By Katie Sterling
When group talk turns to “did you see the game last night?!,” my reaction is to usually yell “sports!” and depart to refresh my cocktail.
The one e x c e p t i o n , always, is tennis. Needless to say, when Netflix recently dropped a docuseries on Rafael Nadal, I was hooked.
Rafa, a fourpart series, offers an unprecedented look into the tennis star’s personal and professional life, from his first foray into the sport to his heartbreaking decision to retire.
To date, Nadal is one of the greatest men’s singles player in the history of tennis. Part of the “Big Three” (Nadal, Federer and Djokovic), his accomplishments would fill most of this page. While fans have watched the trajectory of his career play out live, they’ve never truly gotten insight into the player’s own thoughts on the moments that have defined his career. As a notoriously private person, this is the first time Nadal has opened his life up to cameras to capture perhaps the most pivotal moment of his career, his retirement.
The documentary is largely retrospective as Nadal reflects on the highlights and setbacks that have peppered his illustrious career. During his childhood in Mallorca, his uncle Toni stepped into the role as coach and led Nadal for 27 years. His methods may have been controversial, but there’s no question that his unique tutelage helped train Nadal into the formidable opponent he was.
As the “King of Clay,” Nadal’s manner of play could be described as beastly at best. Known for his pre-serve rituals that many smirk at, he transforms when that point is in play into something unstoppable.
One of the best parts of the docuseries is the inclusion of game highlights with winning points that have the audience out of their seats. It’s nothing fans haven’t seen before, but only serves to highlight how skilled of a player he is and how fun he was to watch.
While fans have certainly been privy to his health setbacks, this documentary delves into how much Nadal truly played in pain. Suffering from a genetic foot disability, certain measures Rafa: An Intimate Portrayal of an Elite Athlete Rafael Nadal sprawled out on a tennis court. were enacted to counteract the problem, only for it to cause issues elsewhere in the body. Any sport is hard on the body, but tennis consists of various court materials where a player has to adapt depending on whether they are playing on clay, carpet, hard court or grass. These courts not only dictate how the ball will bounce, but how a player has to land their feet, use their knees and strengthen their core to prevent slippage.
For Nadal, the only goal is to win no matter how poorly his body is feeling. The docuseries does an excellent job in showcasing not only how much Nadal refused to let the pain hold him back, but also how much his team around him could only do so much to refrain a player who just wants to be unstoppable.
But for true tennis fans, the highlight of the series is the second episode which concentrates on the rivalry (turned friendship) between Nadal and Roger Federer. It’s impossible not to smile as the two reflect on how they were pitted against one another, both in the sport and in the media. Federer is a graceful player, hitting each point with precision and finesse. Enter long-haired, new kid Nadal who bounds around the place like the Tasmanian Devil. Two complete opposites, both absolutely skilled in their practice going toe-to-toe. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and watch a match between them live! (Federer’s documentary on Amazon is also a must-watch.) As the metaphorical baton starts slipping from Federer to Nadal, the third episode introduces the latest player in the game, Djokovic, and the formation of the “Big Three” is created. As the three battled between claiming that number one spot, tennis fans were treated to some of the greatest matches in tennis history.
Rafa excels in its portrayal of tenacity and perseverance, highlighting an athlete whose biggest enemy at the end of the day was his own body. Tennis fans will relish in the behindthe-scenes anecdotes and neverbefore discussed moments that have crafted such an illustrious career.
It’s a great documentary for sports f a n s , documentary lovers and those who love a goodole fashioned inspirational j o u r n e y . Watching it unfold, you just know that if his body wasn’t rebelling against itself, Nadal might still be found on courts today. Nadal is an elite champion, both mentally and physically, and Rafa serves to showcase why this man will forever be considered one of the best players in the game.
Rafa is currently streaming on Netflix.
