It may be that the greatness of Rafa Nadal began on the day that his uncle Toni (Manacor, 1961) He learned to conjugate, in his own way, the verb to endure at the boarding school in Palma where he was educated: I put up with it, you put up with me… Holding on, nephew and uncle added titles and victories. There were also defeats and they resisted them because, when they come badly given, here no more divine force comes down than effort. Inexhaustible, continuous and always improving.
Toni Nadal, coach of the Manacorí tennis player until 2017, today is called upon in all parts of the world to find out how a champion is forged. LA RAZÓN goes one step further and asks him to share the strict meaning of his life to bring our society to standards as high as the game he taught his nephew. Without losing his characteristic sense of humor, he advances that he never looked for three feet to the cat, nor did he need square roots or grotesque theories. As in chess, his great hobby, he preferred to remove the litter from the board and keep the only merit that exists: work, always a little beyond our endurance.
From the anecdotes of this big man with tanned skin, serene appearance and steely gaze, we allow ourselves to rescue that little nap in the 2008 Wimbledon final, in one of the most emblematic matches in tennis history. With Roger Federer as an opponent, Uncle Toni fell asleep for a few minutes during the first break because of the rain. It was the first time that Nadal had beaten the Swiss on London grass. Since his nephew picked up his first racket, when he was only three years old, until today, he is capable of reciting one by one, year by year, his triumphs and defeats. He speaks with the humility of someone who sees a dream come true and, now that rumors of the withdrawal are raging, more than ever he can be convinced that no one will checkmate the king.
What makes you most proud of Rafa Nadal?
I was lucky to train a great player, who applied what I taught him. After a few years of hard work, he made me achieve what I always wanted: someone trained by me to achieve something important. That was my passion and my satisfaction was double because that player who reached number one was also my nephew.
Should your example help us redefine success?
Passing the ball over the net is a small thing if behind it is not the maximum effort and illusion. Succeeding means that you have done everything in your power to achieve what you wanted. If it were not so, only Bill Gates, Benzema or Rafael would succeed. Personal satisfaction is the greatest reward that can come to us, regardless of the trophies. When he got to the track, he always told him that, above all, a good face.
His faith in the work is unshakable. Is that why she titled her latest book “Everything can be trained”?
Initial talent is not the determining factor. Someone with a lesser talent can stand out if they are willing to make an extra effort, to give themselves another chance. The one who overcomes the difficulty and works hard wins. Effort is the true talent and what gives meaning to life. If you have Rafael’s conditions, you will be number one; if you have mine, 10,000.
Is this extra requirement decisive?
Getting here has been hard and I was demanding. Logic leads you to work more if you want to improve. It is not worth getting stuck in the title. In any champion statistic you can see who managed to continue as a good player. I showed Rafa the probability of becoming one of the best and gave him the confidence to move forward.
Didn’t the family bond stop you from being tough?
I have always allowed myself to tell him what he didn’t want to hear and encourage him to keep trying when others would have given up. The easy thing is to flatter. I was harsh because of the great esteem I felt for Rafael. I wanted the best for him. He was very clear about the objective and he trusted him, but he knew that he had to prepare him for the difficulty. Even when he won, there was still a long way to go. He assumed that self-demand as something of his own and helped him.
How has your nephew influenced you personally?
I have many things left, but I would highlight his fighting spirit, his good nature and his disposition. I admire that ability to be a great champion and at the same time a normal guy.
Are you tempted by politics?
I have been tempted, but I have no interest in dedicating myself to it. I prefer to continue applying those principles in other areas. If I tell you that in politics, as in life, one must know that it is not worth winning with shortcuts and at any price, but having left your skin.
He criticized the escrache that Ayuso suffered at the university. Do you understand what is happening?
It was an exercise in arrogance and little democracy. One can exercise their freedom of expression, but never lose respect. We are living in a moment of little democratic spirit and of change in standards and values. We should rethink what model of society we want.
