Should uncle Toni become Mirka, Nadal needs a new coach?

[seestern]

Watching today match Nadal-Ferrer, it's definitely Nadal was not in his 100% fit. But the same thing happens with Novak and Fed sometimes. They still win bc big serves & attacking approach. I wonder why Nadal could not improve his serve over years. He is going to be mature in almost of his skills: baseline, net, movement, fore/back hand, mentality.
Now he needs a new coach, who can teach him how to serve, maybe a little bit of serve reading skill and some perspective of more attacking game.
As uncle Toni is always big in his mind and to back-up his family-based spirit, I suggest the uncle to be a Mirka's role. So uncle Toni still takes care him anyhow.
Now or never, I just hope it's not too late for him to add some positive new thing. It's not easy for both of them. Whether uncle Toni is willing to lose some power/profit to better his nephew???
We see today many negative outcomes from such relationship, hopefully not this case.

 

[David L]

Watching today match Nadal-Ferrer, it's definitely Nadal was not in his 100% fit. But the same thing happens with Novak and Fed sometimes. They still win bc big serves & attacking approach. I wonder why Nadal could not improve his serve over years. He is going to be mature in almost of his skills: baseline, net, movement, fore/back hand, mentality.
Now he needs a new coach, who can teach him how to serve, maybe a little bit of serve reading skill and some perspective of more attacking game.
As uncle Toni is always big in his mind and to back-up his family-based spirit, I suggest the uncle to be a Mirka's role. So uncle Toni still takes care him anyhow.
Now or never, I just hope it's not too late for him to add some positive new thing. It's not easy for both of them. Whether uncle Toni is willing to lose some power/profit to better his nephew???
We see today many negative outcomes from such relationship, hopefully not this case.

There's not much Toni or anyone else can do to transform Nadal's game. Nadal can improve just by practising things, like anyone else. But there will not be a major transformation of his game. His technique and groove is pretty much set. What you see now, is what you will be seeing 5 years from now. He might be able to improve his serve a little, but he's not going to become this major server. His western grip, stroke paths and positioning are really set up for playing on clay, which gives him time and support, so he will always find hardcourts more difficult. His technique is just not designed for attacking tennis and it is much harder to take the ball early with a western grip. To change, he would have to learn the game all over again.

 

[Ossric]

Watching today match Nadal-Ferrer, it's definitely Nadal was not in his 100% fit. But the same thing happens with Novak and Fed sometimes. They still win bc big serves & attacking approach. I wonder why Nadal could not improve his serve over years. He is going to be mature in almost of his skills: baseline, net, movement, fore/back hand, mentality.
Now he needs a new coach, who can teach him how to serve, maybe a little bit of serve reading skill and some perspective of more attacking game.
As uncle Toni is always big in his mind and to back-up his family-based spirit, I suggest the uncle to be a Mirka's role. So uncle Toni still takes care him anyhow.
Now or never, I just hope it's not too late for him to add some positive new thing. It's not easy for both of them. Whether uncle Toni is willing to lose some power/profit to better his nephew???
We see today many negative outcomes from such relationship, hopefully not this case.

Federer hasn't needed a coach. He's gone coachless often. Toni isn't really needed anymore, but Nadal loves his family and I doubt he'd ever 'fire' his uncle.

Nadal doesn't need a coach, he just needs to rework his serve. He knows how to serve, he just needs to fix his form. With all his strength I am surprised he doesn't have a massive bombing 140+ MPH serve. The guy is ripped.

 

[David L]

Federer hasn't needed a coach. He's gone coachless often. Toni isn't really needed anymore, but Nadal loves his family and I doubt he'd ever 'fire' his uncle.

Nadal doesn't need a coach, he just needs to rework his serve. He knows how to serve, he just needs to fix his form. With all his strength I am surprised he doesn't have a massive bombing 140+ MPH serve. The guy is ripped.

The serve is about more than just strength. Technique, flexibility, ball toss, mobility are all important factors. Big muscles do not equal a big serve.

 

[dave333]

^^^ Yah, look at andy murray...

