The Nadal speaks out

[sureshs]

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/ten...Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Justin-Gimelstob

And today, Nadal was asked for his view on Gimelstob’s departure and the Spaniard said that while he didn’t want to add further fuel to an issue which has dominated men’s tennis, the right decision was made.

Nadal said: “I just believe that we don’t need to add more things about the problem I don’t think or speak public or in the press about this stuff.

“It is a positive thing for our sport. So that’s why I didn’t want to answer or I didn’t want to express my opinion in the press when I have been asked in Barcelona, that’s all.

“I think the last couple of months have been a lot of things going on in our sport, so I don’t want to create more stories or more negative stories about our sport.

“We have a great sport and what we all want is to keep having a great sport and speak only about the negative things in our sport is something that probably is not my job and is something that I don’t want.

“Things that need to be fixed needs to be fixed internally. And Justin did what he had to do, in my opinion. It’s good that he didn’t put the players in a position that we have to, or the council guys have to vote against or in his favour. In my opinion, that situation is good what happened.”

When asked who he wanted to replace ATP president Chris Kermode, who was ousted by Gimelstob in March, Nadal favoured a Spanish speaking official.

“It is an opportunity to create some diversity now and to have somebody there that represents some of the players that were not represented there,” he said.

“We need somebody, in my opinion, just personal opinion, that speak Spanish, too, a Latin or Spanish guy. ‘And it will be easier the communication with all the Latin American players and the Spanish players. There are not a few, there are a lot on the tour. It would be good to have diversity on the board, too.”

 

[stringertom]

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/ten...Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Justin-Gimelstob

And today, Nadal was asked for his view on Gimelstob’s departure and the Spaniard said that while he didn’t want to add further fuel to an issue which has dominated men’s tennis, the right decision was made.

Nadal said: “I just believe that we don’t need to add more things about the problem I don’t think or speak public or in the press about this stuff.

“It is a positive thing for our sport. So that’s why I didn’t want to answer or I didn’t want to express my opinion in the press when I have been asked in Barcelona, that’s all.

“I think the last couple of months have been a lot of things going on in our sport, so I don’t want to create more stories or more negative stories about our sport.

“We have a great sport and what we all want is to keep having a great sport and speak only about the negative things in our sport is something that probably is not my job and is something that I don’t want.

“Things that need to be fixed needs to be fixed internally. And Justin did what he had to do, in my opinion. It’s good that he didn’t put the players in a position that we have to, or the council guys have to vote against or in his favour. In my opinion, that situation is good what happened.”

When asked who he wanted to replace ATP president Chris Kermode, who was ousted by Gimelstob in March, Nadal favoured a Spanish speaking official.

“It is an opportunity to create some diversity now and to have somebody there that represents some of the players that were not represented there,” he said.

“We need somebody, in my opinion, just personal opinion, that speak Spanish, too, a Latin or Spanish guy. ‘And it will be easier the communication with all the Latin American players and the Spanish players. There are not a few, there are a lot on the tour. It would be good to have diversity on the board, too.”

We can’t have srshs as POTUS but we can have him as ATP president!

#MakeTennisGreatAgain

 

[Luka888]

Rafa is, as always, politically correct .

I'm just not so sure that whoever is going to replace Justin 'needs to be Spanish or Latin'. That's kinda funny. Why doesn't Nadal apply for the job? He is Spanish, no?

 

[r2473]

Margaret Court should be ATP president

 

[thrust]

Margaret Court should be ATP president

ABSOLUTELY!

 

[sureshs]

Rafa is, as always, politically correct .

I'm just not so sure that whoever is going to replace Justin 'needs to be Spanish or Latin'. That's kinda funny. Why doesn't Nadal apply for the job? He is Spanish, no?

No, he was talking about Kermode's replacement.

 

[sureshs]

Toni Nadal should replace Kermode

 

[Enga]

...and I still don't understand what all is happening

 

[flanker2000fr]

The first 20 sentences are him saying that he wants to say nothing. Then the last one is him asking for a guy who speaks Spanish. Great input, really.

 

[DismalFuture]

That's the sport, no?

 

[Phoenix1983]

Did Rafa get paid per use of the word “sport” in this interview?

 

[sureshs]

The first 20 sentences are him saying that he wants to say nothing. Then the last one is him asking for a guy who speaks Spanish. Great input, really.

