Should RAFA split with Uncle Toni to prolong his tennis career

Elektra

Elektra

Professional
At this point in RAFA's career he needs to truly evaluate himself and see if he wants to play tennis and win GS past 30 years of age. With the amount of rest he has had throughout his career he is capable of winning a GS past 30.

I bet you all those injuries he had throughout his career can benefit his desire to win more. Instead of Federer who always plays and plays every year just to play.

For that to happen do you think Rafa needs to split from his uncle Toni. Rafa's style of play needs to change because he is becoming to predictable and a blueprint from young guys to beat him. Rafa needs to fresher perspective from another tennis coach to see what he can improve on.

If I can recall, Rafa's best tennis came at Rogers Cup 2013 when he played his best tennis staying closer to the baseline Uncle Toni was not there and he had a younger coach.

Should Rafa split from Uncle Toni, and go for a champion coach or well respected tennis coach?
 
I believe Rafa is incapable of ever splitting with Toni. The two are close family and form a deep psychological bond going right back to Rafa's earliest childhood. They know each other inside out. No other coach could ever hope, at this stage, to understand and bond with Rafa and his game the way Toni does.

At the very most, they both might consider taking somebody else on board in a secondary and advisory capacity. But Toni would always be the one in charge and I doubt Rafa would ever have it otherwise. He is too long in the tooth as a player now to ever contemplate a drastic change in his coaching arrangements!
 
Mainad said:
...
At the very most, they both might consider taking somebody else on board in a secondary and advisory capacity...
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Rafa has had the second coach since 2005! His name is Francisco Roig.
He has accompanied Rafa in Abu Dhabi, Doha, South America (partly), Indian Wells, Montreal, Cincinnati, Asia.
 
Let's not forget Rafa's obsessive compulsive type rituals and habits. A guy who doesn't well tolerate the beverage bottles being a little out of position isn't likely to tolerate more dramatic changes in his way of life.
 
ollinger said:
Let's not forget Rafa's obsessive compulsive type rituals and habits. A guy who doesn't well tolerate the beverage bottles being a little out of position isn't likely to tolerate more dramatic changes in his way of life.
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Very true, no way he changes from Tony as his main coach.
 
I think it is very likely that Uncle Toni has long been supplying Rafa with copious amounts of "Uncle Toni's Special Spanish Elixir" which ensures career long employment.
 
Booger said:
I think it is very likely that Uncle Toni has long been supplying Rafa with copious amounts of "Uncle Toni's Special Spanish Elixir" which ensures career long employment.
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what was that stuff Djokovic's camp was scrambling to get to him the other day?...seemed shady
 
marc45 said:
well, if he wants to follow the match the celebrity to the tennis player, only one choice..Borg..never gonna' happen, next topic
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Borg retired at the age of 25 because he mentally could not handle the competiton of McEnroe, whereas Rafa is still active at 28 years of age and facing opposition with Novak, and maybe Federer on a good day for him.
The only thing that Borg can probably give Rafa is advice on how to sleep for 10 hours.

Rafa said in an interview during the Aussie Open that he does not like to sleep.

Ivan Lendl fits for Rafa's mind frame and that is the hunger to win. Helping Rafa to 17 would give Lendl great bragging rights for the champion coach that gives results at the GS.
 
Rafa has been working with Tony ever since he could lift a tennis racquet. Parting with him would be beyond devastating.
 
For that, you first have to assume Nadal has a choice. He does not.

Why do you think he still lives with his parents?
 
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Rafa appears to be a typical creature of habit who feels - and performs - the best in an environment he feels safe and comfortable with, which is with the people/family he's known well during his entire life.

As much as I personally don't enjoy seeing Toni's ugly mug in the stands, it cannot be forgotten that it is most of all, if not for 99%, Toni who's brought him his amazing career. As long as Rafa keeps playing I cannot see him part with Toni. Can't think of anyone who could replace him either.
 
TheMusicLover said:
Rafa appears to be a typical creature of habit who feels - and performs - the best in an environment he feels safe and comfortable with, which is with the people/family he's known well during his entire life.

As much as I personally don't enjoy seeing Toni's ugly mug in the stands, it cannot be forgotten that it is most of all, if not for 99%, Toni who's brought him his amazing career. As long as Rafa keeps playing I cannot see him part with Toni. Can't think of anyone who could replace him either.
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Good post!
 
Federer isn't a grinder and will never be an effective one even if he tried in the same way Nadal is a grinder and will never be an effective shot maker like Federer. Changing coaches won't be positive imo.

Sure he could hit more conventional shots to avoid the stresses caused by hitting extreme topspin though I doubt he'd hit them consistently well enough to be as equally effective.

Whereas before he was in fantastic shape and able to play with exceptional tenacity and agression on non-clay surfaces, on these surfaces we are now most notably seeing the decline.
 
Nadal has the talent to play pretty much anyway he wants to IMO. Toni has helped Nadal to win 14 slams and counting, there's no desperate need for a change. The level of aggression from Nadal has already increased in the last couple of years anyway.
 
OddJack said:
For that, you first have to assume Nadal has a choice. He does not.

Why do you think he still lives with his parents?
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Why do you think he still lives with his parents?

Why do you think that he should marry and keep his wife alone in their house/apartment when he travels around the world.
 
^^ yes, Rafa laughed when his bottles were knocked down because he knows the image of himself that's been cultivated by his habits and rituals. And what did he do with those bottles during the changeover??
 
Elektra said:
Borg retired at the age of 25 because he mentally could not handle the competiton of McEnroe, whereas Rafa is still active at 28 years of age and facing opposition with Novak, and maybe Federer on a good day for him.
The only thing that Borg can probably give Rafa is advice on how to sleep for 10 hours.

Rafa said in an interview during the Aussie Open that he does not like to sleep.

Ivan Lendl fits for Rafa's mind frame and that is the hunger to win. Helping Rafa to 17 would give Lendl great bragging rights for the champion coach that gives results at the GS.
Click to expand...

Sampras was a big sleep guy too
 
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