The coaching in Spain is as close to a factory for producing tennis champions as you can get and it is not only the Nadal academy. Many top players right now have spent a lot of time in Spain as young players including Safin, Murray, Khachanov, Rublev, Ruud, FAA etc. and it is not only at the Nadal Academy as there are great ones in Barcelona, Valencia, Majjorca etc..
I think the weather, the emphasis on physicality and movement, standardized drills, heavy topspin generation, emphasis on tactics to build baseline point patterns slowly etc. have all become hallmarks of top Spanish academies. Not to mention the ties to ‘top’ Spanish doctors!
In 2014, Chris Lewit wrote his book Secrets of Spanish Tennis on the subject. According to Lewit, Spain’s success is due to its “sporting culture with a strong club system to develop players, an extensive tournament structure, and a high level of coaching.” Lewitt adds that, “In general, Spanish coaches tend to work with a similar philosophy and method around the country, namely, emphasizing consistency and control, good footwork, endurance, developing a forehand weapon, solid defense, and an indefatigable spirit... players are taught from a young age to be fighters and to ‘suffer’ on the court.”
