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Meeting with Toni Nadal
Laruedubac: Hi Toni, thank you firstly to give an interview to our webzine. The knee problems have forced a rest Rafael and when he finally was able to resume playing tennis, his abs were it played tricks. These constraints have they changed the way you train?
Toni Nadal: No, not at all, we have not changed our way of working. The only thing we have changed is that now we're playing a little less tournaments. Nothing more.
Laruedubac: Rafael is number 2 worldwide. How he managed to reach this level?
Toni Nadal: I do not know. I believe that all people who arrive at a very high level all have, first, that talent and then have people who work hard. Rafael has worked hard and then I think he has talent to play tennis.
Laruedubac: But it is also very combative.
Toni Nadal: Yes, of course, but a person is combative, the other to a good forehand, the other a good backhand ... Everyone has his little trick.
Laruedubac: He never gets tired of being so combative?
Toni Nadal: Yes, of course, sometimes he is tired but he is tired of losing more than be combative.
Laruedubac: Is there a special diet?
Toni Nadal: No, not at all. Of course before you play a game it should be a little sensitive, he can not eat whatever he wants, I think the sport is like when you go to university. You're not a special person who should eat only certain things. Maybe it's better if you eat the right things but if you do that, you become a machine. For me it has always been very important that Rafael has a normal life and I think that's how it will be fine.
Laruedubac: What is the recipe for a game?
Toni Nadal: The first thing is to play well, then you have to play your game then have a little chance that your opponent does not play too well. And for us, which is very important is to be combative. On clay, you have to be more aggressive because you have more work to win your point, you just can not make a good shot. You have to hit the ball, be very concentrated. The weather also changes the situation. For us also it is better when it's hot, because Rafael has a good physique and that we are accustomed to heat.
Laruedubac: How do you prepare mentally and physically?
Toni Nadal: For the physical I do not know. He was a coach for that. I think he is accustomed since childhood to work his mind. I think I did a good job when Rafael was young.
Laruedubac: You train from the beginning, even when he was small at Principe de España is that you practice?
Toni Nadal: Yes, it was me because I'm his uncle and so it was easier and more it was cheaper for his father.
Laruedubac: How many hours per day is training there?
Toni Nadal: It depends. If we're in a tournament, he trains less because it has games every day. But if we're not on a tournament, so he trains between two hours and a half to three hours a day. Then he yal'entraînement physical, then the physio. So about five to six hours per day.
Laruedubac: Four-time winner of Roland Garros, one Australian Open, one Wimbledon, 39 tracks in all only 23 years. Rafael is a prince. What advice would you give Nadal tomorrow?
Toni Nadal: The most important thing is to try to always love what you do, I think it's very important for everyone. It's like they do sports or journalism as you. The most important thing is to be happy with what you do and loving it. If you love what you do then you will do everything to get better.
Laruedubac: This means that if one day Rafa comes to you and you said "Uncle, I do not like tennis, I want to stop," you tell him "OK"?
Toni Nadal: No, I tell him to keep playing, because it's his job, especially if he wins, it would be a bit stupid.
Laruedubac: And if he wins more than match and more than he tells you he likes it more ...
Toni Nadal: So it's different. To win, you have to make a great effort. But if you make the effort to win over enough for you then it is better that you stop. Rafael likes sports, he likes the competition and I think it will continue for some years.
Laruedubac: I hope. You have 3 children, they instill the same values you? They walk in the footsteps of Rafael?
Toni Nadal: No, my kids love the sport, they are very small. I do not think they will make good athletes. A person, whether my son, nephew or other people I trained before, I always told them that when they do something they must do the best because the most important is that 'at the end of a match, you're training yourself happy. It's really important to me.
Laruedubac :If child, Rafael had told you that later he would be number 1 worldwide ATP, would you believe?
Toni Nadal: I do not know. Rafael has always been very good. When he was young, was one of the best in the world. So I knew he had the opportunity to become a great player. I do not know if he could be number 1 or 15, but I thought it would be very good. But it also motivated me to think and I wanted to think.
Laruedubac: Uncle and coach Rafael. How do you handle both?
Toni Nadal: It's very simple. When I'm on the court, I am his coach and I am outside his uncle. But Rafael is great now and even though I am his uncle, I can not say "You must do this or that." When he was young yes, but not anymore.
Laruedubac: Thank you.
Interview by Caroline
Photos: Aurelie
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