“Had a Difficult Time”: Rafael Nadal Opens Up on Coaching Days With Uncle Toni

Published 11/11/2020, 9:40 AM EST

Probably one of the most influential and prominent coaches in tennis, Toni Nadal has Always commanded praise for turning Rafael Nadal into the champion he is now. And recently, Rafa narrated another anecdote from his ‘difficult’ tennis training sessions with his uncle and former coach Toni Nadal.

On the Spanish talk show Mi casa es la tuya, Nadal spoke about his training sessions with Toni and how he changed Rafa’s path from soccer to tennis.

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Could Rafael Nadal have had a career in soccer instead of tennis?

Rafa admitted that he played and enjoyed soccer more than tennis. But it was his uncle, Toni, who instilled the passion for tennis in him. At the age of 12, Nadal was asked to choose between soccer and tennis; we all know what Rafa chose, and the rest is history.

“If I’m a tennis player, it’s because of him because I had more fun playing soccer because I played with my friends. In fact, I used to play soccer more than tennis. My uncle seriously trained me since I was seven years old to be a professional player.”

Nadal has a family history of soccer. His other uncle, Michael Angel Nadal, is a retired soccer player who has played for the Spanish national team and esteemed soccer club F.C Barcelona. So it was obvious to expect Rafa would go down the same path.

Rafa Nadal on his training regime with uncle Toni

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Furthermore, even Toni Nadal has acknowledged his strict training methods with Rafa. Putting a tennis racket in Rafa’s hand at the age of three, Toni had rigorous and disciplined training sessions. Rafa spoke on this experience with uncle Toni and how he was shaping him as a player, both physically and mentally.

“The training sessions were intense. My uncle was tightening me both on a tennis and emotional level. I had a difficult time because I tightened the rope and, sometimes, it was too tight. I endured as long as I had to endure.”

Nadal is a huge fan of Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid. And his connections with soccer continued even after his tennis career as he bought a stake in his home team, RCD Mallorca. How would have Rafa Nadal fared if he would have chosen to become a soccer player?

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Toni Nadal Reveals He Gets Serious Only When Rafael Nadal is Playing Against Djokovic and Federer

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Written by:

Bhavishya Mittal is a tennis author for EssentiallySports, who is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Manipal University. A former sports editor for The Manipal Journal, Bhavishya has also worked for The New Indian Express. He has a keen eye for many sports but he is a particularly ardent follower of tennis, with a zest to create riveting articles on the ever-evolving sport.

“Had a Difficult Time”: Rafael Nadal Opens Up on Coaching Days With Uncle Toni

Could Rafael Nadal have had a career in soccer instead of tennis?

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Rafa Nadal on his training regime with uncle Toni