Rafa Is Probably the Player with the Most Match Wins Playing Poorly - Toni Nadal

[DarthFed]

Hey Samson, about being "always right," didn't you predict he'll get hammered by Nole in Montreal, and that he has no chance in Cincinnati? Yeah, I thought you did.

You have some guts to challenge the Oracle of Delphi like that

 

[shawnbm]

I was engrossed in the Toni Nadal interview. Fascinating thoughts by the coach of the last decade. Thanks, Maxie, for the translation (and well done).

 

[ClayDeath]

Hey Samson, about being "always right," didn't you predict he'll get hammered by Nole in Montreal, and that he has no chance in Cincinnati? Yeah, I thought you did.

You have some guts to challenge the Oracle of Delphi like that

I get the smaller ones wrong but no worries.


nobody in the world predicted that he would storm and capture montreal and cinci either general darth.

 

[ClayDeath]

Hey Samson, about being "always right," didn't you predict he'll get hammered by Nole in Montreal, and that he has no chance in Cincinnati? Yeah, I thought you did.

truth be told general, just about all of us got that one wrong.


he had never done that even in his prime when he was playing his best tennis.



a surprise but a very pleasant surprise.

now he is furnished with some confidence and a little bit of momentum.

so we will see if he can keep running a little longer. its time to finish the job now.

 

[Didi]

Very insightful read, thank you Moxie. Looking forward to part III. Reading this interview and having read Nadal's biography, Toni comes across as a very demanding person, sort of a drill instructor who would protect your life as long as you work within his work ethics and principles. When he talks down Rafa it might sound rude but it's more self protection than anything else and so far it worked wonders for the guy. It helped him to overcome Federer and finally even his biggest obstacle in Djokovic. He accepted all the setbacks he had in his career, worked on them, came back even more determined and eventually he rose above them all. Like Michael Jordan used to say: "Limits just like fears, are often just an illusion." In his book Toni is being portrayed as someone with a different, more philosophical-orientied perspective on the world and one who understands and values the importance of family and human values. I would really like to have a dinner with the guy when he's in good mood. And as you can see Rafa looks very happy having Toni back on the sideline on Arthur Ashe. :snigger

 

[DarthFed]

Hey Samson, about being "always right," didn't you predict he'll get hammered by Nole in Montreal, and that he has no chance in Cincinnati? Yeah, I thought you did.

You have some guts to challenge the Oracle of Delphi like that

I get the smaller ones wrong but no worries.


nobody in the world predicted that he would storm and capture montreal and cinci either general darth.

Your boy always makes me feel stupid. I predicted he would never see a Cincy final a few years back...

 

[Moxie]

Very insightful read, thank you Moxie. Looking forward to part III. Reading this interview and having read Nadal's biography, Toni comes across as a very demanding person, sort of a drill instructor who would protect your life as long as you work within his work ethics and principles. When he talks down Rafa it might sound rude but it's more self protection than anything else and so far it worked wonders for the guy. It helped him to overcome Federer and finally even his biggest obstacle in Djokovic. He accepted all the setbacks he had in his career, worked on them, came back even more determined and eventually he rose above them all. Like Michael Jordan used to say: "Limits just like fears, are often just an illusion." In his book Toni is being portrayed as someone with a different, more philosophical-orientied perspective on the world and one who understands and values the importance of family and human values. I would really like to have a dinner with the guy when he's in good mood. And as you can see Rafa looks very happy having Toni back on the sideline on Arthur Ashe. :snigger

LOL on the photo, Didi! That's a great post, and I'm glad you like the interview. (Hopefully, I'll finish Pt. III tonight.) I think you 'get' Toni as I understand him. He's very tough, and his/Rafa's approach is very ascetic. They work hard, they expect to suffer, they strive continually for change, and they believe that's the way forward. Toni is a very philosophical person. He's even written a book with a Spanish philosopher about training a champion from that perspective. Like you, of everyone in tennis, Toni would be in my top 5 of people to have dinner with.

 

[twilazon]

Rare insight into an extremely important sportsman today. Thanks for making this remarkable interview available to us readers of English!

 

[Moxie]

Rare insight into an extremely important sportsman today. Thanks for making this remarkable interview available to us readers of English!

