Uncle Toni: Rafael Nadal Will Need A Little Luck To Get Back In Form, But It Will Happen

by Tom Gainey | April 10th, 2015, 9:54 am
  • 75 Comments

In a new interview with Efe promoting his new book “Todo se puede entrenar”, Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, says his nephew will not settle for less than best.

I don’t think that’s the reason for his inconsistent play at the moment. Rafael has the same desire to do things well. He’s never settled for less during all these years, and there would be no reason for him to do so now. Rafael is an athlete who likes to win and doesn’t like to lose. I don’t think he’s been settling for less.

Toni called Rafa’s recent confidence issues as temporary.

What had always been Rafael’s strength hasn’t been in recent tournaments. That mental strength that he had to overcome difficulties, it’s harder to come by right now. But we’re working to get it back. It’s a temporary issue, and as he plays matches and we’re lucky to win an important match (and then) several in a row, Rafael will recover the form he had before his (last year’s wrist) injury.

It’s not easy because in a given situation you can tell him not to get tense, but there’ll be a day when, even when that’s the case, he can keep playing. It has to come. It’ll come with work, with reflection, and a little luck.

And Uncle Toni says a 10th French Open title in two months would be a cure-all, and a sign that Rafa is truly back to form.



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75 Comments for Uncle Toni: Rafael Nadal Will Need A Little Luck To Get Back In Form, But It Will Happen

chris ford1 Says:

And it would be best for Rafa’s rivals to assume he is at 100% on clay and be ready for playing him and each other on that basis.
Take nothing for granted. Don’t think Rafa is subpar.
Especially Djokovic and his team. I think they will go into clay believing Rafa is still the man to beat and wary that Nole has other threats that could take him out. Fed did in 2011 playing Nole better than he ever could manage against Rafa on slow clay. Last year, Raonic had Nole fighting for his life in Rome.


skeezer Says:

Unc Toni can train everything/anything? Uh uh…


jane Says:

agree chrisford1; players would be foolish to assume otherwise. they should continue to give rafa the favourite label on clay, without question or qualification.


aletha Says:

I firmly believe that RAFA can beat Any one on clay!!!!!! RAFA is KING of the clay court!!!!!! He, needs to help himself by having faith in HIS TENNIS,NO!ONE can beat him on that surface….OPEN your EYE’s and check what you have done re: the world YOU HAVE BEATEN ALL TENNIS PLAYERS!!!!!!DONT give in to bad feelongs.PRAYERS ARE a big help when nerves are bothering you! Have FAITH IN YOURSELF!!!!!! AND GOD WILL HELP YOU!!!!!!!!ALETHA MALONE! GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!


Truthsquad Says:

Aletha – take a breath girl! You’re going to hurt yourself! šŸ˜‰


courbon Says:

So, solution for Rafa,s winning- is praying…hmmm…well, then problem is solved then.I’m sure there is always chapel near by…


Hippy Chick Says:

Aletha in the words of a poster called Calm Down Please, Calm Down Please?or you will end up bursting a blood vessel,and coming from me that is saying something tennis-xtras very own certifiable lunatic….


Hippy Chick Says:

Courbon well that counts me out then?….


Matador Says:

He is not the King of Clay, he is much more than that.
Better than Sampras and Laver on grass, better than Federer on fast hc, better than Djokovic and Agassi on slow hc, better than Rosewall on wood, better thmn Pancho Gonzales on fast surfaces, better than Mc Enroe on carpet, better than anybody.
He is not the KOC, he is The Ultimate GOD of Clay, the best of the best in dominating a surface.
La dƩcima is inevitable.
He will tie Navratilova to win a same major six times in a row in the open era.


sienna Says:

Aletha.
God is just imagination. if Nadal wants to get #18 hell have to earn it. not because some sh..t religion makes you want to believe.


Wog Boy Says:

If I am not mistaken Nadal family members are staunch atheists.


Giles Says:

Not atheists. Agnostic.


Hippy Chick Says:

Not that it matters,but i thought Rafa eas a Catholic?….


Wog Boy Says:

HC,
In this article he politely said that he doesn’t believe that God exists:

http://www.suggest.com/celebs/2116/17-celeb-atheists#page=1


sienna Says:

rafa good boy. he is my third favorite player (active)


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy thanks for the article,i was just always led to believe the Nadals were Catholics,anyway religion and what path you choose is a personal choice,personally i dont believe in god either,i just believe when you die you go on to the next vibrational level,each to their own….


madmax Says:

Where do people find these stories about Rafa losing confidence.

