Happy Ending for Rafael

He's Back!

In the figurative dark and at the end of a long and winding road that led to Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Rafael Nadal at long last found the light, winning the Davis Cup for both Spain and himself.

This tennis year has finally ended, just twenty three days before it's set to begin again and six months since Nadal's last win, a time that was filled with frustration, anxiety and most importantly doubt. What was most striking in both of Nadal's victories against Argentina, and particularly the title clinching match against Del Potro was his fight, his passion, and something noticeably absent since his French Open triumph in June; true joy.

2011 was a great year by anybody's standards, except maybe Nadal. He played in three of the year's four Grand Slam finals, won three titles including the French Open and the Monte Carlo Masters for a record breaking seventh time. Yet it was his failures, not his success that were foremost on his mind over the last six months. Losses on his beloved clay followed by multiple defeats on grass that shook Nadal to his core. It is now up to him to figure out a way back, back to the player he was before he let the doubt in, back before he new how to lose, back before the rest of the field believed they could win.

For today though, the joy and the belief returned and we got to glimpse Nadal's way back. Maybe this Davis Cup win will be the springboard to even more success. The same springboard Novak Djokovic used last year, and perhaps this victory is the start of wins that define him instead of losses that defeat him. Tennis needs this Nadal, Djokovic needs this Nadal and most importantly Nadal needs him as well.

We at TNC believe the trivalry with Djokovic and Federer will reach it's apex in 2012 and their battles will define the tennis year. Nadal is too good and too young not to rise again, and if this win for his country has proved anything to him, it's that even in his nadir, he can summon the courage and the will to win. And knowing that is his way back.