Toni Nadal hired as the coach of Felix Auger Aliassime

Gary Duane

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
I can't possibly see why anyone would dislike this young player. As I said elsewhere, he looks like about 10 kids I teach piano to. He's always been polite. He has a very easy to watch game.

Is Toni the answer? Who knows. But I can see why Toni might want to coach someone else, to prove he is really a top coach for someone else besides Rafa. I always wish people the best, so I'm hoping this partnership will take off.
 
vernonbc

vernonbc

Legend
octobrina10 said:
The RNA is not Toni Nadal's 'life goal'. The RNA project was initiated by Rafa and his father, who is a successful businessman and has a lot of experience in the sports management field - he was his brother's, pro footballer Miguel Angel Nadal, agent.
Rafa says in his autobiography ("Rafa: My Story", 2010) that his father is the principal driving force in his life.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you posted this response. I wanted to say the same thing but was too lazy to post. :p Yeah, the Academy is Rafa and his dad's baby, their dream. And it's his dad who is CEO, not Toni, although Toni was given the title to keep him happy and quiet. As Rafa said in an interview not too long ago, Toni is a talker and a dreamer while his dad is a doer and very successful at what he does.

It'll be interesting to see how long Felix and Toni last and how well they do, Toni already flunked out with a big project he had dreamed up to create another Rafa a few years ago. He took on Christian Garin and was going to manage and coach him to fame and fortune - moved the whole Garin family from S America to Mallorca - but that endeavour only lasted a year or so and it's only in the last year or so that Christian has started to see some success on his own.
 
vernonbc

vernonbc

Legend
Gary Duane said:
I can't possibly see why anyone would dislike this young player. As I said elsewhere, he looks like about 10 kids I teach piano to. He's always been polite. He has a very easy to watch game.

Is Toni the answer? Who knows. But I can see why Toni might want to coach someone else, to prove he is really a top coach for someone else besides Rafa. I always wish people the best, so I'm hoping this partnership will take off.
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How do you rate his piano playing ability? :D
 
J

JustMy2Cents

Hall of Fame
OK, Here's Toni clearing up a few things [translation of radio interview provided by Genny]
Toni: "Felix contacted me to see if I could collaborate with him. I asked him to come to the RNA and, after 10 days [working there], we were pleased & established this collaboration."
Toni: "I'm Rafa's uncle and I go on working for him. I want things to go well for Felix and wish he can become #1 in the future... but I'll always support Rafael, no matter who he's facing."
Toni: "Rafa's very motivated & playing well, from what I've seen in his practice sessions in Majorca. I think he can have a good clay season."
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1380427514863046656
 
N

Nuclear Warhead Sinner

Guest
Tennis_Hands said:
Because FAA is actually being remarkably unsuccessful in winning titles, so even one or two will make an impression about the "success" of the coaching work, which is what the RNA is after: to create "credibility". Given that FAA is talented enough, and has been in many finals, it is inevitable that he will win some tournaments sooner or later, and Tio will claim that as "his" success and a credit to the coaching staff at the RNA.

It will be completely different with any of the others, who already won some titles, as then the hurdle that needs to be cleared for a "successful" coaching is much higher.

Like I said, it is a PR stunt for the RNA more than anything else. I wonder whether they are not experiencing some difficulties, considering everything that is going on.

:cool:
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Tennis_Hands said:
So, now you say that the opinions of the posters like me, who you seemed to agree with, don't exist, even though you just agreed with them? How many loops are you going to jump through to agree openly and stop pretzeling yourself?

To top that off, you offer a straw man, as the people whose opinion you discussed , actually were giving their opinion on whether FAA's future is better than his current standing, and it was (almost unanimously) agreed upon that it is, but that better future was discussed in most vague terms. The conversation was revolving mostly around whether Toni and FAA are a good match, not whether FAA will be hugely successful. Being successful with a player and making him a Major champion are not interchangeable statements, as the first largely depends on the current level of the player.

Finally, it is funny that you accuse me of pedantry, when your pompous comment on the opinions in this thread hangs on the narrowest of interpretations of a couple of opinions, if you have even that. No, in reading this thread one will not come to your conclusion about what people think about FAA.

