More than a victory.

        Last night, Spain won their fifth Davis Cup in history with Rafael Nadal’s phenomenal victory against Juan Martin Del Potro. For me, however, the utmost highlight of the evening was not the splendid performance both players delivered, but rather, what took place both on the spectator bleachers throughout the 4-hour match as well as on the court during the award ceremony.

        Hardly had I ever seen team spirit being shown so clearly in such a highly individualistic sport as tennis. Only one player from each team was competing on the court, yet it seemed as though the entire national teams of Spain and Argentina were physically involved in the match. They were shouting out instructions, pieces of advice and words of encouragement to their respective teammates. I could not understand what Fernando Verdasco was telling Nadal at an instant in the match, but the look on his face told me that whatever it was, it must have come from his genuine wish for Nadal to win.

        It was surprising in the most delightful way to see the members of the two teams putting their arms around one another’s shoulders, cheering for the ones on the court with hearty enthusiasm and, right after the match ended, pulling the two players into warm embraces to either share the overflowing joy of victory, in Nadal’s case, or as a gesture of comfort to the teary-eyed Argentinian. It was such a beautiful sight to witness.


        Actually, it reminded me so much of how my Chelsea players always celebrate their triumphs or experience the bitterness of defeats: together. Football, being the epitome of team sports, has shown us how the sweetness of victory is intensified while the pain of a crushing defeat is soothed when teammates are there for one another. Such is the characteristic beauty of team sports, that it touched me deeply to see it being displayed in tennis, a sport where the closest thing to a team is the player’s entourage, which usually consists of his coach, trainers, family members and friends, none of whom could ever replace or fulfill the role of true ‘teammates’.

        

        A player does not strive to win the Davis Cup trophy for his team only, but for his country as well. Each member of the national team has an overriding duty to do his nation proud as well as a rare sense of belonging to something greater than themselves. It is this spirit that motivates the players and propels them forward. In any other tournament, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer are opponents, but here they were on the same side for they share the Spanish identity that ties them together as countrymen. 

 

        The same sense of nationalism could be strongly felt from the spectators in the stadium who came to support not their favourite tennis players so much as their national team. Banners with the names of Nadal, Djokovic or Federer were a rarity. Instead, the enthusiastic crowd was overwhelmingly covered with the signature colours of the two teams. The national flags were flying with pride and chants of the countries’ names were relentless throughout the match. Spanish supporters dancing in ecstasy. Sorrowful tears streaming down the Argentinian fans’ faces. Suddenly, it felt like World Cup all over again.

 

        It was without a doubt an indescribable delight to see that even in a sport that places paramount importance on individualism as tennis, the roles of teamwork and nationalism are not forgotten. Davis Cup, with its unique combination of those two seemingly opposite characteristics, has captured my interest in a way unrivaled by any other sport events.