Have you ever negotiated anything with someone who conveyed - through verbal and non-verbal means - brazenly, shamelessly and unmistakably, that his MOST basic existence depends on the thingy in question? Have you? If you have, you will then remember having 'lost' even before the most benign piece moved on the chess board.
You will also remember muttering to yourself "Man, this guy is freaking serious about this".
The 'projection' may not matter to you in the beginning but as the 'intensity' not only continues but it elevates even further, the 'matter' part transforms into toll - inevitably.
Heard of Kobe waiting on the sideline to re-enter the game when Chris Rock attempts to initiate small talk?
Nadal epitomizes above most shamelessly when he is receiving serve. Can you remember ANYONE else this focused at that moment?
To make sure it sticks and is not waived as some cheap 'put on', he reinforces it with nearly EVERY other move on the court. For instance, he doesn't even bother to direct the ball to the ball kids when the ball is passing inches away from him. Heck, he will 'make' the ball kid fetch the ball lying dead two feet from him.
Contrast that to clowns who will go WAY WAY WAY out of their way to 'help' the ball kids and keep things moving.
Heck, it took 'Will you marry me' for someone to break the spell - after couple of minutes.
That scowl is a constant through the entire duration of the match - EVEN when he is toweling.
All that without even inserting his stifling defense leaving NOTHING to doubt as to his 'intention'. Or his nickname 'Bull'. Or his now famous 'never give up' attitude........
That do or die mindset has nowhere to go but straight into the opponent's brain - relentlessly.
Conversely, you have clowns who are willing to 'stray' even at the slightest 'provocation'. Heck, they will create the 'provocation' - when there's none present. Nadal will 'deny' it when it's present.
The act ALONE is paralyzing on it's own but when it's backed with authenticity Nadal has now established without ANY doubt - meaning 'That's the real him' notion - the impact is indisputable and inescapable - in the long run.