"Rafa never had a mental health coach, never mind a nutritionist": Toni Nadal worried about Next Generation of tennis players
ATPSunday, 22 October 2023 at 05:30
Uncle of former world number one
Rafael Nadal, Toni, has stated that he is worried about the state of next-generation players.
The 62-year-old has worked closely
with the Spaniard over the years and has played a key part in helping him
achieve great things on the court.
Toni was recently quoted in a
report where he stated that he is concerned about the state of upcoming players,
especially their mental toughness which according to him is not on par with the
greats of the past.
“The teams behind the players have
become so large, so many stats, analysis, nutritionists and mental health
coaches,” he said. “And it is the latter [mental health coaches] that I believe
are the cause for so many young players getting frustrated and being unable to
handle defeat and the pressure.
“Rafa never had a mental health
coach, never mind a nutritionist. I'm not his mother, I don't know what he ate
or eats or how much he weighs. It used to be just Rafa and I. Some days I would
play him with used old balls, take him to poor quality courts to train and
forget to take water so he could be mentally strong and get used to accepting
defeat and making mistakes. And I used to tell him when he was making mistakes.
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“Today there's too much
information it's confusing, and it's all about positive criticism. That does
not always work; on the contrary, it leads to greater frustration for players
when they lose. It's a case of dusting yourself down and training more, working
harder, constantly improving your game and moving on to the next tournament.
“That's
what I always instilled in Rafa and that's why he's so mentally strong. There
will be very few players ever as good as Federer, for example, he played the perfect
game but Rafa beat him. It's about hitting the ball as hard as you can, as if
your life depends on every shot. It's a championship ball, getting the ball in,
moving around the court, adjusting the movement of the ball and don't help the
other player beat you.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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