Chances are, whether or not you follow the sport of tennis, the name Rafael Nadal may at least ring a bell. His list of accomplishments would itself warrant its own article; a cursory glance online lists such achievements as his lengthy number one men’s singles ranking, title wins, French Open and Wimbledon victories, and even an Olympic medal, a chunk of which landed on his résumé before he reached the age of 20. That’s just for starters. Would it surprise you to learn of his external battles, physical ailments, and the struggle to reach the level some questioned was even remotely feasible? Is a four-part docuseries enough to cover such a journey? “RAFA,” a Netflix-backed dive into the pivotal moments of his career, takes a well-worn documentary path but offers enough substance, atmosphere, and interview subjects to help it stand apart, albeit barely, from its numerous peers.
Shedding light on every moment leading up to Nadal’s pursuit to the top could add another chapter or two to an already-packed series; by focusing on the highlights, does “RAFA” take on the appearance of a “Last Dance” or “30 for 30,” though just enough exists in those moments in between to help balance those scenes on the court. It’s a true start-to-finish career profile, utilizing early footage of a young Rafa and the promise he displayed throughout his youth; closely coached by his uncle Toni, who also appears to wax nostalgic on his nephew’s lifelong reign, it isn’t without an air of intensity, a sensation felt especially during every recap of his most pivotal matches. A dialogue exchange between the two materializes from time to time, wherein Rafa’s elder informs his protégé of how he intends to “make it rain” if the youth begins to lose, only for a coincidental shift in the weather to prompt Rafa’s declaration, in response, “You can make it stop raining. I think I can beat him.” There’s no questioning the demand Toni expected of Rafa as the years passed, a firm believer in eschewing true recovery days in favor of more time on the court.
Did it pay off? As wins began to accumulate, health concerns surfaced, such as a foot issue requiring an insole, transparently setting the tone early for his eventual decline. His dominance on clay, a popular court surface amongst Spaniards, would soon meet its match when placed up against the legendary Roger Federer, a phenom on grass and with whom a genuine rivalry would emerge. The fight would even extend to the surface, with a custom clay/grass court utilized during the infamous Battle of the Surfaces in 2007; here, Rafa would claim victory. Federer’s presence through the documentary, especially Episode Two, can’t be ignored, but an excellent tease in the same episode’s final seconds reveal Novak Djokovic, seated and ready to tell his side of the story from his side of the court; to see the so-named “Big Three” champions together as they reflect on Rafa’s glory displays a level of respect, sportsmanship and reverence as their stories of Rafa force them to confront their own respective pasts.
The series does save precious moments to showcase several noteworthy Yanks, such as Andy Roddick and a clip of Andre Agassi, describing in archival footage how Rafa, at the time, seemed to be writing checks Agassi wasn’t sure his body could cash. Clips from his life nowadays show a devoted husband and father (does he truly refer to his son as “Rafalet?”), talk show footage and interviews from years prior show him poking fun at his subpar English skills, and the emotion runs high when all around him, including those in the press, sit ready to run their respective front page stories, believing he was ready to announce his retirement following his victory at the 2022 Australian Open. That announcement would indeed arrive two years later, a moment set up in the opening minutes of Episode One and later detailing the email he would send his team, making it official. His greatest rival, like numerous athletes, was always Father Time.
Despite the obvious care and polished sheen courtesy of director Zachary Heinzerling, establishing “RAFA” beyond a mere sports profile sees the four episodes stumble; what sparked his relentless motivation? What fueled his ongoing pursuit of the goals once out of reach, eventually attained? Sure, seeing Federer and Rafa compete highlights their contrasting images, with Federer’s put-together fashion sense clashing with Rafa’s in every sense of the word, and to see the endless parade of shots capturing a joyous Rafa sprawled on the court following win after win emits an undeniably palpable feeling. As he speaks, however, his face alternates between an expressionless facade and an awkward smile as he attempts to talk his way through every failure; “RAFA,” whether intentional or otherwise, creates a profile of someone more complicated than four episodes might allow.
It’s enough to ask the question of many an athlete: what lies beyond the game? What comes after, and what was happening in the midst? When regarded as more than their sport seemingly allows, what’s the story that will one day be told? “RAFA” seems content to focus on one aspect, arguably his most important. What more might be left to be said? As well-made as “RAFA” might be, it somehow begs for more. Rafa himself once played a match that lasted nearly six hours in 2012. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting example of the life he’s now happy to leave behind. [B]
