Rafael Nadal he broke with the negative prognosis that he would not be able to play tennis again. It was a major emotional blow for a boy who had just come of age and whose future seemed doomed to premature retirement; 21 Grand Slams and four Acapulco titles afterthe Spaniard told in an exclusive interview that evolution was a fundamental part of the success that accompanies him today.
“I had no choice but to evolve. In the end I always had to look for solutions to all problems that were presenting themselves to me on a physical level, especially the foot problem that started in the 2005 finals”, recalled the man from Manacor. It was after one in the morning, two hours ago that he had conquered Acapulco again and I was hungry. She had not rested a minute between photographs and interviews.
“From that I always had to try to find solutions in every way. At the level of the game, at the level of training, at the level of preparation, the passion and determination to move forward and that has made me have a very long career until today”, a statement that doctors from 17 years ago still cannot believe .
In that 2005, Nadal beat Andre Agassi for the first time to win the Canadian Masters 1000. On Acapulco, beat Daniil Medvedev to reach the final. He thus completed a cycle of victories against players who have been number one in the world for at least three generations in the ATP circuit.
Nadal has changed a lot, but he is still the same. He has remained current in a circuit that has seen players come and go before the Spaniard hangs up his racket. His attitude towards professional tennis is consistent with his way of perceiving life. “The circuit has changed just as life in general changes. Life evolves, times are changing. In general terms, tennis has changed,” she commented.
Changes in your team
This season his corner celebrates five years of an important modification. Toni Nadal has stopped accompanying his nephew to take care of other business, including other players. Even so, Rafael has continued on the path of victory and has even added seven more Grand Slams. Con the recent arrival of Marc López to his teamconfirms that he is a man of a reserved circle.
“What I have always sought is not to look for excuses outside of myself. I think I always had the right people by my side,” he expressed. Even after five years without his uncle, Nadal continues to make him a participant in his glories. “Toni has been without a doubt the most important person in my long sports career,” he accepted.
Toni’s place was taken by Carlos Moya. “That Carlos arrived in his day was a very important change and for the better in my career at a time that was not easy,” said the current champion of Acapulco, who also reminded the rest of his team that it has remained almost the same since 2005.
The most recent arrival has been Marc López, Nadal’s partner in the Olympic Doubles Gold at Rio 2016. There are four very clear reasons why Rafael chose to choose him once the Barcelona player said goodbye to professionalism.
“First because he ends his sports career, second because he is a very good friend of mine too, third because he can train with me and fourth because the reality is that he is a very intelligent person on a tennis court and I think he can give me things that help me. also to be better”, again, the constant evolution.
In the end, the human side of Nadal always prevails. “I think that personal ties favor professionals and that has been a premise that I always had”, he finished her before leaving the track.
Rafa doesn’t know how much time he has left as a professional. He doesn’t seem to care either. She has far exceeded any kind of dream. What is clear is that as long as his body is willing to continue, evolution forces him to try to improve himself, however impossible it may seem.
