However, according to the opinion of the Sifri the expression ‘וָאֶתְחַנַן’ (which is a request that Hashem shall bestow upon him ‘Matnas Chinom’) is not in itself one of the ten expressions of prayer (which as mentioned prayer is connected with a person’s Avodah and his merits...)
This is because he is on the level where he sees himself as someone who has no merits at all on the basis of which Hashem shall fulfil his request and he therefore only asks for pure ‘Matnas Chinom’.
One can add, that it is explained in Chassidic discourses that the ten expressions of prayer correspond to the ten levels within ‘Malchus’ of the spiritual world of ‘Atzilus’, and a request for ‘Matnas Chinom’ corresponds to the spiritual level of the state of ‘Kesser’ of ‘Malchus’ and in comparison to this lofty spiritual state everything is considered as nought.
So, perhaps it can be said that the two perspectives of ‘Matnas Chinom’ correspond to the two levels within the state of ‘Kesser’ of the spiritual world of ‘Atzilus’.
External and Internal Dimensions of Kesser
From the perspective of the external dimension of ‘Kesser’ (also referred to as ‘Arich’) which considers the existence of created beings and their Avodah, the aspect of ‘Matnas Chinom’ is only in the style of the one who is praying.
Whereas from the perspective of the internal dimension of ‘Kesser’ (also referred to as ‘Atik’) which considers everything as nought one can only ever ask for pure ‘Matnas Chinom’.
