The one on Rafa- The Conqueror

The quest for the topic of your very first blog post has sent many a man on a frenzied hunt as if it was one for the Holy Grail itself. Fortunately for me, the answer lay right in front of me, my gtalk custom message which was inspired by one of the greatest battles I have been witness to.

The 6th of July, 2008. The battlefield resembled the balding head of an old Samaritan who once boasted of luxurious, flowing hair. The most talked about rectangular piece of land in the sporting world was ready to hog the limelight yet again. The Centre Court at Wimbledon was about to witness a Spaniard, known more for his bulging biceps and clay court dominance, end one of the most celebrated winning streaks in sporting history. The champion, Emperor Federer, was being challenged by a lesser mortal who had limited his reign to the kingdom of Roland Garros till then.

The epic final in the previous edition of Wimbledon had already set the tone for a fascinating contest between these two legends of the game. As many pundits had pointed out, this was hyped up to be one of the most keenly contested final of the modern era. Yet nobody, not a single soul had a clue of what the two had in store for them. Enough of this metaphoric gibberish........I'd better get straight to the point.

This epic battle witnessed a breathtaking display of exhilarating and out-of-the-world tennis.
The serves, the volleys, the delicate touches and the lobs, the passes and the smashes. Each and every point of the match had generous doses of finesse, power and speed. It was as if some Divine Hand was painting a beautiful work of art, resplendent with continual strokes of brilliance. If Federer is a Swiss magician, then my dear readers, Rafa is a raging bull right from the streets of Mallorca. For four hours and forty eight minutes, this super-man grunted, tugged at his socks and even got warned once for time delay. Yet he trudged on, through all those rain delays, all those momentum shifts and survived what might have been the most unbelievable comebacks in tennis lore.

The print media and its visual counterpart have already analyzed this match in avid detail. So, I would not like to use this forum to discuss the intricacies of the same. Moreover, I would like to entertain all readers who might not be serious sports enthusiasts too.

I would like one and all to take note of this one simple fact which was so wonderfully epitomized by this young man from Mallorca. There are no easier or quicker replacements for perseverance and tenacity. The effort which is called for to beat a champion like Federer, is colossal in proportions and demands qualities which very few mortals possess. There have been many, who matched Rafa in talent, who set out to usurp the most coveted throne in contemporary tennis
from Fedex but who miserably failed. They all lacked the "hunger" as many a sport enthusiast would say. The zest for victory is what fuels the sinews and the brain when all energy seems to desert you and it did for the most tenacious player of the sport, Rafael Nadal.

This loss doesn't spell doom for the great man "Federer". On the contrary this defeat which might have left a massive dent on his pride will urge him to perform even better. The sight of an equal or that of a better player, the smell of competition will enable him to elevate his game to a different plane. After all he is human; though we seldom get to see this part of the great man who at most times appears in the attire of a living god.

This achievement which has sent a whole country into delirious fits of rapturous delight, apart from the entertainment has taught the common man many a lesson too. The stories of human courage in the face of suffering and finding hope at even the most desolate of situations have been stuff of legends and history. But on one fine Sunday evening, the world witnessed a breathtaking exhibition of valour, hunger and determination. The show of sportsmanship was also impeccable, with Federer being gracious in defeat calling Rafa, " the deserving champion" and Rafa at the same time acknowledging the fact that Fedex was still the best and still retains his pedestal amongst the gods.

Rafa- He has got many more to come. Each a new feather on his hat.
Fedex- Beware of this wounded tiger. He is still the "King of the Court"

PS- Apologies for the long post. Don't mind cos its my first one.
PS 2- I'm aware of the fact that this post has an overdose of superlatives and imagery. But it is well justified by the fact that this match was truly legen...wait for it......dary.