Toni Nadal during the interview with this newspaper. | Alberto Vera
The coach and uncle of Number 1 'of the world believes the Spaniard will come this year with better expectations Masters
"We've changed Rafa's game so he can have a longer career"
He has taken a break from coaching, taking advantage of Rafa's participation in the Asian Tour, but he's already thinking of the mechanisms needed to successfully face the last great challenge of the season, the London Masters. Toni Nadal (Manacor, 1961) is proud of his nephew's achievements, but his search for perfection is relentless, and he believes that there are still several things to improve. It is the privilege that he has as the tennis coach of a player that has no limits.
Question. - Beyond suffering for the outcome, did you have the chance to enjoy the Final of the US Open?
Answer: Viewed from the stands it was an extraordinary match for any tennis fan. The following day I asked McEnroe and he said the same thing, that he liked it a lot. Rafa had the fortune to play his best tennis in the day that he had to, because the level showed by Djokovic was exceptional. It was necessary for Rafa to give everything to win. Yes, I suffered a lot, but it may seem a contradiction cause I also enjoyed a lot.
Q. - Since you talk about McEnroe, some say that the level of tennis in the past was better that the level of today. Do you believe it?
R. - This is an eternal debate, not just in tennis but in any sport. Even with Carlos Moya I have discussed it on several occasions and we haven't agreed. In my opinion the true level of this generation should be measured based on the number of times a player gets to the semifinals or final. Currently we have four or five guys who almost never fail. They are always on the top, they always win tournaments. In the past the level was more even.
Q. - Do you think that this consistency is due to an empirical reality. I mean, that they are better than the rest of the players?
R. - If you look at the semifinals of the four Grand Slams of the season we will see that there had been no surprises. Usually the favourites reach these stages of a tournament. Since 2005 only Federer, Rafa, Djokovic and Del Potro have won Grand Slam tournaments. That shows they are very solid.
Q. - Do you mean that the players are better today?
A. - I do not know what would happen if Lendl played today and it will be impossible to know because it will not happen, but I think that the five Top Players are very good. Take for example the case of Federer, until Roland Garros this year he had 25 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. That is amazing, something that nobody had ever done before, and it shows how difficult it is to beat him. And that was not happening before.
Q. - What do you mean?
R. - Look at Pete Sampras, who was one of the best players I've had the opportunity to see in my life. He was extraordinary, but when Roland Garros came, I do not know what happened to him, he could never win it and for many years he was defeated in early rounds. Now, however, Top Players play their best not matter the surface.
Q. – It could also be the case that the consistency they show is due to the fact that those below them, have a low level themselves, right?
A. - I do not agree. I think professional sports tends to evolve over time. Feats never get worse, but better. That means something.
Q. - Did you mention the example of Sampras and Roland Garros. I might add that Borg was never able to win the US Open. I say this for the comparisons between the Swedish and Rafa...
A. – That's anecdotal. Borg at that time was comparable to Federer today. He was a player that marked a difference from the rest, although it is true that he could only do this for a couple of years because he retired very young. Anyway, I personally think that Borg, in his peak, was better than Rafa nowadays.
Q. - Do you think it will always be like that?
A. - I rely on numbers and prefer to be cautious. Rafa is 24 and has 9 Grand Slam titles. At the same age Wilander had 7 and from that moment on he could not win any more. It is true that today there is no indication that Rafa will not be able to increase this number, but that has not happened yet. It's still only a possibility, and because of that, Borg is still the best.
Q. - Speaking of awards, although virtual, what do you think of the initiative to proclaim Rafa the best Spanish athlete of all time?
A. - That is very subjective. I will not deny that Rafa is one of the great Spanish sportsmen, but from there to proclaim him the best is far away, because first of all we have to establish a scale, and I think that is impossible. Ten million people play football but only one, plays tennis. How do I compare them?
Q. – Cause of their titles maybe?
R. - In our country there have been many and great athletes. I can not remember them all, but now the name of Severiano Ballesteros comes to my mind, who won five major tournaments and was for a long time number one in the world. On the other hand, I think of Angel Nieto. His case is not the same, because although it is true that he won 13 World Cups, it was in small tournaments. Indurain is another one who made history and was the best in the world at the time. There are a lot of opinions and they are all valid.
Q. - Rafa is 24 years old. For any other sport, he would be very young. In tennis, however, few players manage to play at maximum level above 30. Do you see him at that age still on top?
A. - It is impossible to answer that now, but it is true that based on training and sacrifice we were able to modify the initial concept Rafa had of tennis. His game is less physical now, and therefore it implies less wear and tear. In the US Open Final, Djokovic ran as much or more than him, and that seemed impossible just a couple of years ago. We have also selected best the tournaments he played and we have increased the periods of rest, and I think all these measures can help him enjoy a slightly longer career.
Q. - And mentally is he fresh?
A. - When we talk about Rafa's career we often forget that he started playing tennis at a very high level when he was not yet 17 years old. This means that we already have eight seasons in the circuit, and if he has to continue playing till 30 he should complete 14 consecutive seasons. It will be difficult, and therefore it will be more important to carefully select the tournaments he'll play.
Q. – In what aspects Rafa's game has evolved from RG 2005 until this recent US Open win?
A. - When Rafa won in Paris for the first time I told him to notice what had happened to Hewitt, who lost the number one very quickly for not having improved. He got the message and now I can say, many years later, that he has evolved positively in all aspects of his game, even with the serve, which was difficult for him. Of course there are still many things to be improved, but he has managed to become a pretty complete player.
Q. - His sacrifice has not only consisted in a lot of hours on court and at the gym. He has suffered in silence too painful treatments, right?
A. - I remember Christmas of 2008 to 2009, when we were preparing the Australia Open that later he won. He could not finish any single training because of the pain he suffered in the knees. That same year, in Rome, the story was similar. Yes, he has suffered a lot and endured extreme treatments, but he knows that's part of his profession and that he has to endure it.
Q. – Don't you think that sometimes you ask too much of him?
R. - I've always been very critical of him and I do not accept any excuses, because the only way to win is by working hard. Rafa knows it and accepts it, because it is a condition I asked him from the first day we started training. That's me and I will not change because he wins one or one hundred tournaments. I always ask him the best and a little more.
Q. – There are only a few tournaments he hasn't won yet. From the big ones, only the Masters remains. Is this the year?
A. - So far it hasn't gone well because it is played in indoor, which is the surface that's more difficult for him, and he has played in bad conditions physically. This season, however, if all goes well, we arrive there with another expectation. It will be difficult to win, but I hope at least it won't be as bad as last year, when he could not win a single set.
Q. - And then we start again in January, with the first Grand Slam of the season. So far, Rod Laver's been the only one who managed to win the four straight Slams. Rafa can equal that mark in Australia…
A. - It is very far yet, but it certainly would be something amazing. Anyway, the feeling I have is that it will be very difficult.
via Elmundo
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