Serving up life lessons: Rafael Nadal’s tennis career inspired me to achieve my dreams

This First Person article is the experience of Vaidehee Lanke, a medical student living in Saskatoon. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.

The news hit me hard. Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time and my personal favourite, announced his retirement last week.

I felt a flurry of emotions. Admiration at his outstanding 23-year career. Deep sadness that I would never see him play again. Powerful gratitude for what he has given the sport — and me.

Growing up, I was never part of the sports world. In fact, it was quite the opposite — gym class was an endless dance in awkwardness. That all changed when I stumbled upon tennis. Deep into university finals in the spring of 2021, in an attempt to find another way to procrastinate, I came across old videos from the US Open videos. 

Suddenly, I was watching the highlights of match after match. With each game and post-match interview, I found myself falling in love with the sheer athleticism of the game, the statistics constantly at play, the psychology behind each move and the story of the players. I spent that summer learning the rules of tennis, with terms like baseline, slice, ace, rally and smash becoming part of my vocabulary. By the time the 2021 US Open rolled around, I was a fully dedicated tennis fan. 

And while I learned about all the greats, Spain’s Nadal became my favourite. It wasn’t just his title as king of the clay court or his powerful signature forehand that won my devotion, but rather his humility and spirit of never giving up. 

Dig deep and swing

While my love of tennis has yet to materialize into an ability to play the game, Nadal’s gifts have been an inspiration for me in my personal life. 

I still remember my first semester as a graduate student in epidemiology. I had just moved from Saskatoon to Montreal on my own. Between trying to find community, adjusting to a brand new course load and navigating the enormous burden of research ahead, the challenges seemed insurmountable. 

While it might seem like there’s little similarity between the tennis courts of Grand Slams and the academic world,  Nadal’s unbreakable spirit was never far from my mind as I charted my way through this new challenge. 

It can be easy in the daily grind of school or work to forget the joy that got you started on your path. But Nadal’s career has been an example in seeking out, holding onto and cultivating that very joy. Even in the last few years when injuries made it difficult to play, Nadal kept coming back with that unmistakable huge grin of his, a clear demonstration that he loves what he does. 

During my long days of research and writing, I’d remind myself to pause and celebrate the fact that I get to study health. It’s an issue so close to my heart and something I’ve dreamed of pursuing since I was a child. Talking to my fellow students sparked joy because it reminded me that the work we were doing in school mattered in the real world. 

One of my all time favourite tennis moments was watching Nadal win a nail-biting final in the Australian Open 2009 men’s singles. After winning the Australian Open title for the first time, the first thing Nadal did after receiving the trophy was to  give a heartbroken Roger Federer a hug and to console his friend. 

My eyes still well up watching that video, and countless others, where Nadal reminded me that, even in the most pressurized of situations, it’s important to approach others with empathy and kindness. 

Graduate studies felt lonely at times, but Nadal’s approach to tennis reminded me to reach out to my fellow students, either to rant about our research or to laugh about the day’s troubles. Together, at the highest of moments and lowest of lows, we celebrated and consoled each other, reminding ourselves we were on a collective team. 

I will dearly miss Nadal’s powerful performances, quirky interviews and goofy personality. But he gave his millions of fans so many lessons on how life should be lived, with joy, perseverance and humility.

Now as Nadal retires and embarks on a new adventure, I too embark on my own new adventure.  I’m back in Saskatoon and have begun the journey to become a doctor. In the coming years, I imagine there will be many times where the odds seem stacked against me, that it seems like the challenges are too great, or where there’s a risk of losing it all. 

In those times, I’ll bring Nadal’s example to my own mind and outlook. 

Smile. Dig deep and swing. Hold nothing back — and win.

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