Rafa ... my story

Rumours were abound before the Australian Open that a "ghost writer" was travelling with Rafa as he was embarking on having his autobiography written. He even eluded to it and told us to 'watch this space' in one of the questions he answered on his Blog NOT to be have been asked by me. (Well ... I did, it just wasn't my question that was chosen *rofl*).

Anyhow ... it has now been confirmed that Rafa, accompanied by the writer John Carlin, will be producing a book which will be out just before this year's US Open. Cue amazing and frantic book signings in NYC ;-). Its already available for pre-order in the US at the following link ...

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=rafa+my+story&x=12&y=13

There's been a post today on NadalNews about it, with the obvious question being raised as to why now, when he's still so young and will no doubt achieve more within the game. I've made a comment though that I believe if you just want to go for the pure "story" aspect, then now is perhaps the right time, and I've made these following points ...

Its a corny expression, but Rafa has been on a journey. The years of hard work and application it took to first get to number one. To evolve himself from being a clay court player to then having the success on grass and hardcourt Slams. Then from being No. 1 and having it all, to slowly losing it one by one because of injury and his personal difficulties, to being at a point this time last year when he didn’t hold a single Slam.

Yet from that, his hard work and application and his strength of character saw him achieve “the Clay Court Slam”, go back to Number 1, win Wimbledon and then probably for him, the pinnacle, the US Open and to be the youngest player ever to hold a Career Grand Slam.

The author was travelling with him as he prepared to try and achieve something that hadn’t been done since 1969, hold all 4 Slams at once, so what a fitting ending that could have been.

Anyhow, from now on Rafa can create his own other records, such as holding the most French Open Slams, and who knows? He may have another shot at a “Grand Slam”. Personally, I think he will just add to his Slam total as his career progresses but not match it to the extent of Federer’s.

So maybe Rafa’s “story” is winning it all, losing it all, and winning it again to becoming a Career Grand Slam holder and being within touching distance of holding them all at the same time. Achieving more just adds to the tally, but I think the 'story' of Rafa's career is now.