:cool:
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Interesting...You may actually be as smart as you claim to be. :unsure:
 
Gary Duane

Gary Duane

G.O.A.T.
vernonbc said:
How do you rate his piano playing ability? :D
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He plays piano the way some of us play or played tennis. :) He plays well enough to please himself and his friends, and that's really all that is important. It's very likely he'll enjoy music more than tennis. I enjoyed tennis much more than music because I just did it for fun. There was no pressure.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
ADuck said:
Is this real? Lol.

If so, a lot of pressure is going to be on Toni to prove that he is a great coach, and not just the coach of a great player.
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This ^^.

Personally, I don't think he did very much for Rafa other than straightening him out with that work ethic. It is more a case of Rafa making him a great coach. Happy to be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. And I also don't think FAA has the potential to win Slams.
One of the upcoming Italians surely will. Toni should've picked one of them to cement his legacy.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
weakera said:
I have to imagine Rafa gave his blessing. It is strange that he is leaving the academy. It is sad on some level for sure, I would rather hear that he would start traveling with Rafa again, even though Moya has been an unbelievable coach in his own right.
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When Rafa retires, Moya becomes the head coach of RN academy. Toni probably saw the writing on the wall.
 
C

Cantconvert2MP

Rookie
Finally, it will time to expose that Toni Nadal fraud.
Riding the Rafa caroussel way too much... Easy to have such results when you're training a genius, a one time in a decade type of players.
 
Rabin

Rabin

Professional
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Never took Toni for a great coach to be honest.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
tex123 said:
Toni should've picked one of them to cement his legacy.
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Toni coached a guy to 15 slams, but he needs assistance for his legacy in tennis? :-D Toni's legacy is outrageously secure and coaching Felix isn't adding one thing to it. Toni's legacy is built completely around one man, who is the second greatest player to ever hold a racket in his hands, after Roger:

tumblr_pvs7kiYLuR1rpqz1go6_400.gifv
 
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zagor

zagor

Bionic Poster
Not sold on that this will last. Don't think FAA or any of the younger players today have the intense drive Toni is used to/expects.

There's a difference between being a semi-hard working pro and dudes who are willing to give everything to win the biggest titles.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
oni coached a guy to 15 slams, but he needs assistance for his legacy in tennis? :-D Toni's legacy is outrageously secure and coaching Felix isn't adding one thing to it. Toni's legacy is built completely around one man, who is the second greatest player to ever hold a racket in his hands, after Roger:

tumblr_pvs7kiYLuR1rpqz1go6_400.gifv
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There's a question mark over that. Did he make Rafa great or Rafa made him look like a good coach? Personally I don't think he did very much other than drilling that work ethic in Rafa. Rest was all just Rafa and his super human abilities and talent including his desire to win. No one can teach you that.

The way he managed Rafa's down years in 2014-15 was rubbish. Moya on the other hand is a super coach. He makes Rafa practice less and still wins titles. He improved his strokes and serve. If you look at Oscar Borras video, you can see how Toni was resisting his attempts at correcting his technical flaws. I can dig out that video if you want.

Time will tell. If he succeeds with FAA I'll happily take my comments back. Maybe he wants to prove a point that he can coach someone who is not Rafa to glory. :shrug:

Same goes for Tsitsipas. He needs a coach other than his father. Family can take to a level but going up a level needs a different approach. Rafa was special.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
zagor said:
Not sold on that this will last. Don't think FAA or any of the younger players today have the intense drive Toni is used to/expects.

There's a difference between being a semi-hard working pro and dudes who are willing to give everything to win the biggest titles.
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yep. assuming he's expecting someone who trains like nadal trains, this arrangement likely won't last
 
zagor

zagor

Bionic Poster
Firstservingman said:
yep. assuming he's expecting someone who trains like nadal trains, this arrangement likely won't last
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Nadal is the most famous example but really you could even say guys like Hewitt, Chang, Courier etc. who are way less talented but possessed the same drive/intensity/hunger.

