If Rafa Nadal has been characterized by one thing throughout his career, besides his sporting successes, it is his level of concentration and improvement in some things. One of the most complex and demanding moments in the match. This resulted in him getting many match points against him, as well as turning the match around when it seemed impossible. A self-demand and focus that few athletes can boast of, something he learned since he was young, as he admitted at the match. Universe Valdano This Monday airs on Movistar+.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner opened up in his chat with the former footballer, from his early days to the moment he made the decision to hang up his racket. At one point, Jorge Valdano asked him about his ability to focus on moments The most difficult match, a moment in which Rafa remembers Toni Nadal.
“I owe a lot to my uncle, who made me a focused person. He forced me to be strong, disciplined and attentive in every training session. If you train him when he is young, it is easy for him to develop in the right way. I always allowed myself to be helped by all the people who were around me,” Mallorca admits.
However, Nadal points out that in the end, more than he asked of himself was himself: “I had the ability to take on the challenge of wanting to achieve my goals and give myself real options to fight for. I always had the determination to keep improving and try to stay at the highest level.”“I’m always the most self-critical, the one who sets the bar the highest.”
The relationship between Rafa and Toni over the years
Tony Nadal was the one who managed to shape Rafa’s character as a tennis player and turn him into a champion. Tony was his coach for 27 years until 2017 when they decided to part ways. Following this announcement, the transfer became effective starting from the 2018 season and the coach who took charge was Carlos Moya, who had already been with Rafa’s squad since December 2016. Since then, Moya was Nadal’s coach until the end of his career.
After years of estrangement between Rafa and Toni, they both showed affection and gratitude. One of the most important of them was Nadal’s farewell to Roland Garros. At the end of May, when Rafa, in tears, offered a few words to his uncle.
“Tony, you’re the reason I’m here. Thank you for dedicating such a large portion of your life to wanting to be with me to coach; He talks, tricks me, makes me suffer, makes me laugh and also pushes me to the limits. “What we went through was not always easy, but without a doubt it was worth it.”
Likewise, in the interview with Valdano, Nadal also pointed out that to reach the highest level in tennis, several conditions must be met such as talent, work and physical appearance, among others. “There are times when I focused my career on the fact that I was a great fighter, that I had a great ability to concentrate. For me, it’s a compliment that this is the way to go. You can have great physical fitness and work ability, but if the motivation doesn’t go where it needs to go, unfortunately… “There is a quality in tennis that you need to compete at the highest level.”