Toni Nadal speaks of Rafael Nadal’s biggest challenge growing up wishing he overcomes it again to play for two more seasons


Toni Nadal speaks of Rafael Nadal’s biggest challenge growing up wishing he overcomes it again to play for two more seasons

Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal

Rafael Nadal‘s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal remains active on the ATP Tour despite splitting from the 22-time major winner in 2017. Toni, who is now the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy, is also the coach of Canadian youngster Felix Auger-Aliassime. Despite a slow start with the Canadian, results are now showing as Felix won three titles on the trot last month.

Toni was the first one to spot his nephew’s talent as a tennis pro and started training him right from his pre-teen days. Over the years of hard work put in by both, Rafa became one of the most successful players ever and is now the only male player with 22 majors to his name.

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In a recent talk, “Everything can be trained”, Toni spoke about his personal experience as a coach. He briefly touched upon the ‘talent vs hardwork’ debate while also hoping that his nephew, now 36, can continue for a couple of more years on the Tour.

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“What I applied on the tennis court is the same that I would have applied outside. I believe in effort, in work, meritocracy, I believe in people earning things with the sweat of their brow, in the case of Rafael with the sweat of the whole body, and that is what I applied.

“In the end, surpassing others is not always feasible, surpassing yourself is a great challenge, it is what Rafael was forced to do more or less from a very young age, he understood it, and in life, the fundamental thing is to improve above others in everything.

“We would have to ask ourselves if we are becoming a little weaker, I am sorry for those who have problems and we must try to make an effort as much as possible so that they are well, but we also have to get used to the fact that things do not necessarily go well,” said Toni.

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Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal to be on opposite sides at the ATP Finals

Toni Nadal and Rafael Nadal
Toni Nadal and Rafael Nadal

With Nadal winning two majors, there was hardly a doubt about his qualification for the 2022 ATP Finals. As for Aliassime, the late surge by the youngster also saw him reach the year-end championships for the first time in his career.

For Toni, it is a bittersweet moment as both Rafa and Aliassime are drafted into the Green Group. Toni had however declared very early during his partnership with Aliassime that in case a situation like this arises, he won’t come to the court as he doesn’t wish to go up against his nephew.

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