At least he said something. These guys are just out to protect their financial interests.

 

[Jackuar]

...and I still don't understand what all is happening

Same here likewise, until I Googled it all couple of days ago.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

Margaret Court should be ATP president

That provincial hag should get out on the road with Martina & the Strap-ons (good band btw) and include in her itinerary a cameo appearance on the 'Brownsville' leg of the tour.

 

[donquijote]

Nadal is doomed once again.

 

[Russeljones]

His English is just atrocious. It's incredible how he hasn't picked up the language after all these years.

 

[Cashman]

His English is just atrocious. It's incredible how he hasn't picked up the language after all these years.

To be honest I don't think the problem is his English. He is just not very smart. He is also someone who (wisely) does not like getting involved in anything controversial.

I have always had the impression that he has very little interest in anything other than playing tennis to the best of his prodigious ability.

 

[flanker2000fr]

To be honest I don't think the problem is his English. He is just not very smart. He is also someone who (wisely) does not like getting involved in anything controversial.

I have always had the impression that he has very little interest in anything other than playing tennis to the best of his prodigious ability.

That's a bit unfair, in my view. I don't think it's as much a case of not being smart as it is a case of being 1) shy (or at least very guarded) and 2) not extremely articulate.

 

[Dondon]

Nadal badal is Spanish.
Bull for president.

 

[Cashman]

That's a bit unfair, in my view. I don't think it's as much a case of not being smart as it is a case of being 1) shy (or at least very guarded) and 2) not extremely articulate.

Don't get me wrong, I think most top athletes don't have a lot going on upstairs (including Federer). Being a bit dim helps with a lot of aspects of professional sport - not least the ability to clear one's mind of anxiety and focus effectively in pressure moments. A lack of intelligence also helps with extreme levels of commitment over many years to what is (let's face it) not a particularly intellectually stimulating activity.

I have met a lot of pro athletes and the most interesting/intelligent/engaging ones tend to be either (a) less successful or (b) more mentally unstable - often both. There are of course exceptions.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Don't get me wrong, I think most top athletes don't have a lot going on upstairs (including Federer). Being a bit dim helps with a lot of aspects of professional sport - not least the ability to clear one's mind of anxiety and focus effectively in pressure moments. A lack of intelligence also helps with extreme levels of commitment over many years to what is (let's face it) not a particularly intellectually stimulating activity.

I have met a lot of pro athletes and the most interesting/intelligent/engaging ones tend to be either (a) less successful or (b) more mentally unstable - often both. There are of course exceptions.

I can't tell if your serious or not, but to say Nadal and specifically Fed are dim is an erroneous statement. You can't be worth over 300 million dollars, start your own successful tournament/academy, continue to be successful in a sport way past an age that you should be retired and be dim.

Lack of intelligence helps your commitment? Huh? So commitment shows stupidity?

Then to say tennis is not intellectually stimulating? In my opinion it is the most intellectual stimulating of the sports. Fed is not playing tennis at this age without being extremely smart on and off the court.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Don't get me wrong, I think most top athletes don't have a lot going on upstairs (including Federer). Being a bit dim helps with a lot of aspects of professional sport - not least the ability to clear one's mind of anxiety and focus effectively in pressure moments. A lack of intelligence also helps with extreme levels of commitment over many years to what is (let's face it) not a particularly intellectually stimulating activity.

I have met a lot of pro athletes and the most interesting/intelligent/engaging ones tend to be either (a) less successful or (b) more mentally unstable - often both. There are of course exceptions.

I read your quote again. This has to be sarcasm right. I have to know, your messing with my mind.

 

[Cashman]

I can't tell if your serious or not, but to say Nadal and specifically Fed are dim is an erroneous statement. You can't be worth over 300 million dollars, start your own successful tournament/academy, continue to be successful in a sport way past an age that you should be retired and be dim.

Look, wealth and intelligence have very little correlation. Yes, there are people who are rich because they are smart. There are also people who are rich because they are lucky, and take risks that a more intelligent person would not. A lot of entrepreneurs fall into the latter category.

There are also people who are wealthy because they have surrounded themselves with very good advisers. I would put Nadal and Federer in that category. Does that make them smart? Maybe. Call me cynical but I'd suggest it probably has more to do with the fact that they came from pretty wealthy families to begin with, and had those connections from birth.

