He Nadal’s way It has become an inspiration in schools and universities, it is also used in corporate studies and researched by those who have realized that behind everything there is a sophisticated and complex process, fragile scales, disturbing theories. Nothing could be further from the truth. His uncle Toni, the mentor of the hero and the beginning of the epic, often helps: “The secret is that there is no secret; “Tennis is really about passing the ball better than your opponent.” And so, starting from what seems simple – which was not of that kind – his nephew entered the wise thoughts as he wanted to give until the last letter. “It helped us, but it doesn’t mean it’s right for others,” says the teacher, who recognized in a calm and “passionate” child a strange power to fight against hatred, overcome problems and accept the message: the more the suffering grows. , great glory.
“Rafael had the responsibility, which was established by me at the beginning, which I thought later, not to complain,” said the teacher in an article published in the newspaper in 2022, called. An important school of difficulties. In the words, the uncle gave instructions on his way; that is, to work more than expected, to act with a good face, to be patient and to be a student who knows that things are not necessary to be successful. “The fact that there has been someone who has always asked me a lot has always been certain for me,” said Nadal in a meeting with EL PAÍS, in 2017. “But, then, he also met someone who has endured. many things that maybe others could not, because I answered,” he said a tennis player, very aggressive in his development and less so later, as he wrote the legend.
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“His ball was heavy, it was very heavy. There was no way to stop the punch and mentally it was eating away at me. He was a child, but that day he already joined the stands and I couldn’t do anything,” explains Ramón Delgado, the first. victim the Mallorcan in the professional area. He bowed in Mallorca, 2002. Paraguay speaks of a “physical miracle” that defied all principles and put a speed of football inappropriate for his age, 15 years; about the “feeling of helplessness” that many others had. There is nothing like Nadal in the mental field. In any case, his popularity as an actor continues beyond imagination, because the weapons and power shown until the thirties, after which he added more history and a visible evolution of technology and wisdom. Brainy and intelligent, very intelligent, he fought from the first ball to the last with many arguments and knew how to adapt to the position with guns despite being a top player.
Nadal and his uncle Toni, at an event in New York, in 2015.Jenny Anderson (WireImage)
Few definitions are more clear than that of Andre Agassi: “He never risked anything he couldn’t; If he ever did that, it was because he was forced to do it. He has been finding a way to do what he needs to do, within the game, with the points, with boxing. “He controls his destiny minute by minute, from the moment he walks into this.” And David Ferrer, winner of 27 titles and a Roland Garros finalist, joins in the praise. “Although the beginning is the same, the Rafa at the beginning is very different from the one at the end. We can see the mountain rising clearly. It knows how to grow, add tools and adapt to new times, find solutions on the fly to be competitive. Injuries and age have forced him to reinvent himself and start the game, and not many achieve that. You have to be very good at it. “It has been said that he is too much of a player, but he is an amazing player who knows how to mature without losing his style,” says the Valencian.
Up to 5,000 changes
Throughout his career, Nadal has struggled with myths about I’m sorry and the idea that he was a reserve player who preferred to leave the job and believed that erosion could decide the game. However, his tennis has not lost weight and over the years he has shown a sharp and determined style, in line with the demands of the modern style. “Punishment? I don’t care; No one in their right mind would express such anger. I laugh more than I get upset. If you pass another ball, you eventually win. To say that it is forbidden, and if they tell you that you are a gunner and you only know how to serve, that is also forbidden. This is a game and the main goal is to achieve what you can, whether it is playing aggressively, defensively, fighting with weapons or serving and hitting the net,” he answered this in a speech in 2018, just eleven days after winning Roland Garros. .
Nadal and his uncle Toni, during training in Monte Carlo, in 2014.Julian Finney (Getty Images)
Although clay is undoubtedly his best place, Nadal has adapted to the cement skillfully – the dominant area, 80% of the season – and ended up enjoying the grass, where he put on a spectacular display on the net, especially in his old age. From his shooting power, his footwork, his ability to cover the ground and his danger drive -up to 5,000 changes, twice as much – brought him a great change with the backhand and smart skills in interpreting matches. For that final stage, the precious contribution of Carlos Moyà, an idol, a friend, a believer, helped. An assistant with a good smell. The first person knew when to force more or less, to instruct correctly – to correct if necessary, even to desire and encourage – and compare to a man who had already given up twenty years. Nadal was no longer like that Raphael. There is no good or bad, just different.
“Right away you realize the greatness of Rafa, and everything that comes from being with him,” he replied as soon as he took Toni off the bench. He stayed in 2018 and, together with a new coach, Nadal improved his performance to overcome the damage to his knees and continue to win. Moyà’s self-discipline, his deep knowledge of his opponents and the physical and psychological conditions that surrounded his player – he had to retire at the age of 34, mainly because of osteoarthritis in his left foot since he was 20 – means a good refuge. of the irrevocable farewell that now, 23 years after his departure, has been confirmed.