offense and all spots in between, Nadal was everywhere he needed to be. Perhaps more than single attribute, movement around the court has helped Nadal win more Grand Slam singles titles than any man in tennis history.

But another sprint Nadal took this Friday evening revealed what truly defines him as a champion—an attribute anyone who picks up a racquet can learn to master. After more than three hours on the court, Zverev mid-rally rolled his ankle and hit the ground. Nadal’s next move came to him instinctively. Instinct, best defined as trained knowledge. Go back to Nadal’s training, lessons imparted by his Uncle Toni. One Toni Nadal concept: “It is more important to be a good person than a good player.”

So, it was that as the tournament staff tended to Zverev, Nadal dashed across the court, deeply concerned about his opponent’s health. Soon enough, Nadal joined Zverev in the small room where he was being treated. Once the decision was made to end the match, Nadal comforted Zverev.

“We are colleagues,” said Nadal, “we have been practicing together a lot of times. And see a colleague on the tour like this, even if for me it's a dream be in the final of Roland Garros, of course that way is not the way that we want it to be. Feels very sorry for, if you are human, you should feel very sorry for a colleague.”

In the United States, the volume around player development often grows louder during Roland Garros, this being the major where American men are often most frustrated. Talking points typically cite the need for more clay courts, an increased emphasis on subtle point construction over raw power, more time on touch and footwork, devotion to fitness and concentration.

Nadal, of course, has proven masterful in all realms, thoroughly establishing himself in the world’s eyes as the “King of Clay.” But to hear these words from Uncle Toni makes you wonder how Rafa himself views his success: “When you think you are the king of the world, you are really stupid in my opinion because in this life every person is important.” Picture young Rafa, taught from a young age that proficiency in tennis in no way confers superiority in any other realm.



Sadly, so much about America’s tennis culture takes the opposite approach. The junior tennis world is frequently toxic, infected by parents who concurrently deify and denigrate their children, measuring success heavily by match scores. Instructors, eager to earn a living, are compelled to act more like concierges than consultants, and therefore often walk on eggshells rather than speak candidly to students and parents. Then there are the youngsters, taking in these disparate messages, prone to whine and dismiss certain opponents as so-called “pushers.” Let me also aim a critique at adult players, many of whom will join a league team but only stay for their own matches. Can you imagine Uncle Toni letting Rafa do that?

So many players are in large part given a pass every time they toss a racquet, sag their shoulders, issue a profanity, discuss a loss with passive-aggressive regard for the winner. No wonder we see pros have moments when they treat the game with profound disrespect. Zverev, who has been credibly accused of domestic violence against a former girlfriend, had a meltdown earlier this year, repeatedly banging a racquet against the umpire’s stand.

Which brings me back to Nadal. Just as a player’s strokes are largely formed once he or she reaches the pro tour, the same might well hold true for their manners. Explore the American tennis culture and you will see sportsmanship regarded as an app, an extension to be added sometime after the promising player has been simultaneously instructed and enabled.

But in Nadal’s case, sportsmanship is baked into his operating system, as woven into the DNA of how he conducts himself all match long as the tremendous effort he brings to each point. And perhaps there’s this: the more respect you show for your opponent, the easier it is to be an exemplary competitor, to give your all in the quest for victory—and concurrently be aware that should you lose, you have left blood on the court.

The great Australians—such gracious warriors as Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe and Patrick Rafter—demonstrated this superbly. Later came classy Swedes—Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg. And now we have Nadal, a champion not just because he wins, but also because he cares. Hard as it is to emulate the way Nadal hits the ball, anyone of us can mimic how he approaches competition. Let your opponent be worthy of your blood and grace.
Fphasis on subtle point construction over raw power, more time on touch and footwork, devotion to fitness and concentration.

Nadal, of course, has proven masterful in all realms, thoroughly establishing himself in the world’s eyes as the “King of Clay.” But to hear these words from Uncle Toni makes you wonder how Rafa himself views his success: “When you think you are the king of the world, you are really stupid in my opinion because in this life every person is important.” Picture young Rafa, taught from a young age that proficiency in tennis in no way confers superiority in any other realm.