Look, at the end of the day I know nothing of these guys personally. But there is not a lot in their public personalities that suggests great minds at work, and from all accounts they are pretty similar in private.

Lack of intelligence helps your commitment? Huh? So commitment shows stupidity?

Then to say tennis is not intellectually stimulating? In my opinion it is the most intellectual stimulating of the sports. Fed is not playing tennis at this age without being extremely smart on and off the court.

Tennis is fairly intellectually stimulating as far as sports go, but the intellectual component is small compared to the huge amount of very monotonous routine physical work that is required to compete at the top level. Hitting hundreds of thousands of balls over a net and spending huge amounts of time in the gym is not very intellectually rewarding, and that is the majority of your job when you are a professional tennis player.

I'm not trying to rag on these guys. Intelligence is incredibly overrated. At the end of the day both Nadal and Federer are remarkably successful in their careers, and (from all accounts) extremely well-balanced and happy in their personal lives. Isn't that what we all want? A lot of incredibly intelligent people haven't managed half as much.

 

[Bartelby]

The Nadal thinks the main thing to look for is someone who speaks Spanish for the CEO and the ATP board. Diversity might be nice, but it is hardly something that should be a priority.

 

[sureshs]

His English is just atrocious. It's incredible how he hasn't picked up the language after all these years.

I don't think he wants to.

 

[sureshs]

The Nadal thinks the main thing to look for is someone who speaks Spanish for the CEO and the ATP board. Diversity might be nice, but it is hardly something that should be a priority.

No, it should be a high priority. The tennis world is still dominated by one demographic while the sport has gone global. A focus on diversity could have weeded out a Gimelstob. It is not just about "merit" which is itself nothing but a made-up construct in most cases, but also about preventing the kind of cliques which enable a Gimelstob to rise to power.

 

[Colin]

The Nadal thinks the main thing to look for is someone who speaks Spanish for the CEO and the ATP board. Diversity might be nice, but it is hardly something that should be a priority.

Unfortunately for Rafa, some things are not lost in translation: I'm not sure his self-serving ideas — such as a two-year ranking system and surface rotation (i.e. clay) for the tour finals —are going to find much better reception in Spanish than they did in English.

 

[RoddickAce]

That's a bit unfair, in my view. I don't think it's as much a case of not being smart as it is a case of being 1) shy (or at least very guarded) and 2) not extremely articulate.

I also feel he was put on the spot to answer a question he didn't really want to answer. And then add to that he is not responding in his native language and you get a flustered and not completely consistent response.

 

[sureshs]

I also feel he was put on the spot to answer a question he didn't really want to answer. And then add to that he is not responding in his native language and you get a flustered and not completely consistent response.

Not really. These are his views, that is all.

 

[acintya]

the nadal haha

 

[Standaa]

His English is just atrocious. It's incredible how he hasn't picked up the language after all these years.

Tbh I don’t think the quote is exactly what he said. It honestly looked like something from a google translator. I don’t think even Rafa would say something so unreadable.

 

[tex123]

His English is just atrocious. It's incredible how he hasn't picked up the language after all these years.

Your Spanish is atrocious. It's incredible how you haven't picked up the language after all these years.

Jokes aside. Why should he? He does not need to but he still makes an effort for his fans. I understood him perfectly fine.

Top 10 most spoken languages in the world 2019

1. Chinese (14.1%)
2. Spanish (5.85%)
3. English (5.52%)
4. Hindi (4.46%)
5. Arabic (4.23%)
6. Portuguese (3.08%)
7. Bengali (3.05%)
8. Russian (2.42%)

 

[JMR]

Top 10 most spoken languages in the world 2019

1. Chinese (14.1%)
2. Spanish (5.85%)
3. English (5.52%)
4. Hindi (4.46%)
5. Arabic (4.23%)
6. Portuguese (3.08%)
7. Bengali (3.05%)
8. Russian (2.42%)

No source is given for this list, but let's assume it's accurate. (That is, accurate to the extent that a Top 10 list can be despite having only eight entries. ) The list appears to be ordered by the number of speakers as a first language. That's interesting information, but in any global, cosmopolitan activity (such as tennis), more practically useful information would be a list of languages ranked by the percentage of people who can speak and understand them fluently or semi-fluently, whether as a first, second, or third tongue.

