According to his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal is determined to continue playing despite his ongoing injury troubles.
The 17-time Grand Slam winner is experiencing another injury-disrupted campaign and has only played in three tournaments so far this year namely the Australian Open, the Mexican Open and the Indian Wells Masters.
However, he was forced to withdraw from his semi-final at Indian Wells due to injury and is expected to return to action later in April.
Rafa himself admitted that the injuries are taking its toll, but uncle Toni says the 32-year-old is hopeful of carrying on.
“I see it well. The most important thing is that they (Rafa and his coach Carlos Moya) appreciate and respect each other, something very necessary,” he told El Pais.
“And Rafael wants to continue playing, despite his physical problems.
“That is what will continue to be decisive. Until when, who knows. Maybe two or three more years. What I’m saying is that Rafael is not a tennis player, he’s an injured person who plays tennis, and that’s very difficult.”
Sources: El Pais, 24sport
I agree with you Lucky Star about uncle Toni’s remarks, maybe he had a bad day and didn’t stop to think what he was saying. Very bad on Toni’s part to say that. Rafa is a brilliant tennis player. He is so humble and I pray that God helps him and keep him healthy every day. Vamos Rafa tu puedes. Te quiero mucho
Tu Numero Uno Fan
Carmen
OLA OAL OAL OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ; ) VERY NICE TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL SLEEVELESS JERSEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS SWEETHEART……YOU ARE SO BRIGHT AND WISE AND YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE RIGHT NEXT TENNIS BLESSING IS RIGHT FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE THE TENNIS GENIUS AND THE RARE, MOST EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY TO FIGHT FOR EACH POINT. YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE FAVORITE FUN CHAMP WE ALL LOVE TO WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) OF COURSE YOU HAVE GIVEN US ALL SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS AND YOUR EFFORTS ARE BRILLIANT LIKE NO OTHER PLAYER IN THE CIRCUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE TO PLAY, UNLESS YOU WANT TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS SWEETHEART AND KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS BODY STRONG AND FIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE TRUST YOUR NEXT STEP AND WHATEVER TOUR YOU CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE………WITH YOUR LOYAL COACH ROIG, AND NEW ADDITION ALBERTO, AND YOUR DEVOTED PHYSIO RAFAEL BESIDE YOU, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FOR YOUR SOLID TENNIS AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THE PRESENT AND TO GO BY WHAT FEELS RIGHT TO YOU. ENJOYING YOUR NEXT MOVE IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. ELIMINATING ALL EXTERNAL , UNNECESSARY, USELESS PRESSURES IS YOUR WISE WAY TO ENERGIZE AND FOCUS ON YOUR PRECIOUS NEXT MOVE. YOUR DEPTH OF PASSION AND LOVE FOR TENNIS IS VERY BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR GOD GIVEN ABILITY AND SKILL AND DRIVE ARE ALL EXTRAORDINARY……..SO PLEASE DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU SWEETHEART IN AND OUT OF TENNIS, AND HOLD YOUR PRECIOUS HUMBLE HEAD HIGH AND PROUD. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND SENDING LOTS OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :
PLEASE ONLY HANG AROUND LOYAL, DEVOTED, AND UNSELFISH TEAM MEMBERS. DEAR RAFA, PLEASE DO NOT WAIST YOUR TIME TRYING TO FIT ANYONE WHO DOES NOT FIT YOUR LOYAL TEAM, OR MOST IMPORTANTLY, ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND. KEEP TRUSTING YOUR GUT SWEETHEART….YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE WELL AWARE WHO IS RIGHT TO BE INCLUDED FOR YOUR TEAM…….KEEP TRUSTING AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEAM MEMBERS TO BE AROUND YOU. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY SWEETHEART TO CONSERVE YOUR BLESSED ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM AND DRIVE MOVING FORWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) LOVE YOU SWEETHEART AND GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND A BEAUTIFUL TIME ENJOYING EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA OLA & VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Nn
Tony Nadal is a man after my own heart. His interview with El Pais gives tremendous insight into
what he thinks about the youth of today (which I completely agree with) and what he did in guiding and training Rafa since he was a young lad.
Many of us have heard Rafa say time and time again how he is always striving to improve his game even at this stage of his career. That was the building block theory that Tony instilled in Rafa..”There is always something to improve upon. ”
Rafa saying that he cannot worry about things he cannot control… those words and feelings were ingrained in Rafa by Tony . ” Focus on what you can control ”
All of this groundwork plus so much more molded Rafa into the champion and man he is today and I have only the deepest respect for Tony Nadal …
He is not too harsh on Rafa…He’s not giving away any secrets to the tennis community. He sees what is happening to Rafa “physically” and I am sure it effects Tony like it does us all, as Tony is more realistic as Rafa’s body continues to talk more often, than not …
I think it will be a very interesting clay season for our boy as I hope he can get through it match by match , tournament by tournament, without interruption and of course I hope he raises the trophy over and over again… The talent he has… his motivation is tremendous.. His physical well being… only time will tell…
Rafa is the most exciting player to ever pick up a racquet and the most thrilling to watch at any tournament. I hope he continues to play as long as he has the desire but I don’t want him to risk injury that will affect his life after tennis. He will want to be able to continue golfing which is a passion and to kick a football around with his future kids not to mention just being able to walk without pain.