And a rare appearance by you, Twilazon. I'm honored, and pleased you liked it. You're mostly just around for the draw challenges to show the rest of us up.

Stay tuned for Pt. III early next week.

 

[Moxie]

I've put up the last part of the translation. I hope you enjoy it. And for anyone who hasn't yet checked it out, I hope you give a glance to the whole thing. Toni gives a lot of insights on tennis, and not just on Rafa.

 

[Ricardo]

Toni is unusually objective considering his position, he seems to make independent judgement not affected by his obvious connection with Rafa. A few things stand out for me,

he thinks Federer is better than Rafa overall, although Rafa is better between the two due to match-up issues.

Rafa wills himself to winning more than anyone else.

At 2008 RG, he thinks Rafa would go toe-to-toe with Fed but still use the usual tactic (loop high ball to Fed's backhand) in that match.

Some time ago Djoker was superior to Rafa and Rafa didn't have the weapons to beat him.

Similar top 10 players have been there for 5 years, the young guns haven't fought as hard as they ought to.

Murray has the misfortune playing in an era where the other top 3 never fail: Fed, Rafa and Djoker.

Clearly in some of the comments he is quite willing to not be egotistical about his nephew, and remains much more level-headed than some of the fans.

 

[ClayDeath]

I think he tells rafa that in order to motivate him.


that "matchup" theory is now totally defunct.


nadal has a winning record against 100% of the top 30 players. that is ALL of the players in the top 30.


I don't want to hurt anyone`s feelings here but the matchup issue has exactly zero traction.


also roger has 5 years on nadal.

for now we can say that roger has a better resume but he has also been at it a lot longer in tennis years.


nadal`s domination of the sport is just as stunning: how on earth can anyone explain his total domination of a surface for a decade?

people cant even imagine or dream well enough to dream of just 1 RG crown and he has 8 of them.

he is going to have an even 10 before its over.



to be fair to both, it is just best to say that they, together, have been the most dominant forces the sport has ever seen.


and since the press and the media reads tennis frontier, we will play their little "goat" game and say that they are both "goats". they both occupy the top spot.


now lets just worry about who is the next player under them.

we can debate who is #2.


1. nadal and roger

2.?
3.?
4.?
5.?

 

[Moxie]

Toni is unusually objective considering his position, he seems to make independent judgement not affected by his obvious connection with Rafa. A few things stand out for me,

he thinks Federer is better than Rafa overall, although Rafa is better between the two due to match-up issues.

Rafa wills himself to winning more than anyone else.

At 2008 RG, he thinks Rafa would go toe-to-toe with Fed but still use the usual tactic (loop high ball to Fed's backhand) in that match.

Some time ago Djoker was superior to Rafa and Rafa didn't have the weapons to beat him.

Similar top 10 players have been there for 5 years, the young guns haven't fought as hard as they ought to.

Murray has the misfortune playing in an era where the other top 3 never fail: Fed, Rafa and Djoker.

Clearly in some of the comments he is quite willing to not be egotistical about his nephew, and remains much more level-headed than some of the fans.

I think that's a fair summation of some of what he says, Ricardo. Thanks for reading it. I would only add that, within the notion of Rafa willing himself to win is the strictness with which Toni has instilled work ethic. He "wills" himself by working very hard, because Toni has always insisted on it. The magic and the artistry can come within that context, but they don't just wait for that to happen, if you know what I mean.

As to the other part of your comment that I bolded, yes, I suspect Toni thinks we're a bit crazy. :laydownlaughing

 

[Ricardo]

I think he tells rafa that in order to motivate him.


that "matchup" theory is now totally defunct.


nadal has a winning record against 100% of the top 30 players. that is ALL of the players in the top 30.


I don't want to hurt anyone`s feelings here but the matchup issue has exactly zero traction.


also roger has 5 years on nadal.

for now we can say that roger has a better resume but he has also been at it a lot longer in tennis years.


nadal`s domination of the sport is just as stunning: how on earth can anyone explain his total domination of a surface for a decade?

people cant even imagine or dream well enough to dream of just 1 RG crown and he has 8 of them.

he is going to have an even 10 before its over.



to be fair to both, it is just best to say that they, together, have been the most dominant forces the sport has ever seen.


and since the press and the media reads tennis frontier, we will play their little "goat" game and say that they are both "goats". they both occupy the top spot.


now lets just worry about who is the next player under them.

we can debate who is #2.


