Resignation of Rafa Nadal: Nadal, a remarkable mind forged in a not so simple way | Tennis | Sport

He Nadal method It inspired schools and universities, was also used in company training, and was studied by those who felt there was a complex and complex formula behind everything, a delicate balance, intricate theories. Nothing could be further from the truth. His uncle Tony, the mentor of the champion and initiator of the epic, usually simplifies: “The secret is that there is no secret; “Tennis is mostly about passing the ball more than your opponent.” And so, from this seemingly simple premise – which was nothing like it – his nephew adopted an ideology that was equally pragmatic in that it required him to follow through to the letter. “It worked for us, but that doesn’t mean it works for others,” says the coach, who saw in this obedient and “hyperactive” child an unusual ability to withstand hostility, overcome adversity and accept the message: the more suffering. , the greater the glory.

“Rafael had a commitment, instilled in me at the beginning and accepted by him later, to never complain,” the coach detailed in an article published in this newspaper in 2022 entitled Basic school of difficulties. In the text, the uncle proposed the basic principles of his methodology; that is, work harder than expected, do it with a good face, be patient, and realize that things don’t have to end well. “The fact that there was a person who demanded so much from me was always decisive for me,” Nadal said in a meeting with EL PAÍS in 2017. “But he also met a man who endured many things that perhaps others could not do because I responded,” explained the tennis player, very aggressive at his stage of development and slower later when writing the legend.

“His ball stunned you, it was very heavy. There was no way to contain this blow, and from a psychological point of view it was eating me up. He was a serious child, but that day he had already contacted the stands and I could not do anything,” describes Ramon Delgado, the first sacrifice Mallorcans in the professional field. He bowed in Mallorca in 2002. The Paraguayan speaks of a “fitness miracle” who argued on all counts and imposed a ball speed that was not appropriate for his 15-year-old age; the “feeling of helplessness” that many others experienced. No one compares to Nadal in the psychological territory. In any case, his fame as a player goes far beyond the mental, for to the armor and dynamism displayed until the age of thirty, he later added a record rich in nuance and an obvious technical and tactical evolution. Smart and strategic, very smart, he debated from the first ball to the last, using many arguments, and knew how to acclimatize himself among armed men, despite being a fairly classical tennis player.

Few definitions are more illustrative than Andre Agassi’s: “He never took a risk he couldn’t take; If he ever did it, it was because he was forced to do it. He always found a way to do what he had to do in a game, with a point, with a shot. “He’s been in control of his destiny every minute since he walked into this.” And David Ferrer, winner of 27 titles and Roland Garros finalist, joins in the praise. “Although the essence is the same, Rafa at the beginning is very different from the one at the end. We see a clearly upward curve. The company knows how to grow, add tools and adapt to new times, finding solutions on the fly to stay competitive. Injuries and age have forced him to reinvent himself and bring nuance to his game, something not many can do. To do this you need to be very good. It’s always been said that he is a very physical player, but he is an outstanding tennis player who knows how to mature without losing his style,” says the Valencian.

Up to 5000 rpm

Throughout his career, Nadal had to contend with the myth of pass the ball and the idea that he was a reserve player who chose to give up the initiative and believe that erosion would ultimately decide the game. However, his tennis has not stopped getting richer, and over the years he presents a sharper and more definitive version, more in line with the demands of the modern model. “Pass the ball? I don’t care; No one in their right mind could utter such outrage. I laugh more than I get upset. If you miss one more ball, you will eventually win. To say this is a disqualification, and if they tell you that you are a gunner and only know how to serve, this is also a disqualification. This is a sport and the ultimate goal is to achieve the maximum by playing aggressively, defensively, counter-attacking or serving and scoring,” he responded to this medium during a speech in 2018, the day after his eleventh victory at Roland Garros. .

While dirt is undoubtedly his ideal habitat, Nadal masterfully adapted to cement (the dominant surface, 80% of the season) and ended up enjoying the grass, where he produced a superb performance in goal, especially in his seniority. For his shooting strength, footwork, ability to overcome obstacles and intimidating drive a car – up to 5000 rpm, twice the normal average – brought him very noticeable improvements in his backhand and a keen tactical sense in interpreting matches. In this final stage, Carlos Moya, an idol, a friend, a confidant, made a valuable contribution. Helper with a good sense of smell. The former number one knew when it was necessary to force more or less, to advise correctly – to slow down when it was appropriate, despite the desire and impulse – and accompany to a man who had already left the twenty-year-old behind. Nadal is not the same anymore Raphael. Neither better nor worse, just different.

“You immediately realize the greatness of Rafa and everything that happens to him,” he replied shortly before replacing Toni on the bench. He officially took over in 2018 and, with a new coach, Nadal has refined his work to mitigate knee damage and continued to build his repertoire. Moya’s restraint, his intimate knowledge of his opponents and the physical and emotional circumstances surrounding his player (he had to retire at the age of 34, mainly due to osteoarthritis in his left foot from the age of 20), meant an ideal refuge in this direction. about this irreparable farewell, which is now, 23 years after the flight, confirmed.