 

[Phoenix1983]

No source is given for this list, but let's assume it's accurate. (That is, accurate to the extent that a Top 10 list can be despite having only eight entries. ) The list appears to be ordered by the number of speakers as a first language. That's interesting information, but in any global, cosmopolitan activity (such as tennis), more practically useful information would be a list of languages ranked by the percentage of people who can speak and understand them fluently or semi-fluently, whether as a first, second, or third tongue.

I doubt the list is accurate - there's no such language as "Chinese" (I think the poster meant to type Mandarin).

 

[Gary Duane]

I doubt the list is accurate - there's no such language as "Chinese" (I think the poster meant to type Mandarin).

The flaw is talking about now many people speak a language as their primary language as opposed to the practical: if you and I are in a meeting with people from all over the world and we have to choose a language for all of us to communicate in, it will be English.

As English speakers we have to decode horrible English every day of our lives. Non-natives don't realize that. That is a huge advantage for people learning our language. If they come close, we will figure it out. But this makes it very difficult for US to practice a second language with THEM.

 

[Phoenix1983]

As English speakers we have to decode horrible English every day of our lives. Non-natives don't realize that. That is a huge advantage for people learning our language. If they come close, we will figure it out. But this makes it very difficult for US to practice a second language with THEM.

That's very true. They often insist on speaking English back to you, when you just want to practice speaking their language!

 

[chjtennis]

Nadal's answers were good up to the point where he started talking about Spanish speaking person. Why not German, French, Italian, Russian or even Chinese or Indian speaking person, then? No need to bring in ethnicity.

 

[Bartelby]

I do believe in diversity, but Nadal's approach gives the idea a bad press. It won't prevent cliques if the Serbian-American cross-cultural political alliance is anything to go by.

No, it should be a high priority. The tennis world is still dominated by one demographic while the sport has gone global. A focus on diversity could have weeded out a Gimelstob. It is not just about "merit" which is itself nothing but a made-up construct in most cases, but also about preventing the kind of cliques which enable a Gimelstob to rise to power.

 

[tex123]

No source is given for this list, but let's assume it's accurate. (That is, accurate to the extent that a Top 10 list can be despite having only eight entries. ) The list appears to be ordered by the number of speakers as a first language. That's interesting information, but in any global, cosmopolitan activity (such as tennis), more practically useful information would be a list of languages ranked by the percentage of people who can speak and understand them fluently or semi-fluently, whether as a first, second, or third tongue.

I think my post was very clear. Spanish is widely spoken around the world. You just need to get out more to see that. He does not need to speak English but he still makes an effort. On the other hand, most posters here can't even write properly in their first language.
I'm sure you can google it. Source may not be accurate but I certainly knew that Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world.

 

[tex123]

Nadal's answers were good up to the point where he started talking about Spanish speaking person. Why not German, French, Italian, Russian or even Chinese or Indian speaking person, then? No need to bring in ethnicity.

Why not? He's speaking for himself. Why should the post be always held by Americans or British with the ability to speak just one language. He wants someone from the other side who can communicate with them effectively.
Something similar to world bank or IMF presidents - dominated by Europe or America. It should be represented by capable people all around the world.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Maybe they can't bear to listen to your atrocious attempt to speak their language?

That's not the point - the point is it's hard for native English speakers to practice other languages. Obviously everyone's "atrocious" in a foreign tongue initially.

 

[Subway Tennis]

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/ten...Novak-Djokovic-Roger-Federer-Justin-Gimelstob

And today, Nadal was asked for his view on Gimelstob’s departure and the Spaniard said that while he didn’t want to add further fuel to an issue which has dominated men’s tennis, the right decision was made.

Nadal said: “I just believe that we don’t need to add more things about the problem I don’t think or speak public or in the press about this stuff.

“It is a positive thing for our sport. So that’s why I didn’t want to answer or I didn’t want to express my opinion in the press when I have been asked in Barcelona, that’s all.

“I think the last couple of months have been a lot of things going on in our sport, so I don’t want to create more stories or more negative stories about our sport.

“We have a great sport and what we all want is to keep having a great sport and speak only about the negative things in our sport is something that probably is not my job and is something that I don’t want.