 

[seestern]

There's not much Toni or anyone else can do to transform Nadal's game. Nadal can improve just by practising things, like anyone else. But there will not be a major transformation of his game. His technique and groove is pretty much set. What you see now, is what you will be seeing 5 years from now. He might be able to improve his serve a little, but he's not going to become this major server. His western grip, stroke paths and positioning are really set up for playing on clay, which gives him time and support, so he will always find hardcourts more difficult. His technique is just not designed for attacking tennis and it is much harder to take the ball early with a western grip. To change, he would have to learn the game all over again.

I would agree partly, maybe bc of my limited tennis practice.
But can he somehow change his grip just when he serves?
(I know it could be a stupid question since Nadal must have spent years to fasten his serve but it is way below other skills)

 

[West Coast Ace]

I was going to start a thread on this and my prediction: when Moya retires he will move in and take over the coaching duties for Rafa. Of course if Moya keeps winning - might be a while!

Rafa still puts too much spin on his serves - a la a clay court specialist. Just needs some minor tweaks in technique and practice! - to start getting his share of cheap points.

 

[Fedace]

Rafa needs brad Gilbert as his new coach.

 

[Alexandros]

As uncle Toni is always big in his mind and to back-up his family-based spirit, I suggest the uncle to be a Mirka's role.

I have a hard time visualising uncle Toni in missionary position thinking of England...

 

[ninman]

I have a hard time visualising uncle Toni in missionary position thinking of England...

Why thinking of England? Do you mean Britain? If you do could you stop insulting the 10-20 million people that live in Britain who are NOT ENGLISH.

 

[andfor]

He needs a nutritionist and to stop eating everything in front of him. He could lose 10 pounds easy and still be healthy and just as strong and fast. He's build like a Roddick but can move. I have always said if something impairs his movement he'll become just another good grinder. A little less weight would relieve a lot of pressure on his knees.

I know some will react harshly to this but it's the truth, like it or not.

 

[wangs78]

Nadal needs to lose some weight. I was at the Open two nights ago when he lost to Ferrer and he is bulkier than he appears to be on tv. I mean, he's definitely ripped, but it's amazing how thick his arms and legs are, and he's only 21! Don't think all that mass is going to help his durability in the long-term...

 

[andfor]

Nadal needs to lose some weight. I was at the Open two nights ago when he lost to Ferrer and he is bulkier than he appears to be on tv. I mean, he's definitely ripped, but it's amazing how thick his arms and legs are, and he's only 21! Don't think all that mass is going to help his durability in the long-term...

See, I told ya!

I must say you made a very good observation wangs78!

 

[David L]

I would agree partly, maybe bc of my limited tennis practice.
But can he somehow change his grip just when he serves?
(I know it could be a stupid question since Nadal must have spent years to fasten his serve but it is way below other skills)

Well, on the serve he uses the grip most of the rest of the tour use (continental grip), so he does'nt really need to change it. His seems a little more pronounced, so moving it a millimetre or so to his left may help flatten out the serve a little more, get some more forward momentum, but there's more to the serve than just the grip. Nadal's serve is'nt bad, it's just not as good as some of the others out there.

When I mentioned the western grip, I was referring to the forehand. The grip and mechanics of Nadal's forehand are ideal for clay, not so good for hardcourts. This he will not be able to change successfully, just because of the nature of the western forehand. All grips have their pros and cons. Sampras used an eastern grip on the forehand, which worked well on hardcourts and grass, but was a hindrance on clay.

 

[seestern]

Well, on the serve he uses the grip most of the rest of the tour use (continental grip), so he does'nt really need to change it. His seems a little more pronounced, so moving it a millimetre or so to his left may help flatten out the serve a little more, get some more forward momentum, but there's more to the serve than just the grip. Nadal's serve is'nt bad, it's just not as good as some of the others out there.

When I mentioned the western grip, I was referring to the forehand. The grip and mechanics of Nadal's forehand are ideal for clay, not so good for hardcourts. This he will not be able to change successfully, just because of the nature of the western forehand. All grips have their pros and cons. Sampras used an eastern grip on the forehand, which worked well on hardcourts and grass, but was a hindrance on clay.

So what grip(s) does Fed use?
Is there anything related to Nadal's natural muscle?
I mean about something differentiate between Roddick's 146mph serve to others.