I was a bit hungover after a night of cheap red wine at a cheap Paris cafe when I walked along the path between Court Philippe Chatrier and Court 1 at Roland Garros. Toni Nadal came round the corner, nodding his head, shaking hands in those glory days for humanity when such a connection was still allowed. Si, si, si, Toni said. We can talk now.
Pardon the French, but oh, shit. I’d been asking Toni for an interview all week. Got time for a chat? You can rip into Roger Federer. The old flake! You can give it to Novak Djokovic. What a bloody pest! Anything you like.
Neither of those suggestions raised a chuckle from Toni. I said I just wanted him to talk about Rafa and what made him tick with all those nervous tics. Toni had finally relented and said, “OK, tomorrow.” Tomorrow was today but it was all rather genant because of my hopelessly dishevelled state
Didn’t have a pen. I was searching my pockets when Toni gave me a stern look. And then he laughed. And then he put a hand on my shoulder. And then he said, “Are you prepared for the tournament?” I grinned in a village idiot sort of way and said words to the effect of, mate, I’m not playing, what’s there to prepare for? He said, “Your job.” He gave a disapproving look up there with the one my dear dad fired my way when he realised I was pinching his work pens and selling them at primary school for a dollar a pop. (Made a significant sum).
Toni had a quick rant about everyone having a job to do at the French Open. Players. Officials. Coaches. Journalists. Everyone should try to do it right, he said. He said Rafa’s job was no more important than anyone else’s, which I thought was plain wrong — the number one thing at any sporting event is the athlete. The rest of us are just hangers-on. But I took his point. If you were going to be a journo, you might as well try to be a decent one.
Having a pen might make a promising start. I reckon I’ve always had one since then but more importantly, I reckon Toni unwittingly gave an insight into how he drove “Rafael” from juniors to all-time greatness. What has Nadal always done? He’s done everything right.
All this was brought to mind by Nadal’s interview on CNN this week about COVID-19 restrictions. He was polite. Empathetic. Sensible. Sincere. I found it rather touching. He plays his first match of the year on Friday night against Dominic Thiem in the A Day At The Drive exhibition in Adelaide. What a glorious line-up to kickstart February’s January of tennis. A month of tournaments to be squeezed into three weeks.
There is no player more exceptional and praiseworthy than Nadal. Never has there been a thrown racquet. The only blow-up I can think of was when he asked an umpire at Wimbledon, “What has happened to you?” Off the court, a gentleman. He doesn’t have the natural flair of Federer but he’s worked his backside off to win as many majors. I cannot think of a single point that he has not thrown himself into with 100 per cent commitment.
The line-up in Adelaide could pass as semi-finals day at a major. Novak Djokovic versus rising Italian Jannik Sinner from 1pm, followed by Serena Williams against Naomi Osaka. Nadal versus Dominic Thiem at 7pm, followed by Ash Barty against Simona Halep.
Nadal will play the Adelaide exhibition with the intensity of a slam. Guaranteed. There’s some good stuff coming at the Open. Barty’s campaign will be a thing of beauty. There’s something about that young woman that goes beyond the tennis. Williams’ pursuit of the 24 majors of Margaret Court, OAM, will be typically dramatic. Alex de Minaur can have a mighty Open if he avoids Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem until very late in the draw. Everyone else is beatable. But it’s Nadal I will view with utter fascination and awe. For the 17 years of sincere and unwavering effort. When I can find a pen, he’ll get my vote as the most admirable athlete in the world. What exactly has he always done right? His job.
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