Toni Nadal’s presentation: “Since 2005, Rafa has not been able to play a Grand Slam tournament without taking an injury”

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Tony NadalSpain’s uncle and adviser Rafa Nadal, He admitted that he had been aware for a month about the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s plan until the tennis this season after the Davis Cup, regretting that he could not recover his body and his level, after a long career in which “He got used to the pain”.

“He lets us know in a family conversation. At that moment, images from many years came to mind. I knew, for a month, that he was planning to retire in Malaga. I had already accepted it,” he said last Saturday in an interview at Marca Sport Weekend 2024, which will be held in Malaga itself, according to the Europa Press group.

Toni Nadal explained how Rafa encountered pain at the beginning of his careerwhen In 2005 he was diagnosed with Müller-Weiss disease.a chronic injury with, as they warned him, I couldn’t compete at the highest level. “He’s gotten used to playing in pain since 2005 because of his foot, pain, and most of the time he came out stronger” said the uncle.

“Since 2005 he has not been able to play a Grand Slam tournament without taking medication. He got used to it, and as he got over it, he thought it would be the same. But this time, another problem arose. There was no other choice. Rafa I was hoping to have good weather last season and then retirebut he couldn’t be… at least perform at a good level and win something,” he said. It’s worth remembering that 2005 was Rafael’s debut season: there he won Roland Garros for the first time. another 13 would come.

Besides, who was a coach by Rafa Nadal from 4 years old until the end of 2017 It was sad that tennis has not changed or changed in its history. “Health is going for a walk or going to the gym a little, not an elite sport. At the speed at which it is played today, it is worse. There are limits,” he said.

“For years I have been saying that the rules of tennis need to change. It’s a bit of fun. Tennis begins with a penalty”, he commented on today’s service. “This is the only sport in all of history that didn’t want to make any changes; the only one, the tie-break, so it doesn’t last too long. “The leaders have to be brave and make changes,” he said.

On the other hand, Toni Nadal doubted that an era like the Big 3 would be repeated “Connors, McEnroe and Borg won 26 Grand Slam tournaments between them. Sampras, Agassi and Courier, 26. Between Djokovic, Nadal and Federer they won 66. It is very difficult for three of the greatest players in history to meet at the same time. It is almost impossible for it to happen. It is true that today there are two players who stand out far above, [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinners, but I don’t see any young man who can stand up to them,” he said.

In addition, Rafa’s uncle explained how they looked goal from the start to reach Roger Federer. “An absolute goal. It was clear that we couldn’t compete on a fast court, but in our minds we wanted to get closer and keep improving to win it. Every year, Rafael became closer to Federer“, he said.

In addition, Toni shared a story about the day she found it Djokovic. “We were at Wimbledon, in 2005, after the first round, and I saw a player who was playing against Monaco, when he was 18 years old. After 10 minutes I went to the dressing room, I put my hand on Rafa’s shoulder and told him “we have a problem: I saw a very good man.” The problem was very great; It was Djokovic,” he recalled.

THE NIGHT