Should Nadal get a new coach?

[Zaragoza]

All the credit to his uncle-coach Toni for coaching Nadal since he was a kid and making him a Grand Slam winner and world no. 2.
However I think Nadal is making some adjustments in his game to become a more conventional type of player, reduce his physical effort and have a longer career but in this transition period he is minimizing the abilities that made him the player he is. I think he is lost in the middle of the way and he feels insecure about his game, he´s unconfident and he´s even losing some of his mental strength. I think Nadal needed to change his style a little but not minimizing his strengths. Every player has to maximize his strengths, you cannot pretend Nadal to play a Federer´s style because he will be lost and unconfident about his game. You can make some adjustments, but not a new player.
I´m not sure either if Toni is the right coach to make of Nadal a better hardcourter. I mean, you don´t ask Sampras how to be a better claycourter, you look for someone who has been good in that field. So what do you think?

 

[GOD_BLESS_RAFA]

You 've got a good point there...

I do not pretend to know Nadal but in my opinion he is sensitive and pride about having his uncle as his coach
In my opinion he likes his uncle and will not exchange his uncle with any other coach so he will assume that choice whatever happen to him

He will want to develop his game with him or by himself by asking some pieces of advice from or by following some hours of training with an hardcour expert for instance but he will not hire another coach

I think he will do that

 

[rafan]

Yes but it is better to forgo pride before a fall. Nadal is too good to loose to the could-have-beens - he has been truly great to watch. He should at least try out someone new - does anyone know what the old greats think of his game: Macenro and Conners for instance?

 

[Grimjack]

He should at least try out someone new - does anyone know what the old greats think of his game: Macenro and Conners for instance?

Well, Connors of course is otherwise engaged. Mcenroe couldn't be a worse fit, with his continental grips and net-rushing attitude. I'm all for adding new nuances to your game, but Mac and Nadal have no common ground to begin on -- their games are practically a different sport.

I think Murray did well in corralling Gilbert -- Murray is a guy with a nice game, but no real weapons, who is going to have to maximize his guile to win.

I think Roddick did well in getting Connors on board -- Roddick already has a huge game, and needs to get people afraid of him again. JSC's nastiness should be just the ticket.

So what does Nadal have, and what does playing within that style suggest about possible coaches who can maximize his results? He's already consistent like a freaking backboard. He's fit enough to wear anybody down. And he's mentally resilient. Needs to become mentally strong as well -- to learn to use his limited tools to vary his strategy in unpredictable and productive ways against different opponents.

Wilander would have to be the dream coach/consultant. Nobody knows more about taking a limited game and figuring out how to win with it over the course of a career. Camp Nadal ought to blow his doors off with an offer. Borg isn't bright enough to be a coach, but Nadal ought to fly him in and give him the royal treatment for a week, just for the chance to pick his brain.

 

[PimpMyGame]

Wilander would have to be the dream coach/consultant. Nobody knows more about taking a limited game and figuring out how to win with it over the course of a career. Camp Nadal ought to blow his doors off with an offer. Borg isn't bright enough to be a coach, but Nadal ought to fly him in and give him the royal treatment for a week, just for the chance to pick his brain.

This is a very valid point. Nadal doesn't need to drop his uncle, but he should strengthen his team. What about Michael Chang?

 

[sureshs]

This is a very valid point. Nadal doesn't need to drop his uncle, but he should strengthen his team. What about Michael Chang?

Vilas or Wilander are better options. Vilas speaks Spanish so that is a big plus.

 

[PimpMyGame]

I was looking for a recint-ish pro famous for his mental strength. However you have a very good point about using Vilas ref communication...good call!

 

[alfa164164]

If Wilander was willing to give Safin a try several years ago, Nadal would be much easier to work with/coachable.

 

[FiveO]

Vilas or Wilander are better options. Vilas speaks Spanish so that is a big plus.

Vilas is a major winner with two AO's, a RG and a USO on har-tru. Vilas is also a left hander and played similarly more physical brand of baseline claycourt style like Rafa. He also modified his game adding solid transitions to experience consistent success on all surfaces: winning those two AO's on grass, reaching the QF of Wimbledon twice, a SF of the USO on hardcourts and won the year end Masters on carpet.

If Vilas can coach and convey what he learned he could be a good fit.

