In the interview room after his win against Verdasco at the US Open, discussing how he dealt with the windy conditions on court:
“At the start I was playing too aggressive, because I was scared, I was moving the hands faster than usual, and I think I had to do completely the other thing, that I had to move the hands slower” When I found that out, the game completely changed.”
It takes a person with a great degree of self awareness, and objectivity to recognize they are reacting with fear. It takes confidence to put that fear aside in order to evaluate the situation and the will to follow through and implement the changes that need to be made. There is a life lesson in his statement for the rest of us.
What impresses me most about Nadal, having heard and shot him in the interview room after his matches is the degree of self awareness and maturity he possesses at twenty four.
Thanks a lot for that extremely cool post.