Guys like Felix (really, any young promising player these days) receive so much hype before they even win anything that they basically expect results to come on their own as long as they live the pro life. That competitive fire just isn't there.
 
octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
There's a question mark over that. Did he make Rafa great or Rafa made him look like a good coach? Personally I don't think he did very much other than drilling that work ethic in Rafa. Rest was all just Rafa and his super human abilities and talent including his desire to win. No one can teach you that.

The way he managed Rafa's down years in 2014-15 was rubbish. Moya on the other hand is a super coach. He makes Rafa practice less and still wins titles. He improved his strokes and serve. If you look at Oscar Borras video, you can see how Toni was resisting his attempts at correcting his technical flaws. I can dig out that video if you want.

Time will tell. If he succeeds with FAA I'll happily take my comments back. Maybe he wants to prove a point that he can coach someone who is not Rafa to glory. :shrug:

Same goes for Tsitsipas. He needs a coach other than his father. Family can take to a level but going up a level needs a different approach. Rafa was special.
Click to expand...
You are wrong about Oscar Borras's thing. That guy undeservedly craved 'recognition' from Rafa.
www.rafaholics.com

No compromise between Rafa Nadal and coach Oscar Borras

Rafaholics.com is a fansite for tennis player Rafael Nadal, updating news, photos, videos! ¡Vamos Rafa!
www.rafaholics.com www.rafaholics.com
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
octobrina10 said:
You are wrong about Oscar Borras's thing. That guy undeservedly craved 'recognition' from Rafa.
www.rafaholics.com

No compromise between Rafa Nadal and coach Oscar Borras

Rafaholics.com is a fansite for tennis player Rafael Nadal, updating news, photos, videos! ¡Vamos Rafa!
www.rafaholics.com www.rafaholics.com
Click to expand...
I know Borras was an a*se. But you can't deny he pointed out Rafa's flawed serve technique correctly and Toni was resisting it.

The result was USO 2010 monster serve. It is another story that it caused Rafa's shoulder issues and Rafa abandoned that serve. And a bizarre court case.

If Toni was such a good coach, he should've corrected that flawed technique. And his management of 2014-2015 loss of forehand and form was horrible.
 
Raiden

Raiden

Hall of Fame
tex123 said:
This ^^.

Personally, I don't think he did very much for Rafa other than straightening him out with that work ethic. It is more a case of Rafa making him a great coach. Happy to be proven wrong but I don't think I will be. And I also don't think FAA has the potential to win Slams.
One of the upcoming Italians surely will. Toni should've picked one of them to cement his legacy.
Click to expand...
tex123 said:
There's a question mark over that. Did he make Rafa great or Rafa made him look like a good coach? Personally I don't think he did very much other than drilling that work ethic in Rafa. Rest was all just Rafa and his super human abilities and talent including his desire to win. No one can teach you that.

The way he managed Rafa's down years in 2014-15 was rubbish. Moya on the other hand is a super coach. He makes Rafa practice less and still wins titles. He improved his strokes and serve. If you look at Oscar Borras video, you can see how Toni was resisting his attempts at correcting his technical flaws. I can dig out that video if you want.

Time will tell. If he succeeds with FAA I'll happily take my comments back. Maybe he wants to prove a point that he can coach someone who is not Rafa to glory. :shrug:

Same goes for Tsitsipas. He needs a coach other than his father. Family can take to a level but going up a level needs a different approach. Rafa was special.
Click to expand...
tex123 said:
I know Borras was an a*se. But you can't deny he pointed out Rafa's flawed serve technique correctly and Toni was resisting it.

The result was USO 2010 monster serve. It is another story that it caused Rafa's shoulder issues and Rafa abandoned that serve. And a bizarre court case.

If Toni was such a good coach, he should've corrected that flawed technique. And his management of 2014-2015 loss of forehand and form was horrible.
Click to expand...
God, what a revisionist pile of garbage.

Toni made Rafa from A to Z — literally created him, designed him as a concept.

If it wasn't for Toni, the natural born right handed kid would never have even picked up a racket with his left hand and made even one single forehand swing with it.... never mind 20 grand slam worth of swings.

