'My only pressure is to play well and not to win,' Renowned psychiatrist hails Rafael Nadal’s mental grit as he revisits 2008 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer

The defeat heavily distressed him, and what frustrated him the most was that he did not follow the game tactics. Bernelle, during the Tennis Legend Podcast, recalled how Rafa cried after losing that intense match.

When Nadal lost in 2007, he explained that he collapsed in the locker room, he even cried in the shower because he blamed himself for not having followed his game tactics, everything he had prepared, and visualized. He was very angry with himself because he failed in what he had planned to do. Christophe Bernelle said on the Tennis Legend Podcast

The next year, it was the same. Federer and Nadal faced off at the Wimbledon final, and sometime later it started raining. Nadal held his nerves and followed his tactics, and eventually won his first Wimbledon title by a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), and 9-7 in the final that lasted for four hours and 48 minutes. During the match, Nadal told his team not to worry.

Don't worry, I'm committed to what I have to do. Even if I lose, I won't be disappointed. I'm playing well, I'm sticking to my tactics, and we'll see." He has a wonderful phrase: "My only pressure is to play well", and not to win. Christophe Bernelle added

Revisiting the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry

The Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal race is considered one of the greatest rivalries in the history of tennis. The two met each other 40 times, with the Spaniard winning 24 of them, while Federer won 16. Nadal also leads the head-to-head record in the final clashes, 14-10.

The Swiss have won 20 Grand Slam singles titles. Nadal, 37, is still playing and has two more major singles titles than Federer.

Federer has won just one French Open, but the King of Clay holds the record of 14 titles. At Wimbledon, Federer won eight singles titles. The 42-year-old Swiss legend retired after pairing up with Nadal at the 2022 Laver Cup. Nadal is still playing but has hinted that 2024 could be his last season.