We are colleagues, we have been practicing together a lot of times. And see a colleague on the tour like this, even if for me it's a dream be in the final of Roland Garros, of course that way is not the way that we want it to be. Feels very sorry for, if you are human, you should feel very sorry for a colleague.
Rafael Nadal

Sadly, so much about America’s tennis culture takes the opposite approach. The junior tennis world is frequently toxic, infected by parents who concurrently deify and denigrate their children, measuring success heavily by match scores. Instructors, eager to earn a living, are compelled to act more like concierges than consultants, and therefore often walk on eggshells rather than speak candidly to students and parents. Then there are the youngsters, taking in these disparate messages, prone to whine and dismiss certain opponents as so-called “pushers.” Let me also aim a critique at adult players, many of whom will join a league team but only stay for their own matches. Can you imagine Uncle Toni letting Rafa do that?

So many players are in large part given a pass every time they toss a racquet, sag their shoulders, issue a profanity, discuss a loss with passive-aggressive regard for the winner. No wonder we see pros have moments when they treat the game with profound disrespect. Zverev, who has been credibly accused of domestic violence against a former girlfriend, had a meltdown earlier this year, repeatedly banging a racquet against the umpire’s stand.

Which brings me back to Nadal. Just as a player’s strokes are largely formed once he or she reaches the pro tour, the same might well hold true for their manners. Explore the American tennis culture and you will see sportsmanship regarded as an app, an extension to be added sometime after the promising player has been simultaneously instructed and enabled.

But in Nadal’s case, sportsmanship is baked into his operating system, as woven into the DNA of how he conducts himself all match long as the tremendous effort he brings to each point. And perhaps thervie’s this: the more respect you show for your opponent, the easier it is to be an exemplary competitor, to give your all in the quest for victory—and concurrently be aware that should you lose, you have left blood on the court.

The great Australians—such gracious warriors as Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe and Patrick Rafter—demonstrated this superbly. Later came classy Swedes—Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg. And now we have Nadal, a champion not just because he wins, but also because he cares. Hard as it is to emulate the way Nadal hits the ball, anyone of us can mimic how he approaches competition. Let your opponent be worthy of your blood and grace.

If I may add something -- I first discovered Rafael Nadal, not watching him play tennis on TV...but being interviewed on CNN - he was still very young then ( with his then pirate look & long hair)...but I was so struck by the uncharacteristic humility ( I think he was being interviewed then fo r having won at the French Open while still in his late teens). And that has never changed - he is still as humble now as he was then. Plus he has that cheeky sense of humor & broken English( he is more fluent now - like other playe rs, he is multi-lingual),

On Sunday, fifth of June, Rafa will play for his 22nd Grand Slam title and his unbelievable 14th French Open title (at
Roland Garros)! I won't be able to watch it - as that is when I fly to NYC to keep a date with another lefty (name of Hugh Jackman, playing on a different kind of arena called Broadway)

PS Rafa's record at Roland Garros is so unbelievable that the French built a statue of him at this temple of tennis

Jo

[jo]

I was watching the match - and I was also so shocked by what happened. I have never seen a man cry in such agony and helplessly continue crying at having such pain ( he twisted his ankle on the humid clay dirt - it is the most dangerous
surface to play on - you often see players tumbling down).


rafa not only immediately went to him and see what he can do... and eventually accompanied Zverev, on a wheelchair, being taken indoors for immediate medical attention/scan. He must have given him comfort not just for the accident but because Zverev would have climbed to # 1 had he beaten rafa)... He also accompanied Zverev ( on crutches) when he came out to retire from the match. Zverev was still emotional when he embraced rafa as he went out the stadium. Later on, his older brother thanked rafa for his kindness and support.

Jo

[jo]

Serena Williams is retiring from tennis...

and some prominent people are attending her first match! Guess who's leading the special group of tennis fans?

[jo]

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/Ch3CHdnvHm1

[jo]

At Wimbledon, 2014 (when he was filming PAN in England).

[jo]

Aug 29, 2022 18:44:18 GMT -5 jo said:

[jo]

[jo]

During the end-ceremonies --

did you catch a glimpse of Hugh

Jo

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

Roger Federer Announces End Of Historic Career
Sep
15
2022
ATP Staff
ATPTour.com looks back at Federer's career
Roger Federer announced his upcoming retirement Thursday, saying that next week's Laver Cup will be his final ATP event.

"As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries. I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form, but I also know my body’s capacities and limits and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years," Federer said. "Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt and now I must recognise when it's time to end my competitive career.

"The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the Tour."


