Come to think of it, about a couple of months before the tournament he was not even sure of being able to participate in it
Rafael Nadal at his academy in Spain after arriving from Australia. Pic/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal’s come-from-behind win to bag the singles trophy at the Australian Open was one that stirred the sporting world and had every sports lover stand up and applaud a great champion.
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Come to think of it, about a couple of months before the tournament he was not even sure of being able to participate in it.
That at the age of 35 he was able to run round the court for over five hours is testimony to his supreme fitness.
No wonder his much younger opponent in the finals asked him at the presentation, ‘Aren’t you tired?’ If anything, Medvedev looked as if he was running out of steam especially in the fourth and fifth sets.
What was touching also was how the celebration was so simple, holding his face in his hands and just smiling after the winning point at his box where his coach father and support staff sat. No foul words, no unnecessary roar, no thumping the chest. Just a smile!
Even the women’s champ Ashleigh Barty’s celebrations were so gracious and she was so generous to her opponent on the podium when she got the trophy. If only all sporting champs are like that instead of the boorish foul-mouthed ones that are seen sometimes today.
The other heartwarming picture was that of the legend Rod Laver, after whom the Melbourne arena is named, being shown like a regular tennis fan taking video and pictures of the awards ceremony on his mobile phone.
That is humility and simplicity, virtues which are not often seen in the modern age of television.
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