True Champions
by Brian Reich | 2 Feb 2009, 2:24pm
On Sunday morning, still before sunrise in the United States, a great sports rivalry logged its 22nd and most recent installment. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer squared off for the Men’s Championships at the Australian Open with Nadal emerging in five sets with the title. And while the match was incredible, what happened on Sunday morning confirmed for me that these two athletes are the best, not only in their sport but perhaps in any sport — and it wasn’t something that happened during the match, but rather during the presentation of the trophies.
Roger Federer, when he accepted his runner-up plate, started to cry.
He didn’t cry because he had lost the match. He didn’t cry because he is still one major title short of being considered the greatest tennis player ever. He certainly didn’t cry because Rafael Nadal secured the world’s top ranking or brought home a bigger check.
Roger Federer cried because he didn’t play as well as he is capable. He cried because he knows he can do better. He cried because he only wants to compete at his best, to give his rival the best possible match - no matter the outcome. Roger Federer works so hard, focuses so much, and wants nothing more than to win — and when he can’t, when the pieces can’t fit together like they have so many times before that… the only thing he could do was cry.
And do you know what Rafael Nadal did? He didn’t ignore Federer or look the other way. He didn’t gloat or mock his rival. Nadal, all of 22-years old, walked over, put his arm around Federerl, and comforted him. He stepped up to the microphone when it was time to accept his trophy, and said that Roger Federer was the greatest tennis player of all time. Rafael Nadal knew exactly what Roger Federer was feeling.
You don’t have to be a tennis fan, or even understand the game really, to recognize that these two competitors represent all that is good about sports. Whenever they meet, and it seems of late that they are always meeting in the biggest matches in the the biggest tournaments the sport of tennis has to offer, Nadal and Federer go all out. Every point. Every set. Every great shot and near miss. When its over, they have left it all out on the court.
Federer and Nadal are true champions. They are at the top of their game, on a level that few, if any, can even imagine. They are great ambassadors for their sport. They are rivals, as well as friends.
No matter what your profession or your level of success in life, you can learn something from these two. I know I have.
TAGS
: Australian Open heart Rafael Nadal Roger Federer tennis
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