He is a very smart person who I’m sure along with his very wise team, family and beautiful Mery who has been so supportive of him all along will make the best decision for his career and the rest of his life. We are behind you all the way and will always love you Rafa.
I hope you can continue playing rafa. There is no one like you. You are the best, and always so humble. I don’t enjoy watching anyone else as much as I enjoy watching you. The best of luck to you this season. I saw you last year at Roland garros and you were amazing!! Vamos RAFa
I don’t think uncle Toni is putting him down at all. It just shows how much perseverance Rafa has and how much he loves the sport. Since the problem with his foot at the beginning of his career he has never been pain free. So what uncle Toni is really saying it’s that his character and determination took him so far in this sport and sometimes the things we really want in life doesn’t come easy. Bravo, Rafa!!
Rafa we wish you all the best esp. Your good health! May you recover quickly! We love you because of your virtue of perseverance! You are always our Champion inspite of your hurdles with regards to your injuries! May God always protects you Rafa! Ne strong with the strength of the Lord!!! Take Courage and do not be dismayed!
Wish you all the best for clay season Rafa
I anxiously look forward to Rafa’s return to the clay court circuit . I honestly believe that Rafa will repeat his successful campaign as he did in 2018 and will win Monte Carlo , Barcelona , Madrid , Rome and Roland Garros . Not discounting his injury or the quality of his opponents , its just that Rafa has proven superior to the competition on clay ! Plus I’m sure he badly wants to silence his critics and recapture #1 . Vamos Rafa !
l wish you well and hope you go on to play in tennis for a little while longer vamos rafa
Always with you Rafa. Hopefully your knee is fine. Vamos Rafa <3
I think uncle tonis comments sometimes are very unhappy and he speaks like a opponent and not like a uncle!
Helga Sparber /Meran
Italy
You are right! I think alike!
Helga: You are right. I think his comment was very unkind.
Exactly!
I don’t see the need for Toni to talk so much about Rafa and his injuries! Why must he say all these, telling Rafa’s rivals and opponents that Rafa may be vulnerable?
He’s not Rafa’s coach anymore, just leave the job to Moya, who should be the one to talk about Rafa and his physical conditions and mindset, should it be necessary for Moya to do so.
I still think that Rafa made a serious mistake in 2017, for playing Laver Cup and then with only one week rest, he played at Beijing. I sometimes feel that Rafa has himself to blame, for pushing himself to the limit, playing in too many events which his body couldn’t cope as he gets older.
I do think that without playing at Beijing that year, he might have a good chance of winning at Shanghai( if he could play five matches to win at Beijing without getting injured, I would expect him to play five matches at Shanghai without any injury, had he skipped Beijing).
He was playing very well in 2017 and he winning at Shanghai was possible; and, he even had a good chance to win at Paris Masters, considering the field there, with Krajinovic and Sock making the final! If I stretch it further, an uninjured Rafa might even win the WTF that year, as Fed wasn’t playing well and Djoko wasn’t there!
Rafa had missed a good chance of winning all those three events because of his own bad scheduling. If Rafa wasn’t injured at backend of 2017, I would even feel that he could do well at AO2018 and not getting injured (I feel his injury that year was a carry over from 2017, as he wasn’t fully recovered and had to skip the warmup events before AO2018).
I hope Rafa stays fit throughout the clay season at least, to win his 18th slam and some more masters. If he could shorten points to play like his 2017 clay season, then it’s possible that he comes out of the clay season unhurt and winning the big prizes.
Rafa muchas veces pienso k si tu no t hubieras lesionado tanto lo k hubieras podido ganar d trofeos… Lo tuyo es d admirar.. Es dificil combinar leniones con deporte d alto nivel.. Son incompatibles… T deseo todo lo mejor y mientras y siempre seré una fans d ti.. Siempre contigo Rafa.. Un abrazo
I really hope you find a balance between your passion as a tennisplayer and keeping healthy! It’s been such a treat watching you play over the years and I hope and trust you to make the right desissions for the future. There is a life after This you know 😉 Might be scary but think about it. Enjoy! All the best Rafa!!
Yours truly! And for always a Big fan!
Mackan in Sweden