Puleease.

If anyone believes this, then they are going to be in for a fall prior to the clay court. I don’t understand where these articles come from, are they designed to put other players off their stride? Fool them? trick them?

Does anyone really believe that Rafa isn’t going to win the RG?

Why does Toni Nadal do this before an up and coming tournament?

He does this a lot.

Do you hear/see any other coaches of Fed, Novak, Stan, Murray, come out and say their charge is having a crisis of confidence?

No.

It’s always Toni Nadal.


Wog Boy Says:

I feel bad for posting that article, I am worried for Aletha now.


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy lol,or Tootie/Nooneen or whoever?….


Hippy Chick Says:

Rafa hasnt won a meaningful title since Rg last year,has lost to everyone including my next door neighbour,hes almost 29 and hasnt played this poorly in a long time,i have faith he will turn it around,as hes not a 14 time GS champion for nothing,however its also realistic enough to say that these things dont happen over night,so if he or his fans choose to remain cautious then i dont see an issue,other players do it their way and Rafa does it his way,whatever will be will be….


Hippy Chick Says:

To add all runs come to an end eventually its the law of averages….


mat4 Says:

@Alison:

Why don’t you check the testimonies of people with NDE experience? The Internet has allowed for a lot of those to be gathered, and Jeffrey Long has written an excellent book about it.

It is not a question of belief any more. Here’s the key paragraph in his book (in the Introduction):

“By scientifically studying the more than 1,300
cases shared with NDERF, I believe that the nine lines of evidence presented in this book all converge on one central point: There is life after death.”

And this:

“Researchers have concluded that NDEs may
include some or all of the following twelve elements:

1. Out-of-body experience (OBE): Separation of
consciousness from the physical body

2. Heightened senses

3. Intense and generally positive emotions or feelings

4. Passing into or through a tunnel

5. Encountering a mystical or brilliant light

6. Encountering other beings, either mystical beings or deceased relatives or friends

7. A sense of alteration of time or space

8. Life review

9. Encountering unworldly (ā€œheavenlyā€) realms

10. Encountering or learning special knowledge

11. Encountering a boundary or barrier

12. A return to the body, either voluntary or involuntary”

(Long, J., Parry, P. (2009). Evidence of the afterlife : the science of near-death experiences. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. ISBN: 978ā€“0ā€“06ā€“145255ā€“0)

A highly interesting reading.


mat4 Says:

You can go here, meanwhile:

http://www.nderf.org/


Wog Boy Says:

@mat4,
This is what richest man in Australia, Kerry Packer said after being clinically dead for six minutes, he was a character:

“Iā€™ve been to the other side and let me tell you, son, thereā€™s fucking nothing there…thereā€™s no one waiting there for you, thereā€™s no one to judge you so you can do what you bloody well like”.


Wog Boy Says:

@mat4,
This is what richest man in Australia, Kerry Packer said after being clinically dead for six minutes, he was a character:

ā€œIā€™ve been to the other side and let me tell you, son, thereā€™s f..ng nothing thereā€¦thereā€™s no one waiting there for you, thereā€™s no one to judge you so you can do what you bloody well likeā€.


mat4 Says:

WB:

There are about 1300 testimonies at nderf. There are often a bit different. Then, some people go to hell… There indeed is nothing therer… for them.


mat4 Says:

Did you see the links I left for you in the Nole-boy thread?


Hippy Chick Says:

Mat4 thanks for the article,ive never actually had a NDE,but i did have the most bizarre dream once some years ago,where i opened a door and went into a room,there was loud music playing and a huge table of food,the room was full of people having a party enjoying themselves,then a face turned around and ran towards me and threw her arms around me hugging and kissing me it was my late mother,she said come and enjoy the party,when i looked around the room it was full of all my late relatives that had also passed over uncles,aunties,grandparents etc etc,i woke up and cried my eyes out,it doesnt qualify as a NDE,but it was very bizarre to say the least….


mat4 Says:

Men have different kind of dreams. There are certain that make you awoke and feel very sad, or very happy, and that you remember all of your life.

I have my own repeated dreams, the product of my sub-conscience and my everyday life: there are basically two kinds of dreams — the unending search and the hopeless fight. I even dream the same two towns in the “unending search”.

But there are dreams of other nature, and I am sure that that nature can be very different at times, but there is always a kind of communication. That’s what I am certain of.


