Lewis Hamilton, Rafael Nadal and LeBron James united in their drive for improvement

(From left) F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, tennis player Rafael Nadal and LA Lakers star LeBron James. PHOTOS: AFP, EPA-EFE
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It was July 6, 2008. British Grand Prix won, Lewis Hamilton headed home listening to radio commentary of the Wimbledon men's singles final. He caught half an hour of the 4hr 48min classic - enough to recognise that he and Rafael Nadal are cut from the same cloth.

The Briton, then 23, said after Nadal defeated Roger Federer for his first All England crown: "Nadal had never tasted it, and for me I can probably identify with his hunger to win that first title. I've had the hunger since I was five- or six-years-old. It's always been there, and I think (it) always will be."

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