Toni Nadaluncle and mentor of the Spanish Rafa Nadal, He acknowledged that he had been aware for a month of the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s plan to leave the tennis this season after the Davis Cup, regretting that he could not recover his physique and his level, after a long career in which “he got used to the pain”.
“He lets us know in a family chat. At that moment, images from many years came to mind. I knew, for a month, that he was planning to retire in Malaga. I had already assumed it,” he stated this Saturday in an interview at Marca Sport Weekend 2024, which is being held in Malaga itself, according to the Europa Press agency.
Toni Nadal explained how Rafa encountered pain at the beginning of his careerwhen In 2005 he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss disease.a chronic injury with which, as they warned him, I couldn’t compete at the highest level. “He got used to playing with pain since 2005 because of his foot, to having pain, and most of the time he came out stronger”said the uncle.
“Since 2005 he has been unable to play a Grand Slam tournament without taking a painkiller. He got used to it, and as he got over it, he thought it would be the same. But this time, another problem arose. There was no other choice. Rafa I had the hope of having a good last season and then retiringbut it couldn’t be… at least perform at a good level and win something,” he added. It is worth remembering that 2005 was Rafael’s breakout season: in it he conquered Roland Garros for the first time. 13 more would come.
Furthermore, who was coach by Rafa Nadal from 4 years old until the end of 2017 He regretted that tennis has not evolved or changed in its history. “Health is going for a walk or going to the gym a little, not elite sport. At the speed at which it is played today, it is worse. The limits are there,” he noted.
“For years I have been saying that the rules of tennis have to be changed. It’s a bit of an idiotic sport. Tennis starts with a penalty”, he alluded to today’s serve. “It is the only sport that in its entire history has not wanted to make any changes; the only one, the tie-break, so that it doesn’t last too long. “The leaders have to be brave and make some changes,” he added.
On the other hand, Toni Nadal doubted that an era like that of the Big 3 would be repeated. “Connors, McEnroe and Borg won 26 Grand Slam tournaments between them. Sampras, Agassi and Courier, 26. Between Djokovic, Nadal and Federer they won 66. It is very difficult for three of the greatest players in history to meet at the same time. It is almost impossible for it to happen. It is true that today there are two players who stand out far above, [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, but I don’t see any young man who can stand up to them,” he said.
Furthermore, Rafa’s uncle explained how they became like goal from the beginning to reach Roger Federer. “A total goal. It was clear that we couldn’t compete on a fast court, but in our minds we wanted to get closer and continue improving to win it. Every year, Rafael grew closer to Federer”, he stated.
In addition, Toni told the anecdote of the day she discovered Novak Djokovic. “We were at Wimbledon, in 2005, after the first round, and I saw a player who was playing against Monaco, and he was 18 years old. After 10 minutes I went to the locker room, I put my hand on Rafa’s shoulder and told him “we have a problem: I just saw a very good guy.” The problem was very big; It was Djokovic,” he recalled.
THE NATION
