Rafael Nadal, 20 time Grandslam champion had the privilege of working alongside some of the best support staff. The Spaniard has remained loyal to his coaching staff and has stuck with them, through all highs and lows. Rafael Nadal’s former coach and uncle, Toni Nadal and current coach, Carlos Moya have played a pivotal role in his tennis career.
During a recent interview, Rafael Nadal dedicated all of his success to his loyal team members which also includes his manager, Carlos Costa and assistant manager, Francisco Roig. He gave extra credit to his uncle, Toni Nadal who introduced him to the sport of tennis, as the duo went on the win 16 Grandslam titles together.
“Without all the people who have been by my side none of this (his success) would have been possible,” Rafael Nadal said.
“That if my uncle had not introduced me to tennis or helped me decisively during practically my entire career, I would not be where I am. That if my father and my mother had not been willing to accompany me to a place every weekend and not doing the things that maybe they had other options to do, maybe they had more fun,” he added.
Goals that my uncle had with me were ambitious: Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal stated this uncle, Toni Nadal pushed him to the limits that has helped him became the player he is. It was his former coach that saw the spark in him at an early age of just eight, and had set ambitious plans for Rafael Nadal.
“My uncle was a coach at the Manacor tennis club and I started going when I was three years old,” Rafael Nadal said. “I think from the age of 8, 9, maybe 8, it seemed that I had some outstanding qualities and they took things seriously. And the goals that my uncle had with me were ambitious,” he added.
Rafael Nadal also spoke about his current coach, Carlos Moya who became his full-time coach in 2017, and since then they have won four Grandslam titles together.
“The fact that in 2017 he (Carlos Moya) hoped to work with me as a coach, I think it was a boost for me,” Nadal said. “And I think the fact that, not only has he lived all those experiences, but has also shared them with me as a player, I think that makes him have an adequate perspective of what he thinks can suit me at all times,” the 34-year old added.
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