This first-person article is about the experience of Weidehy Ranke, a medical student living in Saskatoon. For more information on CBC’s first-person stories, see our FAQ.
The news shocked me greatly. Rafael Nadal, one of the greatest tennis players of all time and my personal favorite, announced his retirement last week.
I felt a rush of emotions. I admire his outstanding 23-year career. I am deeply saddened that I will never be able to see him play again. I am truly grateful for what he has given to the sport and to me.
As a child, I was never involved in the world of sports. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Physical education class consisted of awkward dancing. That changed when I discovered tennis. In the spring of 2021, as college finals were in full swing, I was looking for another way to procrastinate and found an old video of the US Open.
Suddenly, I was watching the highlights of the match. With each game and post-game interview, I found myself absorbed in the sheer athleticism of the game, the constant statistics, the psychology behind each move, and the stories of the players. . That summer, I learned the rules of tennis and terms like baseline, slice, ace, rally, and smash became part of my vocabulary. By the time the 2021 U.S. Open rolled around, I was a full-on tennis fan.
And as I learned about all the greats, Spain’s Nadal became my favorite. It wasn’t just his title as clay court king or his signature powerful forehand that won me my love, but rather his humility and never-give-up spirit.
dig deep and swing
Although my love for tennis has not yet materialized in my ability to play the game, Nadal’s talent has inspired me in my personal life.
I still remember my first semester as a graduate student in epidemiology. I had just moved from Saskatoon to Montreal on my own. Between trying to find a community, adapting to a completely new course load, and dealing with the enormous burden of upcoming studies, the challenges seemed insurmountable.
It may seem that there are few similarities between a Grand Slam tennis court and academia, but Nadal’s indomitable spirit stuck with me as I charted my path through this new challenge. .
As we get busy with school and work, we tend to forget the joy of starting our own path. But Nadal’s career is an example of exploring, preserving and cultivating just that joy. Even when injuries have hampered his playing in recent years, Nadal has continued to come back with that unmistakable grin on his face, making it clear that he loves what he does.
During my long days of research and writing, I told myself to stop and celebrate the fact that I was able to study health. It’s an issue very close to my heart and something I’ve dreamed of pursuing since childhood. Talking to other students brought joy to me as I was reminded that what we are working on in school is important in the real world.
My favorite tennis moment of all time was Nadal’s heartbreaking victory in the 2009 Australian Open men’s singles final. The first thing Nadal did after receiving the trophy after winning the Australian Open for the first time was to hug a heartbroken Roger Federer and comfort his friend.
My eyes still water after watching that video and countless others. Nadal reminded me of the importance of treating others with empathy and kindness, even in the most pressured situations.
Although graduate studies can sometimes feel lonely, Nadal’s approach to tennis is to reach out to fellow students to complain about his studies and laugh about the day’s troubles. It reminded me of that. Together, we celebrated and comforted each other through the highest moments and the lowest of lows, remembering that we are part of a collective team.
We will miss Nadal’s strong performances, quirky interviews, and goofy personality. But he gave his millions of fans many lessons on how to live life with joy, patience and humility.
Now that Nadal has retired and embarked on a new adventure, I am embarking on a new adventure of my own. I am moving back to Saskatoon and starting my journey to become a doctor. I think there will be many times in the coming years when the odds stack against me, when the challenges seem too great, when it seems like I’m at risk of losing everything.
At times like these, I bring Nadal’s example into my mind and outlook.
smile. Dig deep and swing. Don’t hold back and win.
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