And LMAO at the modified 2010 serve being "another story" from the fact that it immediately led to a shoulder injury that required swift abandonment of the technique.
 
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octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
I know Borras was an a*se. But you can't deny he pointed out Rafa's flawed serve technique correctly and Toni was resisting it.

The result was USO 2010 monster serve. It is another story that it caused Rafa's shoulder issues and Rafa abandoned that serve. And a bizarre court case.

If Toni was such a good coach, he should've corrected that flawed technique. And his management of 2014-2015 loss of forehand and form was horrible.
Click to expand...

It's not true that Borras had an impact on Rafa's serve he used at the 2010 USO. The truth is that Borras had no influence. The serve was conceived during a training session with Juan Monaco in New York before the tournament began.
www.atptour.com

2010 or 2019: Which Rafa Serve Is More Potent? | ATP Tour | Tennis

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and Francisco Roig provide insight comparing Nadal's 2019 serve to his 2010 serve.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

Borras filed a bizarre lawsuit claiming that Rafa won the 2010 USO thanks to 2 hours Borras spent at Rafa's training session in Manacor almost a year before that (in October 2009). Borras craved 'recognition' from Rafa. :eek:
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
Raiden said:
God, what a revisionist pile of garbage.

Toni made Rafa from A to Z — literally created him, designed him as a concept.

If it wasn't for Toni, the natural born right handed kid would never have even picked up a racket once with his left hand and made even one single forehand swing with it.... never mind 20 grand slam worth of swings.

And LMAO at the modified 2010 serve being "another story" from the fact that it immediately led to a shoulder injury that required swift abandonment of the technique.
Click to expand...
I've said what I've said. Revisionist? I have followed Nadal since he won his first slam.

Yes sure that's what a modern coach does. Maybe read what I've written first?

If Toni is so good, let him prove it with FAA.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
octobrina10 said:
It's not true that Borras had an impact on Rafa's serve he used at the 2010 USO. The truth is that Borras had no influence. The serve was conceived during a training session with Juan Monaco in New York before the tournament began.
www.atptour.com

2010 or 2019: Which Rafa Serve Is More Potent? | ATP Tour | Tennis

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and Francisco Roig provide insight comparing Nadal's 2019 serve to his 2010 serve.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

Borras filed a bizarre lawsuit claiming that Rafa won the 2010 USO thanks to 2 hours Borras spent at Rafa's training session in Manacor almost a year before that (in October 2009). Borras craved 'recognition' from Rafa. :eek:
Click to expand...
Why are we arguing over whether Borras had an impact or not? The point being Toni clearly disagreeing with Borras in that video despite Borras correctly telling him that Rafa's technique was flawed. He had that flawed technique for years. If Toni was such a good coach he would've corrected that a long time ago. He used to make Rafa practice for ages. Look at Moya. He does less with Rafa and achieves more. He improved his backhand, forehand and serve. With Toni Rafa used to run like a headless chicken retrieving balls. Toni's management of Rafa's 2014-2015 loss of form was awful.

I don't care about Borras. This is about Toni.
 
octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
Why are we arguing over whether Borras had an impact or not? The point being Toni clearly disagreeing with Borras in that video despite Borras correctly telling him that Rafa's technique was flawed. He had that flawed technique for years. If Toni was such a good coach he would've corrected that a long time ago. He used to make Rafa practice for ages. Look at Moya. He does less with Rafa and achieves more. He improved his backhand, forehand and serve. With Toni Rafa used to run like a headless chicken retrieving balls. Toni's management of Rafa's 2014-2015 loss of form was awful.

I don't care about Borras. This is about Toni.
Click to expand...

