After over two decades on the professional Tour, Rafael Nadal will likely end his glorious career in 2024. The Spaniard has had many brilliant wins over the years, accompanied by tough losses. However, we have never seen Rafa throwing his racquet or showing the ultimate frustration, and one man engineered his mental strength and serenity!
Toni Nadal introduced his nephew Rafa to tennis at three or four, teaching him how to play and always draw the most from himself. After every success, Toni would show the list of previous champions from that event, explaining to Rafa that many of them are not in the game anymore, as they did not work hard enough.
Giving 120% every time, Nadal embraced a pro career at 15, moving to the verge of the top-200 by the end of 2003. In 2004, the young Spaniard toppled world no. 1 Roger Federer in Miami and claimed his first ATP title in Sopot.
Rafael Nadal has never thrown his racquet during his career.
Thus, Rafa prepared his assault on the ATP throne in 2005, claiming his first Major crown on his Roland Garros debut and becoming world no.
2. The rest is pretty much history, and Rafa stands among the best players of all time after lifting 22 Majors and 36 Masters 1000 trophies. Over the years, the clay warrior has experienced incredible battles with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and many other rivals from the top, suffering severe losses and enjoying brilliant victories while never forgetting his uncle’s first lessons.
Nadal has yet to throw a racquet despite spending over three decades on the tennis court, learning how to channel his frustration and turn it into his strength. Toni stayed with his nephew until the end of 2017, winning the last Major together in Paris in June.
Thus, he became one of the most accomplished coaches of all time. Rafa continued his tennis journey with Carlos Moya as his main coach, winning more Major titles since 2018 and celebrating the 22nd at the last year’s Roland Garros.
Plagued with setbacks, Nadal will probably end his career next year, hoping to overcome a hip injury and end his incredible career on his terms.”Rafa ended up getting used to my tennis philosophy, assuming a high demand that I placed on him.
When he was a child and we trained, I first asked him to smile and have a positive attitude. He never threw a racquet because that would have allowed frustration to overcome him. I’m bothered by the complaint and frustration, considering that it begins from a feeling of personal overvaluation, believing that you can not fail. I did my best to fix that in his approach,” Toni Nadal said.