 

[Sagittar]

i think he sould change , his uncle has reached his very best limits at the time and it's time to benefit from another coach who's more experienced in these matters like vilas as you said before ..

 

[jamumafa]

Vilas? 'cos Nadal broke his recrod He'll be all sly and say "so to beat Federer in the final of RG you need to serve and volley right handed every signle point"

Jokin'

I think Wilander would be awesome Borg needs the cash though....

 

[GOD_BLESS_RAFA]

This is the best thread I have ever read here

Yes Vilas seems to be a good choice ...The Nadals (the coach and the tennisman) should consult him for hard courts That will be a good idea

Now who will volunteer to talk to the Nadals about that (to consult Vilas)...? Sorry I don't speak Spanish (joking)

I hope this thread ends up to this direction (smiling)

 

[sureshs]

Nadal's problem at this point (if you believe him) is that he is injury-prone. A good physiotherapist or sports medicine specialist will be more helpful. A new coach like Vilas would be great, if he can also offer solutions to the injuries.

 

[edmondsm]

His injury problems seem to stem from him extending points, running from side to side, planting hard....etc. He's a young enough and athletic enough to adapt his game. I think if somebody good work with him on coming in behind his forehand it would make his job alot easier on all surfaces especially the fast ones.

 

[maverick66]

uncle tony has mastered the signals. why switch now and learn new signals. and last time i checked he was still #2. maybe if he fell out of top 20 then u switch and change things. otherwise leave it as it is
.

 

[West Coast Ace]

and last time i checked he was still #2. maybe if he fell out of top 20 then u switch and change things. otherwise leave it as it is
.

More or less my thinking too. If he'd made it to 6, 8, or 10 and plateau'd then I'd be for it. But there close - and it ain't Rocket Science.

 

[sureshs]

uncle tony has mastered the signals. why switch now and learn new signals. and last time i checked he was still #2. maybe if he fell out of top 20 then u switch and change things. otherwise leave it as it is
.

The concern is more for his injuries than his ranking.

 

[MoFed]

There is a slight decline in his game since Wimbledon last year. He hasn't made a final since then. I don't know if that was injuy related or what. This I would call a slight plateau. I am not a big proponent of family members continuing to coach players. Venus and Serena still have vulnerable parts of their game because they haven't had a "real" coach. Yes their parents got them to #1 and #2, but they still needed technicle work. Martina Hingis still has a weak serve and she has been coach by her mother.

For this reason, I think there is only so far family members can take their players before they plateau.

 

[Tennease]

Toni said to Nadal: Hit to his backhand then to his backhand then to his backhand.

Match point AO 2017: RF hit to Nadal's backhand for a clean winner. Lol.


Nadal doesn't need a new coach. I think he needs to learn the proper technique of serving, hitting flat forehand, serve and volleying and to learn to hit every ball early on the rise. He needs to save energy and stop playing marathon and start playing proper tennis.

 

[octobrina10]

Rafa hired a new coach in December 2016.

 

[clayqueen]

If (and it's a big if) Nadal hires a new coach to add to his team it will have to be a Spaniard who lives in Spain. Rafa has never looked beyond Spain for anything unless he is on holiday. Hiring an American just won't work for Rafa he needs someone who speaks his language. He may need a third coach when Toni stops travelling with him in 2018 so Alex Correjta might get a call from the most famous sportsman of all time in Spain.

 

[clayqueen]

There is a slight decline in his game since Wimbledon last year. He hasn't made a final since then. I don't know if that was injuy related or what. This I would call a slight plateau. I am not a big proponent of family members continuing to coach players. Venus and Serena still have vulnerable parts of their game because they haven't had a "real" coach. Yes their parents got them to #1 and #2, but they still needed technicle work. Martina Hingis still has a weak serve and she has been coach by her mother.

For this reason, I think there is only so far family members can take their players before they plateau.

Since Wimbledon last year????????? Nadal didn't play Wimbledon last year; he retired after winning his 2nd round match at RG when his wrist injury flared up and didn't play until the OG.

 

[octobrina10]

Since Wimbledon last year????????? Nadal didn't play Wimbledon last year; he retired after winning his 2nd round match at RG when his wrist injury flared up and didn't play until the OG.

This is a very old thread.

 

[clayqueen]

This is a very old thread.

People just can't get enough of Rafa they keep going over old ground. 2007 ??????????