Rafael Nadal’s biographer claims the Spaniard wouldn’t have been even a ‘QUARTER’ of the player he is without the guidance of Toni Nadal

Alejandro Ciriza talks about the impact Toni Nadal has had on Rafael Nadal and his professional tennis career.

Rafael Nadal’s biographer claims the Spaniard wouldn’t have been even a ‘QUARTER’ of the player he is without the guidance of Toni Nadal

Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal (Credits: Eurosport)

In a recent interview, Rafael Nadal’s biographer, Alejandro Ciriza, said that if Rafa hadn’t been trained by Toni Nadal as a child, he would not be the tennis player he is today. He said that Rafa would have been a worse tennis player and that he would not have achieved nearly as much success.

Rafael Nadal is undisputedly one of the greatest players of all time. He has amassed victories in 22 Grand Slam tournaments, the second-most Grand Slam titles won by a male player in the history of tennis. With this triumphant career, he has become a household name, and even those who do not watch tennis fervently know of him.

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Nadal’s success is due to a number of factors, including his talent, work ethic, and immense dedication. Ciriza, who has written the book “¡Vamos, Rafa!” a biography of the legend, feels there is one more factor that people often overlook. It is the role of his uncle, Toni Nadal, who coached him for the first 27 years of his career. 

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As per Ciriza himself, Toni Nadal is a strict and demanding coach, but he is also fiercely loyal to his nephew. He has always been there for Rafa, pushing him to be the best he can be, both on and off the court.

He would be a worse tennis player if he hadn’t gone so far. He would be a tennis player and a different person. He obviously has a lot of talent. Sometimes the concept that he is work, effort, sacrifice, physicality has been inflated.

Alejandro Ciriza said via ClayTennis

Continuing his train of thoughts, he further added: 

I believe that he is a very talented tennis player, but of course Toni's hand is essential. Rafa wouldn't have covered even a quarter of it (without Toni as coach). Rafa has said many times that he has faced the natural temptation to give up. Toni has always been there pushing.

Alejandro Ciriza talks about Rafael Nadal’s comment on Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal’s recent remarks regarding his “healthy” competitive ambition caused much debate in the tennis world. Nadal compared himself to Novak Djokovic, claiming that Djokovic would have suffered even more if he hadn’t set the Grand Slam record.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic( L) and Rafael Nadal (R) (Credits SkySports and The New York Times)

Nadal’s remark is intriguing because it appears to imply that he approaches competition in a more balanced manner than Djokovic. Alejandro Ciriza felt that the comment was surprising because of its tone.

The journalist said that he doesn’t know whether the Spaniard has more ambition or not, but he does know that he has the fire to win everything. He shared that, considering Nadal’s competitive streak, he would have loved to be the one who won the most majors. 

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