maticftw
Semi-Pro
Any theories?
Toni Nadal: ´If I weren´t his uncle, Rafa would have substituted me.
- Thread starter uliks
- Start date
The tennis of that era is definitely the most beautiful to me. Funny how it is called the weak era.
swordtennis
G.O.A.T.
MLRoy
Hall of Fame
To me, that quote is total bull sheet for 2 reasons (at least). First, even though he said it, I don't believe HE really believes that. I think he said that because he's embarrassed about Rafa's results, and wants to take the heat off himself and/or Rafa.
The second reason is obvious. He's THE GOAT of tennis coaches. (Tennis isn't even his best sport. Wasn't he a successful pro soccer player?) He's coached more slam wins than anyone (at least per player). Does anyone on this board truly think he's telling Rafa to just spin his first serve in, stand 6' behind the baseline on a fast court, keep the ball shallow, and don't try to hit forehand winners...?!
The only person who deserves blame is Rafa. He's not doing any of the things that won him those 14 slams. I'm NOT buying the lack of confidence, or the "he's older and his body isn't holding up" excuses. How can you win 14 slams before the age of 29, be built like a brick merde house, play several tourneys while suffering from appendicitis (!), be a part of the GOAT conversation, and NOT feel confident??
While he's half a step slower, he's still pretty fast. He's had knee probs for years before this long slump. In fact, he appears the most PHYSICALLY healthy he's been in years. No knee bandages. No shoulder probs. His back hasn't acted up lately... Unless he's just not telling us.
Why he's playing so tentatively I don't know. This is what I think (hope) will happen. I think very soon he'll finally get sick of losing, and then he'll play his usual aggressively consistant, go-for-it game, and resume kicking butt again.
The second reason is obvious. He's THE GOAT of tennis coaches. (Tennis isn't even his best sport. Wasn't he a successful pro soccer player?) He's coached more slam wins than anyone (at least per player). Does anyone on this board truly think he's telling Rafa to just spin his first serve in, stand 6' behind the baseline on a fast court, keep the ball shallow, and don't try to hit forehand winners...?!
The only person who deserves blame is Rafa. He's not doing any of the things that won him those 14 slams. I'm NOT buying the lack of confidence, or the "he's older and his body isn't holding up" excuses. How can you win 14 slams before the age of 29, be built like a brick merde house, play several tourneys while suffering from appendicitis (!), be a part of the GOAT conversation, and NOT feel confident??
While he's half a step slower, he's still pretty fast. He's had knee probs for years before this long slump. In fact, he appears the most PHYSICALLY healthy he's been in years. No knee bandages. No shoulder probs. His back hasn't acted up lately... Unless he's just not telling us.
Why he's playing so tentatively I don't know. This is what I think (hope) will happen. I think very soon he'll finally get sick of losing, and then he'll play his usual aggressively consistant, go-for-it game, and resume kicking butt again.
thomasferrett
Hall of Fame
The whole strategy element to Nadal's game is simple anyway - anyone can do it Toni or not (run fast, hit high forehands to opponent's backhand), so it doesn't matter if his coach is Toni or not, so might as well keep Toni to be nice to him.
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