Now that Rafa says goodbye, all the good memories we shared together come to mind, from that episode of the Davis Cup in Seville—a good boost for him—to the first time I saw him play. I rewind and see that kid who, at 12 or 13 years old, in a challenger from Bonasport (Barcelona), already had a huge impact on me because he had enormous energy, very out of the ordinary. However, what impressed me the most was his mentality; While the rest of the children were just that, nothing more than children, he was already competing as an adult. In that sense, and I think it is no secret, I think Toni has been fundamental and the man from whom I have learned the most. Beyond the merely technical, his uncle influenced his mentality from the beginning and prepared him so that no external factor would affect or condition him.
That first time already showed that, if things didn’t work out for him, he had a plan B, C or D. Later I found out again that as a child he had a very different maturity; While the other children let go easily, he was capable of playing with maximum concentration and intensity, with an extra bit of courage and determination in the most critical circumstances. Because in that field, that of adversity, he has been the best. That is something innate and at the same time worked on (we return to Toni), and that he has managed to extend from beginning to end. I also remember the first time I called him up, for a series in Brno. He was 17 years old and lost the two games he played, but he seemed very confident and transmitted a different message, out of the ordinary; then I already had the ability to always see the glass half full. That mental cleansing. And in the end he achieved the decisive point.
Since he was little he was a very tactical tennis player and he has known how to exploit that. I don’t know any player who, playing poorly, has achieved so many victories and better results than his. And that responds to that search for solutions. To intelligence. He has known how to take advantage of his rivals’ weaknesses more than anyone else, in the same way that he has known how to constantly evolve and recycle himself. His intensity, his acceleration – superior to that of the others, due to his ability to move the head of the racket – and that characteristic grip have always been there, but we cannot ignore an outstanding improvement with the backhand, both to open angles and with the cut. He also polished his serve (especially the second) and learned to hit flatter to adapt to the trend, without losing, of course, those changes of rhythm and height that were so complicated for the person in front of him.
He grew a lot offensively and internalized direct play, but above all, I think the most differential trait is that since he started competing, he knew how to do it better than anyone else under pressure. In that sense, the vast majority usually fail, but not him. He is the best, I would say even above Novak Djokovic. When things got bad, Rafa always knew how to put one gear higher than the others.
From that point of view and the results, he leaves a great legacy, inspiring for boys and girls who are starting out in tennis, for schools, but it is still superior from a behavioral point of view. He has always shown deep respect for the sport and for his opponents. Now goodbye comes and, personally, I think it is an incredible merit that I have managed to get this far. I want to thank you for what you have projected and for the respect you have always shown. For everything we experienced together. From Brno to Seville, and the splendid journey that it has completed afterwards.
Jordi Arrese He won the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games, captained the Spanish team that won the Salad Bowl in 2004 and called Nadal for the first time in the Davis Cup.
