Rafael Nadal wouldn’t have put up with Toni Nadal if not for his love for tennis

Rafael Nadal's book reveals Toni Nadal's strict training regime.

Rafael Nadal wouldn’t have put up with Toni Nadal if not for his love for tennis

Toni Nadal (L) and Rafael Nadal (R) (Credits : Tennis Majors)

Rafael Nadal is undeniably one of the best players in not just tennis but in sports as a whole. It has taken him years of passion and hard work to reach the status of “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time).

Until 2017, Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle, was also his coach. He took a break from training Nadal to focus on the younger players. He was also quoted as saying, “The truth is that every year I am making fewer decisions, to the point that I won’t be deciding anything any more!” Though they are no longer coaches and trainees, they still have immense respect for each other.

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Nadal, in his bestselling autobiography, shared an anecdote about his coach’s tough training regime. He narrates, “One very hot day, I went to a match without my bottle of water. I’d forgotten it back home. He could have gone and bought me one, but he didn’t. So that I’d learn to take responsibility, he said. Why didn’t I rebel? Because I enjoyed tennis and enjoyed it all the more once I started winning, and because I was an obedient and docile child. My mother says I am too easy to manipulate. Maybe, but if I hadn’t loved playing the game, I wouldn’t have put up with my uncle. And I loved him too, as I still do and always will. I trusted him, and so I knew deep down that he was doing what he thought was best for me.”

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Toni Nadal has also, on many occasions, praised the resilience and talent of the former World No. 1. He shared that Nadal was a very uncomplicated and obedient child. “You said something to him, and you saw that he immediately had the predisposition to do it. That is something that a coach or teacher appreciates a lot,” he added.

Also Read: Andy Roddick’s heartwarming message to Ons Jabeur after her second consecutive Wimbledon finals loss disclosed

Rafael Nadal’s Comeback update

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Rafael Nadal (Credits: The Times of India)

Rafael Nadal has always had a body prone to injuries, but his mental fortitude has always been inspiring. However, age has caught up with the 37-year-old. The star is currently on a break after healing from his hip injury.

The French Open great has also suffered from Mueller-Weiss syndrome, where the inside of the midfoot and the hindfoot cause immense pain.

The Spaniard recently underwent surgery for his psoas iliacus injury. He is currently recovering, and his close friend Juan Monaco has reported that he might make a comeback in 2024. His undergoing an operation is an indicator that he might be aiming for the French Open next year.

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