Rafa Nadal and Phil Mickelson. If Roger Federer and Tiger Woods represent Superman in their sport... Rafa and "Lefty" represents their greatest nemesis. Like every hero, they have their arch rival... that someone who pushes him to his limits, tests his boundaries and in the event extend the gap at the very top beyond the mere mortals that can only try catching their tracks.Rafa and Lefty are the undisputed top rivals to Tiger and Roger. And since Tiger and Roger has been getting all the glory for having dominated the honours in their sports, Rafa and Lefty has seldom been featured for their fierce rivalry with the most recognizable figures in golf and tennis.
In tennis, Rafa Nadal represents the guile and tenacity that contrast the elegance and precision that the Swiss master Roger is remembered by. The Spanish bull as they call him is the fiercest rival on the tennis courts in his generation, and maybe in the sport's history. It was his determination and physical prowness that saw him claim so many French Opens, Roger had to depend on his off-year to claim just one French open out of so many Grandslams he has in 2009. This is one athelete who doesn't know how to give in, a counter puncher who forces his opponents to play extra shots, and better shots to beat him. He is the athlete who developed a fearsome left forehand that topspins heavily and disturbs the Swiss master's rhythm. Its almost as if God created Nadal to stunt Federer's dominance, that one Achilles heel that Roger will always encounter. Number two on the tennis tour behind Roger for many years now, the King of Clay is the worthy challenger to the Fed's throne.
Phil "Lefty" Mickelson is by far one of the most entertaining golfers on the pro tour. His ability with the short game is what makes him that extra special with golf fans worldwide. Mickelson is also often the one man whom if any could take out Tiger Woods at the sport of golf. It was Mickelson that caught my attention when he did the amazing flop shot over his own head to find the green. To call it genuis was an understatement. Together with Woods, they are undisputedly the most consistent golfers on tour, having been the 1-2 pairing in the modern era.
Both Rafa and Mickelson are incidentally right handers. They however honed their skills using their left hand. Rafa strikes a wicked left forehand but his backhand is just as effective, with his right hand equally dominant. Phil Mickelson while usually dominating the fairways with his left hand has hit shots at weird angles with his right hand stance before, especially after wayward drives which he can be prone to.
Both have overcame and are still overcoming private issues in their own life. Rafa's parents are going through divorce while Phil's wife and mother have both struggled with cancer. Both have admirably came through much of this untimely discourse by their impressive showings and professionalism with the sport they love. Rafa is of course going through a bad time with injury recovery and has lost some of that pace that made him such a feared player. But you never bet against Rafa Nadal bouncing back. Even at his tender age, he is a colossal figure in sports when it comes to professionalism and dedication. Phil Mickelson similarly has displayed extreme determination by delivering two major tournament wins at the end of 2009 despite the pressures at home. He is an example of grit and confidence in his abilities.
So if Roger and Tiger are cult figures in their sport, Rafa and Phil are the two that almost unequivocally are the heroes for the underdogs. For they lead those who can only watch Roger and Tiger build their legacy while they struggle with their mortaility. There are many pretenders to the throne of "biggest rival" to Roger and Tiger, talented players like Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in tennis, and gifted players like Ernie Els and Vijay Singh in golf but only Rafa and Mickelson are recognized to be true blue rivals with an attitude and mental capacity to match the top men. All these makes for great entertainment and creates the biggest buzz in sports.
Rafa and Mickelson attract me just as Roger and Tiger do. Their similarities enthrall me for I can draw many comparisons in two of the fiercest rivalries in modern sports. While Tiger and Phil, Roger and Rafa might be the greatest rivals, they also have the greatest respect for each other as competitors, understanding that the greatest challenges motivate them to even greater greatness. They push each other to their limits, and that in itself can only be a great plus to fans of tennis and golf.