Hippy Chick Says:

I have some bizarre repeated dreams too,abandonment,been chased,looking for a toilet with a door,and X-rated dreams about Hugh Jackman lol….


Wog Boy Says:

mat4,

Yes, I have seen your post, what can I say…I just can’t find good enough words for both songs, but “Tamna noć” is something special, thanks and I always thought that life is:

“Dve tri case rujna vina,
Vrisak zena sa kolena,
Uz jecanje violina!

Adio Mare, adio bella Napoli,
Adio cara mia, adio ljubavi!”

It is eaisier to accept life that way, isn’t it?:)

BTW, let us wait for Nole thread so we ca continue, I don’t want to upset Rafa fans on their thread.


Okiegal Says:

I have a repetitious dream that I can fly. I start out by jumping…..I get higher and higher, no flapping if the arms or anything but do soar under the high linw electrical


Okiegal Says:

Oops that got sent while trying correct a mistake. Should say soar under the high line electrical wires. I think I have this dream because of my fear of getting on a plane…..


Okiegal Says:

Tombstone epitaph of an atheist……”All dressed up, no place to go”…….I’ve always heard, no atheist in fox holes….we will all see the outcome of this belief at some point. I guess if there is a heaven and a hell, which I believe there is, why take a chance…..I’ll take the chance in the belief there is a God on high and try to get to heaven, that other option is too toasty roasty for me……just saying! Lol Have a great weekend, fellow posters!


madmax Says:

Hippy Chick Says:
Rafa hasnt won a meaningful title since Rg last year,has lost to everyone including my next door neighbour,hes almost 29 and hasnt played this poorly in a long time,i have faith he will turn it around,as hes not a 14 time GS champion for nothing,however its also realistic enough to say that these things dont happen over night,so if he or his fans choose to remain cautious then i dont see an issue,other players do it their way and Rafa does it his way,whatever will be will beā€¦.

April 11th, 2015 at 5:41 am

HC, it’s nothing to do with his achievements. Stop going off topic. It’s about the fact that before a big tourmanent, Rafa’s Uncle, after Rafa( who has been practising like the devil),comes out and warns everyone, AGAIN, that he is NOT at his best, OR he has lost his confidence, OR he isn’t up to it “just yet”.

It really is a very cumbersome routine that he is adopting.

I wish he would stop it. I don’t think there is anyone out there who believes this crap about Rafa. He won a tournament earlier on in the year and he will win RG.

There is no reason for him not to.


Hippy Chick Says:

Madmax i dont believe i was going off topic,i believe i actually made a pertinent and reasonable observation,so everything he and i said holds true,but if you dont believe what hes saying or what im saying,then theres not much either one of us can do about that,if we said he will sweep the CC season we would all be accused of been arrogant so your damned if you dont and damned if you do,but i would say if what he says annoys you so much dont listen and dont comment simple as….


Hippy Chick Says:

To add i also said earlier all runs end eventually anyway by the law of averages,im sure he will stomach his fair share of negativity and the naysayers will be here baying for blood when it eventually does….


Hippy Chick Says:

And as many people take joy in pointy out he aint beaten a top 10 player since Novak in the RG final last year,so go figure….


Wog Boy Says:

“Not atheists. Agnostic”

Difference beetwen agnostic and atheist is that agnostic doesn’t know if God exists and atheist doesn’t believe that God exist. Now go back and have a look what Rafa said and try to work out if he is one or another, it is not so hard…even for the person with your IQ.


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy i dont know if god exists,and i dont know if i believe that god exists either ive never given it much thought TBH,i just believe our body dies out,and we go onto the next vibrational level….


Wog Boy Says:

HC,
Don’t worry, you will find out when your number comes up. You will be ready to meet the maker.
I grew up in communist country and my father was an atheist (he had to be or he would lose his job, very sensitive one for government), but my grandparents were not and I became believer later in my life when I got baptized too, I wasn’t baptized as a child, again for the same reason, my father would lose the job.
BTW, my previous post has nothing to do with you but with that smartass.


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy i know its all cool,religion has been the cause for more wars and conflicts than you or i have had hot dinners,i believe in letting people decide for themselves which path they choose to follow,as long as it doesnt hurt or interfere with the way anyone leads their lives who cares,i was brought up a christian,and used to go to church every Sunday when i was a teenager,about five years ago i became a Pagan which isnt really a religion more a way of life,the old dears where i work are always asking me to go to church to which i politely decline their invitations,but i dont go into the reason why as i dont think it would go down too well….