Don't argue. You were wrong.
 
lelopez

lelopez

Semi-Pro
Am I the only one seeing this as a movement to establish the superiority of the RNA (FAA) over the Mouratoglou (Titsipas) school? If tio Tony can successfully coach FAA to dominate the next big rivalry and keep Titsipas from winning slams (he is best positioned out of all Next Gens to do so), while helping FAA get them, then he will also establish the dominance of the RNA as the premier tennis training facility in the world, much like Bollettieri did in the 90s.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
lelopez said:
Am I the only one seeing this as a movement to establish the superiority of the RNA (FAA) over the Mouratoglou (Titsipas) school? If tio Tony can successfully coach FAA to dominate the next big rivalry and keep Titsipas from winning slams (he is best positioned out of all Next Gens to do so), while helping FAA get them, then he will also establish the dominance of the RNA as the premier tennis training facility in the world, much like Bollettieri did in the 90s.
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Piatti school of tennis with Sinner is coming to spoil the party!

I doubt it. More like Toni wants to prove a point that he can do it without Rafa.
 
weakera

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
There's a question mark over that. Did he make Rafa great or Rafa made him look like a good coach? Personally I don't think he did very much other than drilling that work ethic in Rafa. Rest was all just Rafa and his super human abilities and talent including his desire to win. No one can teach you that.

The way he managed Rafa's down years in 2014-15 was rubbish. Moya on the other hand is a super coach. He makes Rafa practice less and still wins titles. He improved his strokes and serve. If you look at Oscar Borras video, you can see how Toni was resisting his attempts at correcting his technical flaws. I can dig out that video if you want.

Time will tell. If he succeeds with FAA I'll happily take my comments back. Maybe he wants to prove a point that he can coach someone who is not Rafa to glory. :shrug:

Same goes for Tsitsipas. He needs a coach other than his father. Family can take to a level but going up a level needs a different approach. Rafa was special.
Click to expand...


Moya is a great coach but it is harder to mold a champion than it is to revive one. Nadal was already on a road back to greatness headed into 2017. I give Moya a lot of credit but IMO Nadal wins slams again with or without him.
 
T

Tennis_Hands

Banned
tex123 said:
Piatti school of tennis with Sinner is coming to spoil the party!

I doubt it. More like Toni wants to prove a point that he can do it without Rafa.
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It can be and it is both.

Not necessarily vs Mouratoglou, but in general to draw customers and create "credibility". It is especially important now, that the entire hospitality and leisure industry is suffering.

As it stands RNA is a überexpensive leisure school for rich kids. They have desperately tried to associate themselves with success, inviting various prospects to stay there, but nothing is catching fire so far, because it is obvious that none of these players is actually training there long term.

Oppose that to someone like Alcaraz, who is a product of the Ferrero academy, and you will see how their image starts to suffer.

That is why Toni needs to go out and show the pedigree of the "coaching staff". For that purpose he needs someone who is "easy and fast" success, and FAA is one of the few in that position available.

:cool:
 
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octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
weakera

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
Looks like you're obsessed with Borras story. You surely know how to derail a thread. I don't see any response to what I'm pointing about Toni. So shut up maybe?
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Just take the L, dude. You were wrong, admit it, accept it, and move on.
 
T

tex123

Hall of Fame
I don't mind being wrong. Whether the story about USO serve is true or false is immaterial. I can happily take that line out if it pleases people. Mind you, only Rafa and Toni know. We're just guessing.

The reason I bring up Borras is to show that he was correctly pointing out flaws in the video and Toni resisting it. No one can deny that. It is on tape. I've said it time and again I do not care about the impact but some like @octobrina10 are just obsessed with the "impact" like a dog with a bone.

That shows Toni is not that good with technical issues. I haven't seen any good arguments other than he "made" Rafa and "you're spewing garbage"! Whether you like Borras or not, he was on the money in that video. And Toni's management of Rafa's 2014-15 form is legendary (with sarcasm) unless I get quoted again! :)
 
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octobrina10

octobrina10

Talk Tennis Guru
tex123 said:
I don't mind being wrong. Whether the story about USO serve is true or false is immaterial. I can happily take that line out if it pleases people. Mind you, only Rafa and Toni know. We're just guessing....
Click to expand...

I repeat, Rafa's coach (since 2005) Francisco Roig knows:
www.atptour.com

2010 or 2019: Which Rafa Serve Is More Potent? | ATP Tour | Tennis

Rafael Nadal, Carlos Moya and Francisco Roig provide insight comparing Nadal's 2019 serve to his 2010 serve.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com
 
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