“Things that need to be fixed needs to be fixed internally. And Justin did what he had to do, in my opinion. It’s good that he didn’t put the players in a position that we have to, or the council guys have to vote against or in his favour. In my opinion, that situation is good what happened.”

When asked who he wanted to replace ATP president Chris Kermode, who was ousted by Gimelstob in March, Nadal favoured a Spanish speaking official.

“It is an opportunity to create some diversity now and to have somebody there that represents some of the players that were not represented there,” he said.

“We need somebody, in my opinion, just personal opinion, that speak Spanish, too, a Latin or Spanish guy. ‘And it will be easier the communication with all the Latin American players and the Spanish players. There are not a few, there are a lot on the tour. It would be good to have diversity on the board, too.”

Great remarks.

Your Spanish is atrocious. It's incredible how you haven't picked up the language after all these years.

Jokes aside. Why should he? He does not need to but he still makes an effort for his fans. I understood him perfectly fine.

Top 10 most spoken languages in the world 2019

1. Chinese (14.1%)
2. Spanish (5.85%)
3. English (5.52%)
4. Hindi (4.46%)
5. Arabic (4.23%)
6. Portuguese (3.08%)
7. Bengali (3.05%)
8. Russian (2.42%)

On behalf of the many people on this board and throughout the world who speak Spanish as a 1st, 2nd or 3rd language, thanks for posting this.

 

[sureshs]

I do believe in diversity, but Nadal's approach gives the idea a bad press. It won't prevent cliques if the Serbian-American cross-cultural political alliance is anything to go by.

Any idea about diversity first looks bad because there has to be some starting point. When women were seeking representation, they asked for more women, not transgender persons. People ask for their own first, and then try to embrace the broader goal. Some never do, of course, and it is possible the Nadal doesn't care about any diversity beyond Spanish-speaking people.

 

[Russeljones]

Your Spanish is atrocious. It's incredible how you haven't picked up the language after all these years.

Jokes aside. Why should he? He does not need to but he still makes an effort for his fans. I understood him perfectly fine.

Top 10 most spoken languages in the world 2019

1. Chinese (14.1%)
2. Spanish (5.85%)
3. English (5.52%)
4. Hindi (4.46%)
5. Arabic (4.23%)
6. Portuguese (3.08%)
7. Bengali (3.05%)
8. Russian (2.42%)

Poor. Try harder next time.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Well, he is not just another player. He is a potential GOAT. Obviously, he should be more careful with the neutrality of the nature of his comments. That's just being responsible on his part.

The impression I got is that Nadal wants a president who can communicate directly with a broader section of the pro community and do it effectively. A president who can communicate in Spanish and English by default is going to be covering off a massive cross-section of the pro community.

I don't think Nadal is trying to be parochial to strictly Spanish interests. I thinks it's more that he sees a Spanish speaker as being a practical way to improve relations with a broad portion of the playing group from a lot of key tennis nations who might currently feel slightly out of the loop.

 

[chjtennis]

The impression I got is that Nadal wants the president's level of communication with the players to be opened up more than it is currently. His example seems to suggest someone who can better connect with the Spanish-speaking portion of the pro community would improve things quite a bit.

I don't think Nadal is trying to be parochial, more that he sees a Spanish speaker as being a practical way to improve relations with a broad portion of the playing group who might otherwise be out of the loop.

Nadal tends to speak for his own interest a little more than he should from time to time. Like how ATP needs more clay tournaments, etc.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Nadal tends to speak for his own interest a little more than he should from time to time. Like how ATP needs more clay tournaments, etc.

Agree to disagree. I'm more in sureshs camp on this issue. Nadal would benefit with a Spanish speaking president but to me he seems to be advocating for the greater good here. Its not hard to see how it would improve things.

 

[chjtennis]

Agree to disagree. I'm more in sureshs camp on this issue. Nadal would benefit with a Spanish speaking president but to me he seems to be advocating for the greater good here. Its not hard to see how it would improve things.

Agree to disagree as well. There are many more players from non-spanish speaking background(Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia) and it would be fairer to have someone who speaks perfect English to communicate well with all of the players. They can always hire a second person who can speak good Spanish.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Go Nads

 

[Bender]

The first 20 sentences are him saying that he wants to say nothing. Then the last one is him asking for a guy who speaks Spanish. Great input, really.

He was facing a break point on his own serve at the time