1. nadal and roger

2.?
3.?
4.?
5.?

anyone denying the matchup issue is just blind to see the facts. Toni specifically said he always tells Nadal to hook the fh high to Fed's bh, serves spinning serves out wide to his bh, as THE strategy in that matchup. If you care to look at the stats, you'd notice that he does it to Fed more than to any other player - clearly Rafa recognizes that particular advantage which you don't.

when it comes down to opinions, i'd take Toni's over whatever 'you think' any time of the day. as i said, Toni is much more level-headed than some fans which explains why he is such a successful coach as well.

 

[Ricardo]

Curiously, Toni's opinion is that men and women should play together so they face the same obstacles - since they receive exactly the same prize money.

 

[Ricardo]

Toni is unusually objective considering his position, he seems to make independent judgement not affected by his obvious connection with Rafa. A few things stand out for me,

he thinks Federer is better than Rafa overall, although Rafa is better between the two due to match-up issues.

Rafa wills himself to winning more than anyone else.

At 2008 RG, he thinks Rafa would go toe-to-toe with Fed but still use the usual tactic (loop high ball to Fed's backhand) in that match.

Some time ago Djoker was superior to Rafa and Rafa didn't have the weapons to beat him.

Similar top 10 players have been there for 5 years, the young guns haven't fought as hard as they ought to.

Murray has the misfortune playing in an era where the other top 3 never fail: Fed, Rafa and Djoker.

Clearly in some of the comments he is quite willing to not be egotistical about his nephew, and remains much more level-headed than some of the fans.

I think that's a fair summation of some of what he says, Ricardo. Thanks for reading it. I would only add that, within the notion of Rafa willing himself to win is the strictness with which Toni has instilled work ethic. He "wills" himself by working very hard, because Toni has always insisted on it. The magic and the artistry can come within that context, but they don't just wait for that to happen, if you know what I mean.

As to the other part of your comment that I bolded, yes, I suspect Toni thinks we're a bit crazy. :laydownlaughing

was a very good article to read, thanks for the interpretation. I always thought Toni is extremely level-headed and objective about things (not just tennis), each and every time i read his interviews or articles about him, it gets confirmed. Rafa is fortunate to have someone like that, because only with such character would he get useful information and be realistic about things.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I think he tells rafa that in order to motivate him.


that "matchup" theory is now totally defunct.


nadal has a winning record against 100% of the top 30 players. that is ALL of the players in the top 30.


I don't want to hurt anyone`s feelings here but the matchup issue has exactly zero traction.


also roger has 5 years on nadal.

for now we can say that roger has a better resume but he has also been at it a lot longer in tennis years.


nadal`s domination of the sport is just as stunning: how on earth can anyone explain his total domination of a surface for a decade?

people cant even imagine or dream well enough to dream of just 1 RG crown and he has 8 of them.

he is going to have an even 10 before its over.



to be fair to both, it is just best to say that they, together, have been the most dominant forces the sport has ever seen.


and since the press and the media reads tennis frontier, we will play their little "goat" game and say that they are both "goats". they both occupy the top spot.


now lets just worry about who is the next player under them.

we can debate who is #2.


1. nadal and roger

2.?
3.?
4.?
5.?

Are you seriously placing Nadal on equal level with Federer in terms of "goats"?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Curiously, Toni's opinion is that men and women should play together so they face the same obstacles - since they receive exactly the same prize money.

I think he said they should both play best of 5 set tennis so that they face the same obstacles, not that they should compete against each other.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Curiously, Toni's opinion is that men and women should play together so they face the same obstacles - since they receive exactly the same prize money.

I think he said they should both play best of 5 set tennis so that they face the same obstacles, not that they should compete against each other.

I hope that never happens though...I wait enough as it is during slams for the dudes to start.:s

 

[Moxie]

Curiously, Toni's opinion is that men and women should play together so they face the same obstacles - since they receive exactly the same prize money.

I think he said they should both play best of 5 set tennis so that they face the same obstacles, not that they should compete against each other.

That is his point, yes. He actually said that women can play doubles and mixed in Slams, because their schedules are lighter, and so, by implication, says that women have more opportunities to make money at the Slams, which is a point I've never heard made.