Wog Boy Says:

^^I shoud put the maker with a capitol “T” and “M”, souldn’t I? jane, Colin, Margot, help, please.


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy lol ill find out when my number comes up,i hope to go downstairs where its warm….


Wog Boy Says:

HC,

Correction, religion wasn’t the cause for the wars but rather exuse for the wars, greediness was the cause of the wars. When Crusaders went to liberate the graveof Jesus Christ it had nothing to do with religion it out of greediness to robb and pilgrim the people in the middle east and not just the people of middle east but all countries on their way to middle east. Those so called christians crusaders raped, robbed and killed nuns and priests of orthodox faith on their way to middle east even on the church altars in Constantinople ((todays Istanbulu, then biggest Christian city in the world), history records everything.
Now, check what the same countries are doing in the middle east and North Africa end elswhere, pure greediness (oil instead of Jesus) this time around they call it “bringing democracy to oppressed countries”, if it is not tragic it would laughable.


Wog Boy Says:

I should put liberate as “liberate”.


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy yeah exactly….


Okiegal Says:

@Wog……..Just the “M”………


Wog Boy Says:

Thanks Okie, I learn everyday:)


Wog Boy Says:

“Wogboy lol ill find out when my number comes up,i hope to go downstairs where its warm”

HC, don’t worry, you will be very warm, Jack Human will be waiting for you.


mat4 Says:

@WB:

You meant Hugh Jackman, no?


Wog Boy Says:

mat4,
Yes, that’s the one..


Hippy Chick Says:

Wogboy/Mat4 Hugh Jackman waiting for me and keeping me warm, oh i certainly hope so lol ;)….


Margot Says:

@Wog Boy
Capitals should be used as you are making a point, and have said “The Maker” as opposed to “a maker.”
English is a crazy illogical language….. due to all those conquests. As mat4 knows, I blame The French! ;)
Actually illogicalities down to Caxton as much as any.


Margot Says:

@ Wog Boy
PS. If I has been alive in Tudor times I would’ve been changing my religion every second, as required!


Wog Boy Says:

@Margot,
Thanks very much, tell me about English being illogical language:) It is all French fault, did you hear that mat4?


mat4 Says:

Yes, indeed. We should have known better than to try to impose writing to Brits. Runes suit them better. :-)


Marylynn Says:

UNBELIEVABLE. JUST UNBELIEVABLE!!!


Hippy Chick Says:

Mat4 i have a bag of Runes….


madmax Says:

One minute Rafa is “looking ferocious on clay”, next minute he has lost his confidence.

The headlines really do change with the wind.

And Brando was the first to pick up on this – and for once, I agree with her.

brando Says:
He looks so worried to me in that video about the possibility about being seeded outside top 4 in clay season. Panic stricken. He probably has said to Uncle Toni: Iā€™m ridden with worry. I have a loss % of 7 on clay in my career, had a bum season on clay last year where I was set away from winning RG and 2 MS, I mean how bad can I get? Itā€™s such a worry being Rafa Nadal going into clay season, so many players I have to avoid, I mean I can you imagine the smile on the face of the players who gets a schmuck like me early on clay Uncle Toni? Yep me too, Iā€™m oh so worried. Lol!

April 2nd, 2015 at 11:09 am

Lol indeed.

This is what I mean Hippy. I don’t know why you discount your idol so much – I don’t get that. He is ferocious on clay. You can’t be ferocious and without confidence. Makes no sense.

Toni is just doing what he does best – and we all know what that is!


Hippy Chick Says:

Madmax first of all Rafa is not my idol,as i dont use tennis players,sports personalities,famous people or otherwise as idols,as i dont believe these people should be used as idols or role models for kids or adults,IMO roll models or idols should be a parent,guardian,Aunt or Uncle,my parents were always my idols/roll models but thats JMO….

Anyway moving on,and second of all when i see Rafa practicing he looks good,but any player can look good in practice,but its a different story when you actually play competitivly,and as many people take so much delight in pointing out he hasnt beaten a top 10 player since Novak in the FO final last year,hes also 29 soon which is traditionally the time when players fall off their perches,facing the law of averages,has lost just lately to every Tom,Dick and Harry,Novaks playing fantastically well and Rafas playing crap,these are some of the many things posters also take great joy in pointing out….

