“Rafael Nadal had to fix his second serve to remain competitive,” reveals Top-Tier Coach

Rafael Nadal has maintained supremacy in the sport of tennis ever since his break out on the scene. Earlier this month, Nadal won his 13th French Open title. He downed the World No.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets 6-0, 6-2, 7-5. 

Furthermore, the Spaniard recorded his 100th match win at Roland Garros. Additionally, he is the only player to have achieved this feat. Moreover, Rafa has now tied up with Roger Federer with his 20th Grand Slam win. No other man has ever laid claim to more Grand Slam titles than the duo. 

Nadal is at the helm of the new standards of longevity in men’s tennis. He has done so by constantly innovating his game. This has allowed Rafa to be better equipped to fend off unconventional challenges that are surfaced with the emergence of newly-famed players. 

In a recent interview with La Vanguardia, coach Fransisco Roig disclosed the amount of work Nadal had put behind his second serve. Nadal previously struggled with his second serve. His play would allow his opponent to have a better chance of acing the ball. Rafa sensed the issue this posed and eradicated it by its roots. 

Citing this, Roig stated, “Rafa has been getting more out of the service for three years. This way you add free points. It was not so much a problem of speed, as of the bounce, especially in the second serve. When the ball bounced, it did not skid. We fixed that and now he identifies the serve as a weapon. We did not do it for that. But to remain competitive.”

Nadal has opted to not play at Vienna Open and is likely to only appear in Paris Masters in this year.