The Swiss legend held World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for 310 weeks, second-most since 1973 behind only Novak Djokovic. However, Federer held top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks from 2 February 2004 until 18 August 2008.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: “Roger’s impact on tennis, and the legacy he’s built, are impossible to overstate. Over 24 years as a professional, Roger brought millions of adoring fans into the game. He spearheaded an incredible new era of growth and elevated the popularity of our sport. Few athletes have transcended their field in such a manner. Roger made us all feel proud and fortunate to be part of the same sport.

"He redefined greatness on the court, while his champion spirit, sportsmanship, and the way he played the game thrilled audiences around the world for decades, inspiring so many to pick up a racquet. Beyond the court, he is and will continue to be a true role model and ambassador, always giving so much of himself to the fans. Roger’s steadfast commitment to the ATP Tour throughout his career, as well as his many years of service on the Player Council, helped drive progress for fellow players and the entire sport. His humanitarian impact has been equally profound through the RF Foundation."

Federer served the sport as president of the ATP Player Council from 2008-14 and later rejoined the council from 2019-22. He was influential in securing significant prize money increases for players. Through the Roger Federer Foundation, the Swiss has assisted almost two million underprivileged children in Africa.

Gaudenzi added: "As we look ahead to Roger’s future endeavours, he will no doubt continue to make a remarkable difference. First, we wish him a memorable final event at the Laver Cup in London, where fans will have an opportunity to give him the send-off he truly deserves. Roger, you will be greatly missed on the Tour. On behalf of everyone at the ATP and the sport of tennis: thank you for everything!”

View Social Media Reactions To Federer's Announcement

At Roland Garros in 2009, Federer completed the Career Grand Slam and at Wimbledon one month later, he broke Pete Sampras’ all-time men's singles record by lifting his 15th major trophy. He went on to claim 20 Grand Slam trophies, which now only trails Rafael Nadal (22) and Djokovic (21). The Swiss earned six Australian Open triumphs, the 2009 Roland Garros title, eight Wimbledon trophies and five consecutive US Open victories (2004-08).

Federer earned 1,251 tour-level wins during his illustrious career, the second-most victories on record behind only Jimmy Connors’ 1,274. The Swiss also claimed 103 tour-level trophies, only trailing Connors’ 109.

The Basel native claimed a record six titles, 59 wins and 18 qualifications at the Nitto ATP Finals. He also excelled at the ATP Masters 1000 events, where he won 28 titles.

ATP WTA LIVE | Follow the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin In Real Time

Federer is also the winner of a record 40 ATP Tour Awards: ATP Tour No. 1 (2004-07, 2009), Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of Year (2006, 2013), Comeback Player of the Year (2017), Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship (2004-09, 2011-17) and Fans' Favourite (2003-21). He is also the most-decorated athlete in the history of the Laureus World Sports Awards, winning Sportsman of the Year five times (2005-08, 2018) and Comeback of the Year in 2018.

The Swiss climbed to the top of the sport for the first time aged 22, reaching World No. 1 on 2 February 2004. From there, he enjoyed a peerless reign. From 2004-06, he tallied an astonishing 247-15 record, a winning percentage of more than 94 per cent.

During that stretch, he lifted 34 tour-level trophies. From 2003-05, Federer won 24 straight matches against Top 10 opponents.



Nadal and Djokovic then joined Federer at the top of the sport, creating the ‘Big Three’, an unprecedented era in tennis.

In recent years, Federer showed great resilience and determination. After undergoing knee surgery in 2016, he returned in 2017 to play some of the best tennis of his career. As the 17th seed at the 2017 Australian Open, he won his 18th Grand Slam title and his first since Wimbledon in 2012. Later that year, he also triumphed at The Championships for the record eighth time. In 2018, he claimed his final major title in Melbourne.

Federer became the oldest World No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on 19 February 2018 at age 36. The Swiss never retired from a match.

© Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Thank you, Roger, for your athletic achievements and for bringing the sport of tennis to its prominent status!

[jo]

Here are the other reactions to his retirement announcement --

www.atptour.com/en/news/roger-federer-retirement-social-media-reaction

[jo]

In Zurich --

*when Roger and Mirka Federer attended Hugh's show the night before (TheManTheMusicTheShow)
*when Roger hosted a lunch for Hugh Jackman and his troupe.

[jo]

www.instagram.com/tv/Cih0_lCgJul/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading


This Hugh's message on Roger's Instagram Page --

thehughjackman
Verified
You have left your indelible, unmatched stamp on the sport of tennis. Thank you! Love HJ