After the lengthy and grueling final match between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic resulted in a four-set win for the Serbian star at the 2011 U. S. Open, Rafael Nadal spoke about his lack of expectations going into any tournament.
His comments to media post-match bordered on extreme humility that isn't just a result of his loss to Djokovic.
"I don't feel an obligation to win the tournament," Nadal said.
"I don't consider myself that good," he told media members who had to wonder if he was serious. He continued. "I fight to be always there. I fight all the time to win every match. I appreciate the result and the final is a fantastic result."
"It's smart to accept the losers (sic) as well as the victories and keep working."
Well said by the Spaniard who is a contrast from most sports stars who believe that there are no gradations of losing, even when you do your best. It's winning or failure to some.
Nadal was thoroughly beaten at the game he used to rise to the #1 ranked male tennis player on the planet.
The new #1, Novak Djokovic figured out how to stretch his capabilities to beat Rafa and demonstrated them to perfection in his 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 win.
He returns ground stroke for ground stroke, angled return for angled return, lob for lob and power for power.
The difference between 2011 and 2010 is Rafa's serve. This season it has not been the weapon it was when he finally won the career grand slam at the Open in 2010.
Then, he and Uncle Toni, his trainer and coach unveiled the new Nadal serve that registered up to 130+ mph on the hard courts of the Billie Jean King Tennis Center.
This season he did not use the power serve except on rare occasions and his service games began to show their vulnerability.
Rafael Nadal's service games became a liability as his 2011 season wore on past the French Open to Wimbledon to the U.S. Open and Monday's final was no exception.
Nadal now turns to his Davis Cup matches this weekend. He joins his countrymen who triumphed over the U.S. in July, when he was resting up after Wimbledon.
Maybe Roger Federer should watch a tape of Nadal's press conference of yesterday to learn what the word humble really means.
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