Toni Nadal admits Rafael Nadal isn't the same player than he was 10 years ago: "But in his head, nothing has changed"
ATPTuesday, 05 December 2023 at 08:30
Toni Nadal, the uncle of the former world number one Rafael
Nadal, has admitted that his nephew’s is not the same as it was before.
The 37-year-old is currently recovering from a lengthy
injury layoff and it was because of this reason he ended up missing three out
of four Grand Slams. Toni was recently quoted in a report where he expressed
optimism that his nephew might have a good run at Roland Garros in 2024 after
regaining full fitness.
“Rafael is doing well,” he said. “He’s back in training with
good intensity, with the most important thing being the (dream) of playing the
French Open again. I don’t think he’s thought about retiring, for one simple
reason, which he’s told me many times. He doesn’t want to retire with the
feeling of being injured.
“What he dreams of is having a good year, trying to play at
a very high level again. He knows it’s going to be very difficult, because
every year it gets harder and harder… But his dream is to try to be here again,
especially to play in Paris again. If his body is fine, he thinks he’ll have
the chance to do really great things at Roland Garros.
“His movement wasn’t very good at first but over the last
three weeks he’s been training at a good level,” he said. “The important thing
is not to try to win, but to have the feeling of playing well.”
“He has the will to still be here, he loves tennis, he loves
competition, he loves the game. It’s his dream to play the tournaments he loves
one last time. The more he plays, the more competitive he will be. We know that
his legs aren’t the same as they were 10 years ago, but in his head nothing has
changed. He still has the same determination.”
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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