Mental Fortitude

Greg Garber, an ESPN columnist gave this description of Rafael Nadal after his 2007 loss to Roger Federer:

“Salt tears flowed in the locker room after Rafael Nadal lost to Roger Federer in last year's Wimbledon final.

Sobbing, he told his scowling coach and uncle, Toni, that he might never be in that position again. He truly believed this, but Toni knew better. Rafa was only 21 years old.

"I told him his life does not change because he has not won this match," Toni said.

On Sunday, after a 4-hour, 48-minute marathon, Nadal approached the net to shake Federer's hand with tears in his eyes. This time, after myriad opportunities eluded him, Nadal was a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 winner.”

This time, David conquered Goliath.

For anyone who watched Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Wimbledon this past Sunday, July 6, 2008, you have to admit that this was probably the greatest tennis match ever played; even John McEnroe was quick to admit this, considering that his match with Bjorn Borg in 1980 is considered one of the greatest matches in tennis history.

Every stroke, every return, the volleying, the unforced errors, the double faults, every winner, was felt by the spectators as both players grinded it out. It was excruciating to watch. At one point, in the fourth set during the tie break, I had to change the channel because I could not bring myself to seeing Nadal lose, after putting up such a great fight. He had been up two sets, and up a break, 5-4, about to close it out in the third set when the infamous rains of Wimbledon tricked from the heavens above. Play had to be suspended for a while. My fear-Federer would regroup and come back to take the lead and probably win the game. True to my fears, up to that point, Federer forced a five set game and my nerves where in high gear. I cannot begin to imagine how the players felt, if I felt this tense.

Federer owned Wimbledon. He won it five times and was going for his sixth victory, on the verge of breaking Borg 5 straight Wimbledon wins. He faced Nadal twice in the previous finals, and he beat Nadal. The Associated Press on Federer, “He hadn't lost a match on grass since 2002, and he hadn't lost a set during this tournament before Sunday. He also hadn't faced anyone nearly as talented and indefatigable as Nadal.”

Many a times in the previous matches, people said that nerves got the best of Nadal. He could never close out a game on Federer even if he was leading by a set or two. Even though Nadal owns Federer on the clay surface of Roland Garros (he has won four French opens at the expense of Federer), he could not, up to this point, master Federer on the grass courts of Wimbledon, the most coveted tournament in the tennis world.

So here we were again on Sunday, one year removed from 2007 and nerves became the topic of discussion when Rafa allowed Roger to force a fifth set. Would 2007 repeat itself? It was nerve racking. I strongly believe that it had to take mental toughness on Rafa’s part to believe that he could pull this win. Federer had found his rhythm and momentum was shifting his way; there was no stopping him. Nadal on the other hand was holding on to dear life. Darkness begun covering the mighty Wimbledon center court as evening time approached. All was at stake. Seven times Federer had an opportunity to close out the fifth ser , and seven time Nadal refused to let that happen, not this time, not this year, not on this court.

Two words-Mental Fortitude

How often do we give up in life because we feel we have faced our Federer’s one to many times, that when the Feds come up again, we succumb to the pressure and we lose?

How often do we see the light at the end of the tunnel, but because we are so anxious to close out the game, as Nadal did, that we find ourselves making unnecessary mistakes, instead of playing steady, taking control of the game and eventually winning?

Throughout the scriptures, one thing that is so clear is that men and women who faced their Fed’s won or failed based on their mental fortitude. It is one thing to stand up and claim that one believes in God and another to still claim that when everything is going wrong around you. There has to be a belief in self to believe that God can and will do what He says even when the Fed’s are closing in, forcing a tie break, and on the verge of winning a match that you had control over from the get go!

Mental fortitude: Case in point:

When David was faced with the possibility of losing his entire family and his entire community about to stone him, the scripture says,

‘And David strengthened himself in the Lord.” 1 Sa 20:6
Result: He fought for his family and got them back
Mental Fortitude= Excellent

It would have been okay for David to curve in because the odds were stocked up against him. His family was captured and his people turned against him. He could have succumbed to his Fed, but he chose to fight, not only physically, but more so mentality and that is how he won the battle. He encouraged himself.

Peter is quick to point out the need to have mental fortitude in 1 Pet 1:13, “Therefore prepare your minds for actions, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

How does one prepare their minds for action?

I strongly believe the way one prepares their minds for actions determines their victory or their defeat. As Christians, the most excellent way to prepare our minds is by first believing in God and that God can. For example: If I am anxious about something, my action plan is to find what the manual (Bible) says about anxiety and begin to believe and stand on that scripture until it becomes reality because God does not tell lies. It is a spiritual and mental workout. It may feel or seem like progress is not being made, but every time one chooses to believe God (mental fortitude), the muscle of trust is strengthened.

I am yet to hear of someone going to the gym for a day and them see immediate results on their biceps, triceps, quads, work out-toned up, in shape and ready to conquer the world with their new found miracle. NO! It takes mental fortitude to get up each morning wanting and willing to work out, lifting those weights, doing the sit ups, the push ups etc, because you have a goal in mind. After a few weeks, then you can begin to see some kind of results. Most people stop working out spiritually, mentally, socially, etc on the second day because they have not seen the results and they refuse to mentally prepare for the battles ahead. Let us take heed in Peter’s exhortation: “Prepare your minds for actions.”

Romans 12:1-2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Transformation can only come about when one willingly chooses to renew their minds, their mental fortitude. Mental fortitude cannot be given, it has to be earned by virtual of resolving within oneself that you will not succumb to the pressure of defeat, but the possibility of victory. Mental fortitude happens when you have faced defeat so many times, you have failed so many times, you have struggled so many times, that you have no choice but to trust God. It is not for the faint hearted, but for the brave who are willing to trust God at all costs, even when the odds are against them and their mental state my be faltering.

Such was the approach I believe in Nadal. Federer had defeated him on the coveted Wimbledon twice. 2008 was no different. However, Nadal had prepared his mind for actions not only physically, but also mentally after his defeat in 2007, that when he was down a set, a match point, or about to be broken on serve, he fought back, and he eventually won.

Could it be that its Federer’s turn to have mental fortitude to defeat Nadal at the French Open since Nadal has won it four times at the expense of Federer, the only grand slam Federer has not been able to win? Wouldn’t be surprised. Let us wait for 2009. Its all about practice, but also a mental fortitude.