Rafa

Whatmakesachampion?Whatdoesittaketobethebestintheworldatyoursport?RafaelNadal,oneofthegreatestplayersinthehistoryoftennis,hastheanswers.Inhismemoir,writtenwithaward-winningjournalistJohnCarlin,herevealsthesecretsofhisgameandsharestheinspiringpersonalstorybehindhissuccess.ItbeginsinMallorca,asmallislandontheMediterraneanSea,wherethetight-knitNadalfamilyhaslivedforgenerations.CoachedbyhisuncleTonifromtheageoffour,taughthumilityandrespectbyhisparents,cherishedbyhisexceptionallycloseextendedfamily,Nadalhasmanagedtheuncommonfeatofbecominganacclaimedglobalcelebritywhileremaininganunfailinglygracious,relentlesslyhardworkingrolemodelforpeopleinallwalksoflife.Sinceheembarkedonhistenniscareertenyearsago,thetwenty-five-year-oldNadalhashadameteoricrise,becomingtheyoungestprofessionaltennisplayerevertowinallfourGrandSlamtitles.Hecollectedhisfirstone,theFrenchOpen,in2005atagenineteen,andfromtherewentontowinWimbledon,theAustralianOpen,and,mostdifficultofall,theU.S.Openin2010.Hismemoirtakesusbehindthescenes,sharingthehighsandlowsofhiscareer,fromwinningtheWimbledon2008final,describedbyJohnMcEnroeas“thegreatestgameoftennis”hehadeverseen,tothefamilyproblemsthatbroughthimlowin2009andthenumerousinjuriesthathavethreatenedhiscareer.Withcandor,heart,andintelligence,RafaelNadaltakesreadersonhislife’sdramaticandtriumphantjourney,neverlosingsightalongthewayoftheprizehevaluesaboveallothers:theunityandloveofhisfamily.FromRAFA:"Duringamatch,youareinapermanentbattletofightbackyoureverydayvulnerabilities,bottleupyourhumanfeelings.Themorebottleduptheyare,thegreateryourchancesofwinning,solongasyou’vetrainedashardasyouplayandthegapintalentisnottoowidebetweenyouandyourrival.ThegapintalentwithFedererexisted,butitwasnotimpossiblywide.Itwasnarrowenough,evenonhisfavoritesurfaceinthetournamentheplayedbest,formetoknowthatifIsilencedthedoubtsandfears,andexaggeratedhopes,insidemyheadbetterthanhedid,Icouldbeathim.Youhavetocageyourselfinprotectivearmor,turnyourselfintoabloodlesswarrior.It’sakindofself-hypnosis,agameyouplay,withdeadlyseriousness,todisguiseyourownweaknessesfromyourself,aswellasfromyourrival."