There is probably no player more scrutinized in the tennis world at the moment than Rafael Nadal. After a pair of inexcusable and worrying losses on clay in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, the world is asking the same question: what is wrong with Rafael Nadal. The former world number one’s coach and uncle Toni Nadal is the man managing the damage control. He is trying to explain what is wrong with his nephew.
How Did It Come to This?
Expectations were high for Rafael Nadal going into 2016 after a brilliant finish to 2015. But after reaching the final in Doha, Nadal has suffered nothing but disappointment. Toni Nadal explained to the AS:
"All was going well at the end of 2015, when he played very well on indoor and at the Masters Cup, where he won three matches playing well and running less than his opponents did. In Abu Dhabi he beat Ferrer and Raonic, and in Doha Rafa lost only against Djokovic. In the training sessions in Australia, Rafa beat Murray and Berdych. Then the match against Verdasco has come up, where he has been two points away from winning... but he didn't win.”
Loss of Confidence and Tranquility
Much of what Toni Nadal had to say is no surprise to anyone. He emphasized that “The problem that I see is, basically, the tranquility” or lack thereof it. He also spoke about Rafael’s currently ineffective forehand, saying “It's true that this shot has stopped to hurt like before, and everyone sees it.” Moving forward, he says “We will speak about what we will have to, but I save it for myself.”
After all the losing Rafael has experienced this season, Toni believes that these results are to be expected, or at least are not surprising.
“Every time that you do not win you have less confidence, and when you lose confidence and tranquility, you play under tension every time, on the break points as well. And the forehand, that is the biggest strength in Rafa's game, does not hurt like it usually did, it does not go like before. However, we had a match point with Thiem and he did not play bad, but Thiem saved it with a forehand on the line. And he had two chances to be up 3-1 in the third set with Cuevas. He has always been very close.”
No Longer a Physical Issue
Rafael Nadal has been dogged throughout his career by physical injuries. Knee pain and other problems have often caused struggles with form for the 14-time major champion. But Toni Nadal is aware that these current struggles cannot be blamed for Rafael’s current lull.
“It's been 10 years since 2005, when he has won his first Slam title, but Rafa is doing well physically. In Rio, against Cuevas, he arrived well to the third set in a long and very hard match. He has all the enthusiasm.”
Toni points to the evolution of the game since Rafael’s breakthrough in 2005 as apart of a reason why his nephew is struggling a bit in the modern game. “Tennis changed so much in these last ten years. Rafa has always had a strategic tennis, not with direct points with serve. It changed: now, in Australia, 70% of the points were won in four shots or less. He needed to adapt. And he was doing well, we arrived to a very high level in London, Abu Dhabi and Doha.”
The Coaching Question
For several years now, Toni Nadal has been the primary focus of criticism for Rafael’s struggles. Many are calling for Rafael to finally move on and replace Toni with a new coach who can help him modernize his game and rebuild his confidence. However, Toni, who is difficult to replace to begin with since he is family, is getting sick of that idea.
“Please stop insisting on it. Does someone remember John McEnroe's coach? No. Look, here there is a team, a collective responsibility. In an increasing order of responsibility, Francis Roig, Toni Nadal and Rafa Nadal. Since 2005 to 2014, everyone has done many things that have gone well. We feel we are very close. And we will keep trying.”
There is an obvious flaw in Toni’s logic. John McEnroe did not win a major after the age of 25 and probably could have used a better coach.
In any case, Toni believes that best thing for Rafael is to stay the course. “Does Rafa's approach to this season change? The approach will continue to be like the one we thought it could be. Without any doubt the game in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro was not good, so... the balance cannot be positive.”
Rafael Nadal is next scheduled to play at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells.