ARTICLES:
The “What’s up with Nadal?” questions hit the double-digit mark this week, after his latest loss to a lesser-ranked player—on clay, no less. This time it was Pablo Cuevas, the kind of journeymen Nadal would dispatch 6–2, 6–2 not long ago.
We want easy solutions and explanations. Fire Toni! Take a year off! Quit now! But this doesn’t lend itself to hot takes. We are, undeniably, witnessing an athlete in decline. And tennis is both the cruelest of sports and the most accommodating…
Nadal is not yet 30. His body, improbably, is holding up. Nadal may never win a 15th major. But I don’t see how you flatly write off a player of his caliber. The first step is regaining that self-belief and translating that on the court. Taking more risks on the serve, in the rallies and on big points. Playing closer to the baseline. Finishing off third sets. Right now, he doesn’t need a new coach so much as needs Stuart Smalley reminding him of who he is.
- Rise and Fall | tennis.com
“Descent,” of course, is a relative term when it comes to Rafa on dirt. He reached the semis in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, and lost by razor-thin margins both times. For the most part, aside from his serve, I thought he played pretty well. Still, this is Nadal we’re talking about. No player has ever come as close to invincibility on a single surface. Making the semis at a clay-court event is never going to be a satisfying result for him.
Once upon a time, Nadal didn’t lose these types of rallies when he needed them. On match point, the opponent’s desperation forehand would sail long. When Rafa had the other player out of position, he would put the ball away and stride back to the baseline with his fist in the air.
AUDIO: The Tennis Podcast: Will Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal ever win another grand slam title? | The Telegraph
Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam singles titles (17), and spent more weeks as World No 1 than anyone in history. Rafael Nadal has won 14 major wins, including nine French Open crowns, and Olympic singles gold. But is that it? Will either win another major title in their careers?
PHOTOS:
- The Tommy Hilfiger Tailored TH Flex Rafael Nadal Edition Capsule Collection
- Rafael Nadal suffers Rio Open defeat to Pablo Cuevas
VIDEOS:
- Emirates ATP Rankings 23 February 2016 | ATP World Tour
- Behind The Scenes In Rio | ATP World Tour
He needs a new coach like yesterday. Rafa needs someone that reminds him of who he is, a 14-time grand slam champion. Toni can’t do that. He turned him into an insecure underdog, and those days are over. He’s the consolidated champion now, he needs someone to remind him of that fact.
I see rafa issue of confidence is not a big one but a tricky one, if he handeled it carefully and rightlybto sort it out and that to quickly we will see him back sooner but the difficult part is if it is not handeled carefully and properly and think of delaying it then this problem is such that it will keep on aggravating and will make it worse for rafa knowing tjlhe fact that the rest of the field is playing fearless tennis ……
So rafa pls do meditation , play 1 set matches with good local player in practices for few days, get someone new to give new ideas or do what ever u think best But get rid of this problem quickly
Stay healthy stay positive and all the very bst luck
Eagerly waiting for ur game my champ rafa
We’re going to see more losses in coming tournaments. Uncle Toni said in his today interview with tenis.as.com that Rafa didn’t need a new coach. You can read the english translation of the interview on vamos Rafael nadal facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Vam%C3%B4s-Rafael-Nadal-148883365132821/?fref=ts
Rafa just needs help with his confidence ,,,a new mind set ,,,,the talent is still there ,the fitness is still there ,the wanting to win is still there ,,,,,his commitment is still there ,,,,,,he just needs to be told over and over and over again ,,,remember who you are ,,,,,,walk out on court with positivity ,,,,,,get on with the game ,,,try getting rid of your old routine ,,,,,it’s not doing you any favours ,,,or helping you at all ,,,,,,best wishes Rafa I hope your game returns ,
New coach, new game, easier said than done. Nadal and his team are not dumb. Do we think we know more tennis than they do? They know what’s wrong. They know know Rafa needs to change som aspects of his game. They have been practicing these changes but implementing the changes on a tourney is never easy. Rafa has done it before in 2013. He serves better, his shots flatter and the angles are ridiculuous. So dont we think they know what works and what does not? C,mon!
then why Rafa is in slump for almost 2 years?
Dear Bautista,
Please dont get worked up unnecessarily.
Raf’s problems are more spiritual than physical. Therefore, he needs a SPIRITUAL solution and (as you said) he does not need a new coach.
why don’t you pray for him, fruitcake? O_O
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) Ola sweetheart!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Hope you are enjoying your days & enjoying everything about your upcoming Academy & US tour!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
On a different note DEAR RAFA , Please take comments here with somewhat disregard to the volume & numbers of comments. Same person here writes same comments with slight variations under different assumed names & then answers themselves back & forth, giving themselves “red 1 person like” at the bottom of their comments. The volume of last posting is obviously falsely made up & it is getting more and more obvious during the last two months or so. I urge folks who resort to such tactics to see it is not about the fans…but rather it is all about RAFA. Fans do not have to feel competitive w each other, or have agenda about their posting other than fully supporting RAFA. It is doubtful I am the only commentator to have noticed that. I had chosen to not express my observation for a while now but this is time in between Rafa’s tours & I urge folks commentating here to en hence Rafa’s standing & mighty beautiful game with positive support. Secondly, for the sake of this site reputation lets hope this rather obvious trend of assumed many different names writing the same content stops at once.
It is important to adore Rafa as a fan, and having a free hand to express opinions, but it absurd to keep coming up with made up names delivering pressure and undo negative words to place ugly doubt in Rafa’s sense of his game & success or his magnificent effective team.
“Once upon a time” we were all different , and as time goes on we all evolve & develop with new skills replacing old ones….RAFA is no different . It is time folks stops saying he “USED” to do this & that & hold him to past standards & unseasonable set of critics. Rafa’s success is a blessing and his tennis & other engagements are a treat to witness. He is a great guy & deserves nothing but the top best!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) As a fan I am delighted to have this site to follow Rafa’s tours, interviews, videos & photos….it is my sincere hope there will be an attempt to stop this ridiculous bashing under different names.
VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) God bless you & have a great time preparing! Lots of love & happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
You really have mental problem and need to see a doctor. .
oh dear, Fanlove Fruitcake again … O_O
Abu Parker,
You’re particularly fond of abusing people on this site, calling them all sort of names!
Are you a ruffian of sorts or something?
Well, be very careful. Nobody abuses a Prophet – a Man of God – and gets away with it.
BE VERY CAREFUL.
Hey prophet, you’re a total A_HOLE, fruitcake. Now go ahead, place your god-illusion curse on me! O_O
I am convinced that Rafa still has the talent, strength and ability to win another FO GS, but this topic is key. It is true that Toni Nadal deserves much credit for Rafa’s past achievements, but now Rafa needs new, innovative help on his coaching staff, someone who recognises what his grueling style of playing has done to his body, and can help him adapt his style to accommodate the injuries his body has had to observe during the past 10 years. His play needs to be less reliant on a strong youthful body, and should be less taxing on his body. He needs some strong guidance on his serve, and importantly, how to deliver shots that are difficult to return, and don’t force him to run all over the court.
Let’s hope that he adds a good coach (Agassi would be a great choice) to his team VERY soon, and start changing his style before its too late. Vamos Rafa!!!
Agree! Rafa still has the potential, desire of winning but if he sticks to this current team then he will have to see Djokovic claims his first Roland Garros.
He needs to adjust his game with his slow footwork. His forehand shots land short and are often shaky. Rafa could easily destroy his opponent by a powerful forehand but now it’s not. He can’t run like old time for a good position. Therefore, there are many many unforced errors from his forehand (especially his down the line shot). His serve is way too terrible. If he ever wants to compete at high level on fast surface like Wimbledon again, then he must bring a professional like Oscar Boris to learn a good first serve. Rafa now is way too predictable.
Rafa you need a new coach, please
Rafa just needs to go to YouTube, type “Nadal” then sit down and watch. He’s forgotten who he is.
The serve needs to improve. He needs a serving coach.
Once the fire is still there, there’s hope.
Rafa needs more input than Uncle Toni alone. An additional coach with different ideas to bring another dimension to Rafa’s otherwise solid game is needed. A more innovative approach to gain that extra little bit that’s needed to win would surely be something that Rafa would benefit from. There must be coaches around on tour or from past champions that would bring that bit extra to Rafa’s game as is evident in for example Djokovic’s team. It’s surely worth a serious look.
Please uncle Toni go home and give Rafa a chance!!!!
Hega dear,
I will bet my last $5,000.00 with you that if Uncle Toni goes home, Nadal would immediately announce his retirement from the sport!
Wanna bet?
and your god told you to wager money, fruitcake? O_O
Rafa needs a new team for his last 3-4 years..that is the only truth..here in greece we are all fans of rafa..make us happy..you are a very good man but if you want to be the number one again you know exactly what you have to do..if you are ok with your past,it is ok for us..
Rafa needs a new coach for sure, and Toni should step down. The reasons are simple. They now form a poisonous mix: on the one hand Toni, who praises Rafa’s rivals as better than his own (some sick, not effective, reverse psychology that does not work) and on the other hand Rafa who has become a man without ambitiions (“I don’t need to win more slams”) while at the same time looking like the most depressed man after yet another loss (which confirms that he actually still prefers winning, he is just trying to move himself in an underdog position, out of fear). They should shake hands, look eachother in the eyes, realizing they won the biggest chunk of Rafa’s silverware together (for sure). It’s the only chance they have to add some silverware to the collection. You know, in most countries, young men, like birds, leave the nest. Rafa should leave the nest.
J Beer: can’t agree more with your comment. Toni Nadal should step down. If which is a big if Rafa hire a new coach, there would be conflict of views that makes Rafa to take side and we all know who’s side it would be. I am wondering if we should start an online petition asking for Toni Nadal to step down. I am sure there would be millions of fan to sign it.
good comment!
You’ve explained perfectly exactly what I think. It’s a toxic relationship at this point, and what worked when Rafa was beginning as a young starter clearly can’t work today as a full-developed adult and seasoned player.
I totally agree that Rafa needs new blood in his team, definitely a new coach to work alongside Toni, McEnroe would be top of my list, it appears Rafa is too anxious on court, he’s no longer fearless, makes mistakes on the big points, problem is that other players know this and when facing him they’re already thinking “I can beat Nadal”, that’s gives them the edge, please do something Rafa as these loses and your nerves are desperately upsetting for us fans, we will love you forever
I think Rafa needs a new coach to work along side his uncle . I have the impression that Toni could be a bit tricky to work with so maybe uncle Toni could spend some time with his young family during the smaller tournaments and have more input in the grandslams. That said know one can take away that Toni has been and is a great and REAL coach and has helped Rafa achieve becoming one of the greats, but may be now at this stage in Rafa’s career he needs someone who can build his confidence and praise him instead of a negative approach that has worked in the past.I would like to see Rafa take some time off now until the French Open , decide what he wants to do with his career and team . Travelling month after month for years must take its toll especially when things aren’t going maybe one day Rafa will be the coach to his cousins that would be great
Hmmnnn…
He does not need another coach, maybe someone new in his team with some new ideas . But the most important thing that he has to do is look inside him, find the pleasure of the game, find the confidence and the strength. And he has to relax, loose the pressure , because all this comments about him I am sure it affects him . His carrier is not over yet , he still has so much to give , I am sure of it ; and we,his fans, have to support him. I am with him all the way ! VAMOS RAFFA !!! TU PUEDES !
RAFA JUST LOOKING AHEAD IF YOUR YOUNG COUSINS FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEPS WITH TONI,HE WILL HAVE NEW NEW IDEAS TO TEACH THEM AS HE DID YOU. SO PLEASE CONSIDER , SOME ONE NEW ON YOUR TEAM FOR A SHORT TIME TO GIVE YOU ALL A LIFT AND ENJOY YOUR TENNIS AGAIN ITS REALLY SIMPLE .
LIVING IN SPAIN FOR MANY YEARS I RECONISE THE PASSION AND FIRE IN YOUR BLOOD , YOU ARE A WONDERFUL RACE WHO NEVER GIVES UP SO THATS YOUR PROBLEM DARLING
REST A LITTLE THE SAME PRACTISE EVERY DAY NO GOOD XXXXXXXXXXXX
why are you shouting? you hearing impaired? O_O
Dear Rafa, only you can determine what you need to win tournaments again. We will always support you, but your future in tennis is in your hands. VAMOS, RAFA!!! CREEMOS EN TI!!!
I have supported Rafael since I first saw him, he captured my imagination and my heart. That has never wavered. I think that he is over anxious and needs to remember who he is. Re a coach, I would like to see someone in on a consultancy basis. Pat Cash or John McEnroe are the men I would like to see in that role. Little things can turn around his season. Vamos Rafaaaa
Hmmn…….
I think I will sit on the fence on this one as I am sure Rafa’s team are discussing what is right for Rafa going forward. I think as Rafa fans though if a new addition was brought to the team we would be excited about the possible outcome. Vamos Rafa!