Rafa Is Probably the Player with the Most Match Wins Playing Poorly - Toni Nadal

[Moxie]

Uncle Toni gave a long interview which I am translating. See part one here. The ever-quotatable Toni Nadal opines on Rafa's career, tennis in general, and much more. Don't miss it!

 

[britbox]

Very interesting interview. Look forward to Part 2.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Excellent interview and fascinating insight. Too bad Toni really underestimated Rafa early chances at Wimbledon but I give the Team a lot if credit for turning it around so swiftly at SW19.
I would be very curious to read his thoughts on Rafa's past two early exits at SW19 which I truly felt was a combination of two very taxing efforts at RG and two players who played excellent high risk grass court matches. Also, Why hasn't Rafa been aggressive or is it because he gets very nervous in earlier rounds as mentioned in the interview at RG.
Thanks Moxie

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks Moxie
I will look forward to reading part 2.

 

[ftan]

Thanks Moxie..I never really liked uncle Toni.. but he is great force behind Rafa.. looking forward to part 2

 

[DarthFed]

Really excellent read, I look forward to part 2.

 

[Kieran]

Great article and translation, sista - thanks!

I think Toni is a funny guy, he thinks it's odd how people become famous for mere sports, as if the fans are wrong to be obsessed? But where, oh Toni, would you be without us?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Thanx Moxie. Interesting read. I find the part where Toni says Rafa gets nervous during the early rounds of RG very amusing. It's like Hugh Hefner getting nervous before sex...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Yeah that's a great read...

 

[brokenshoelace]

Thanx Moxie. Interesting read. I find the part where Toni says Rafa gets nervous during the early rounds of RG very amusing. It's like Hugh Hefner getting nervous before sex...

Interesting analogy. I wonder what happens to Rafa's racquet when he gets nervous then...

 

[Mog]

Thanx Moxie. Interesting read. I find the part where Toni says Rafa gets nervous during the early rounds of RG very amusing. It's like Hugh Hefner getting nervous before sex...

Interesting analogy. I wonder what happens to Rafa's racquet when he gets nervous then...

Agree about interesting analogy.
I remember Roger saying "he is always bit nervous in the first round match."

 

[Front242]

Great work, Moxie. Read this in work earlier on my break and looking forward to part 2. Cheers.

 

[Moxie]

Thanks all for reading and appreciating. :hug (Been dying to use that emoticon. ) I'll try to get Pt. 2 out shortly. May have to be 3 parts.

 

[Moxie]

I have put Part II up…click here. Part III to come. Anyway, I hope you continue to find it interesting.

 

[Kieran]

Good stuff, sister! You know, reading Toni's thoughts is impressive, but occasionally he says things like when he told Rafa that he may never get another chance to win Oz, I thought, WTF!

Ok, I get it as an instant motivational primer, to get him to overcome his tired whine and focus on fighting hard against Federer, but also, I get a feeling he talks Rafa down a lot like this. Most coaches of Rafa Nadal would tell you they rate him the highest and so on, but Toni actually talks his opponents up more than he does Rafa.

Tignor has a half-joking question in his blog about how it will affect Rafa in NY once Toni turns up. I was wondering the same, and I'm a Toni-fan...

 

[Front242]

Great job, Moxie. Very nice interview and some extra fan homework no doubt for you translating that after a hard day's work. Cheers.

 

[huntingyou]

It's a shame not to be able to read Tony's own words. Moxie does a most excellent job but still; you guys are not getting the entire substance of Tony Nadal. Interesting fellow and sometimes a hindrance to Rafa like Kieran alluded to

 

[britbox]

It's a shame not to be able to read Tony's own words. Moxie does a most excellent job but still; you guys are not getting the entire substance of Tony Nadal. Interesting fellow and sometimes a hindrance to Rafa like Kieran alluded to

Could you expand on that a little?

 

[nehmeth]

Good stuff, sister! You know, reading Toni's thoughts is impressive, but occasionally he says things like when he told Rafa that he may never get another chance to win Oz, I thought, WTF!

Ok, I get it as an instant motivational primer, to get him to overcome his tired whine and focus on fighting hard against Federer, but also, I get a feeling he talks Rafa down a lot like this. Most coaches of Rafa Nadal would tell you they rate him the highest and so on, but Toni actually talks his opponents up more than he does Rafa.

Tignor has a half-joking question in his blog about how it will affect Rafa in NY once Toni turns up. I was wondering the same, and I'm a Toni-fan...

Rafa's had an excellent run to the USO, doing what few would have even hoped for, let alone thought possible. I too wonder how Tio's arrival in NY might affect his play. It will be pretty exciting if instead of Fed or Nole, Rafa is the first since Roddick to win the summer trifecta on cement.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

This quote below is very interesting. This is before the 2008 RG demolition of Federer:

“Today I think, at this level, that you could go toe-to-toe with Federer…but let’s go with the usual tactic, that is, attack the backhand.”

Wow..uzzled. Even at this stage, Toni is still thinking , without the usual tactics, even on clay, you maybe COULD go toe-to-toe with Roger...That is a lot of respect and it also shows how important Rafa's strategy has been in dealing with Roger. This also shows how important match-ups are in tennis. Rafa has only one plan when he plays Roger, but he wins and loses to other players in multiple ways. Against Roger, the plan works, he wins, the plan does not work, he loses, simple as that.

Amazing job as usual Moxie :clap