I will just sit back and see how things unfold with no unrealistic expectations,ill do things my way and thats my perogative and others can do things their way and thats theirs….


Margot Says:

@mat4
But alas writing was only for our French lords and masters, as was the French language of course.
Am sure the “Futhark” was very, very useful for leaving brief notes for the milkman…..;)


mat4 Says:

@Margot:

TouchƩ!

:-)


Margot Says:

@mat4
En garde!
And how close to English is that?


Okiegal Says:

We have state park in eastern Oklahoma called Runestone State Park. Many years ago a big flat rock was discovered and it had runes chiseled in it. The study of this rock yielded information that it was done by Vikings. It was thought that they came to the Americas via a river, probably the Mississippi and then to the great lake region. This rock was found in the middle of nowhere. It is now encased in glass……interesting bit of history. Seems like I’m into history at this stage of my life, hated in school! Lol


mat4 Says:

@Okie:

It was a fake. Proven. Or perhaps not. The problem with contemporary science is that it rejects everything that doesn’t fit in the accepted theoretical framework.

And yet it moves.


Okiegal Says:

@mat4…….I was not aware of that! I’ve been to the park twice, the last time was probably 2 yrs ago. Nothing has changed about the authenticity of the find. Where did you get your information? I will do some more study on the subject. There is some reading material at the site explaining what archaeologist believe to be true about the find. This is news to me that it was fake. This park is in Heavener, Oklahoma. Yes, I’m stumped about this. Do you not think it’s possible or what?? Get back to me……I’m curious how you know this.


mat4 Says:

@Okiegal:

I have to check where I’ve seen that in my library. I remember in vague lines the story about those stones, and it was always thought that they date from the XIX century. Meanwhile, I checked in Wiki, and you have some relevant literature at the bottom of the page. You take download Lyle Tompsen paper about them.


Okiegal Says:

Thanx, mat4 I will. I certainly don’t want to spread a falsehood.

Oklahoma has a wild mushroom that pops out in the spring. It’s called a morel. My hubby’s fixing them for supper tonight. Mat, can your country boast of this delicious treat? The Native American Indian called them land fish. I hope you get back to me on this, just curious if these grow wild in other countries.


Okiegal Says:

@mat4

I notice you and Skeezer have lots of faith in Wiki…….Lol. They were wrong about Vilas’s clay court titles. Lol


Okiegal Says:

@mat4……I’ve been doing some reading on the Saga of the Oklahoma Runestone. I was honest in reporting that it was first thought to be Scandinavian. That is what I read the first time and was not aware that it is being studied all the time. Now it’s thought to be done by the French?? Whatever, it’s very interesting. I found a great site on it……very long, haven’t got it finished yet. Thanx for making me privy to this. The site is:

heavener-runestone.com/

As I stated above, don’t want to be guilty of spreading something not true, but there is a stone, I saw it , but it may have been carved by a local citizen of LeFlore county, maybe an Indian or a Frenchman…..which that is what the study seems to think now. Anyway, interesting and I will try to keep reading and learning!!


mat4 Says:

@Okiegal:

No, I don’t have much faith in Wiki. I just had a look to check the sources, instead of searching among my books. I downloaded in the meantime Lyle Tompsen paper and read it diagonally, just to refresh my memories. It is well known that Wikipedia, especially the parts edited by the CIA, is not very reliable, and it is forbidden most of the time to use it in scientific papers.

On an another side, Wiki is often the only encyclopaedic source for popular culture.

There are a lot of recipes with morels in French cuisine. Personally I like simple things, some beef with morels and a little sauce, or a simple omelet.


Okiegal Says:

@mat4

Thanks for the response. We dip the morels in an egg milk wash dredge in flour and deep fry…..we Americans loved our southern fried food!! If you saw me, there would be no question!! Just wondered if they grew wild. We love beef too. We eat lots of venison. Very low in fat. I can cook it lots of ways. I know nothing about French cuisine. Italian, I’m more familiar.


Wog Boy Says:

@Sidney

There very few reasons why Nole should play Madrid and much more why he shouldn’t play. Firstly he is at home in MC, regardless how deep he goes in MC, he can stay two weeks with family and practice in peace for Rome and FO. He played four finals in a row plus DC without decent rest. Madrid is going to interupt his preparation, besides, the conditions and court in Madrid are very different from FO.
I know Madrid crowd will be devastated if Nole doesn’t turn up, but such is life.


Wog Boy Says:

Opss, wrong thread, sorry:(

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