This first-person article is the experience of Vaidehee Lanke, a medical student living in Saskatoon. For more information on CBC's first-person stories, see frequently asked questions.
The news hit me hard. 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. Admiration for his outstanding 23-year career. Deep sadness at never seeing him play again. A powerful gratitude for what he has given to the sport and to me.
Growing up, I was never part of the sports world. In fact, it was just the opposite: gym class was an endless dance of discomfort. That all changed when I came across tennis. In the middle of college finals in the spring of 2021, in an attempt to find another way to procrastinate, I came across old videos of the US Open.
Suddenly, I was watching highlights of match after match. With each match and post-match interview, I fell in love with the sheer athleticism of the game, the stats constantly in play, the psychology behind every move, and the story of the players. I spent that summer learning the rules of tennis, and terms like baseline, cut, ace, rally, and smash became part of my vocabulary. When the 2021 US Open came around, I was a totally dedicated tennis fan.
And although I learned about all the greats, the Spanish Nadal became my favorite. It wasn't just his title as king of clay or his powerful forehand that earned my devotion, but rather his humility and never-give-up spirit.
Dig deep and swing
While my love for tennis has not yet materialized into the ability to play it, Nadal's gifts have been an inspiration to me in my personal life.
I still remember my first semester as a graduate student in epidemiology. I had just moved alone from Saskatoon to Montreal. Between trying to find a community, adapting to a new course load, and dealing with the enormous research load ahead, the challenges seemed insurmountable.
While it may seem like there is little similarity between the Grand Slam tennis courts and the academic world, Nadal's unbreakable spirit was never far from my mind as I charted my path through this new challenge.
It can be easy in the daily grind of school or work to forget the joy that propelled you on your path. But Nadal's career has been an example of seeking, holding on to and cultivating that same joy. Even in recent years, when injuries made the game difficult, Nadal continued to return with that unmistakable smile of his, a clear demonstration that he loves what he does.
During my long days of research and writing, I reminded myself to pause and celebrate the fact that I can study health. It is a topic very close to my heart and something I have dreamed about since I was a child. Talking to my fellow students brought me joy because it reminded me that the work we did in school mattered in today's world.
One of my favorite tennis moments of all time was watching Nadal win a thrilling final at the 2009 Australian Open men's singles. After winning the Australian Open title for the first time, The first thing Nadal did after receiving the trophy was give a heartbroken Roger Federer a hug and console his friend.
I still get teary-eyed watching that video, and many others, in which Nadal reminded me that, even in the most pressurized situations, it is important to approach others with empathy and kindness.
Graduate studies sometimes made me feel alone, but Nadal's approach to tennis reminded me to reach out to my fellow students, whether to rant about our research or laugh about the problems of the day. Together, through the highest moments and the lowest, we celebrated and comforted each other, reminding each other that we were on a collective team.
I will greatly miss Nadal's powerful performances, his quirky interviews and his goofy personality. But he gave his millions of fans many lessons about how life should be lived, with joy, perseverance and humility.
Now that Nadal retires and embarks on a new adventure, I too embark on my own new adventure. I am back in Saskatoon and have begun the journey to becoming a doctor. In the coming years, I imagine there will be many times when the odds seem to be against me, when the challenges seem too great, or when there is a risk of losing everything.
In those times, I will bring Nadal's example to my mind and perspective.
Smile. Go deep and swing. Don't save anything and win.
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