Uncle Toni Leaves Door Open For A New Super Coach Next Year For Rafa
by Tom Gainey | October 5th, 2015, 10:02 am
  • 31 Comments

According to this post on AFP, Uncle Toni said if results don’t improve Rafael Nadal could have a new coach in 2016.

“I think you need to ask Rafael,” Uncle Toni told AFP while promoting Rafa’s new academy.

But then he added, “Maybe if next year Rafael is playing not too good, then I think he can think about some changes in his game or in his team.”

Rafa has been firm he’s happy with his team. And it’s not the team’s fault he’s been playing down this year, it’s his. So in Rafa’s mind, there’s no need for a change.

“I always believed that when I am playing bad, when I am not winning, you don’t have to find excuses outside or reasons outside,” Nadal said at the US Open. “You have to look at yourself in the mirror and say, That’s my fault. That’s the real thing. It’s not the fault of other people.

“I had an amazing career with this team. I believe in my team. We are working a lot to find the right way. I think we are in the good way.”

If Rafa continues to struggle, who, if anyone, will Uncle Toni and Rafa bring in?

Nadal is in Beijing this week competing for a second China Open.


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31 Comments for Uncle Toni Leaves Door Open For A New Super Coach Next Year For Rafa

elina Says:

I hear that Gala Leon is available.


Giles Says:

Very funny Elina. NOT!!


montecarlo Says:

Get Ivanisevic in your team and work on that serve. Being a lefty will make it even easier.


Wog Boy Says:

Does uncle Toni read TX?
Ivanisevic is not a good coach, I don’t think he is a coach to start with. Ivanisevic had a natural serve and height that Rafa doesn’t have, you don’t teach that, I remember him as 17 years old playing in and for then Yugoslavia, Boba Zivojinovic use to call him rabbit and was sort of his mentor though Goran won’t admit that today, (Boba had a monster serve himself) Goran had a killer serve then and didn’t change anything until the end of career.


montecarlo Says:

ivanisevic is not a good coach? He is the only reason cilic won US Open out of nowhere.


elina Says:

He definitely helped Cilic with his serve but Marin is quite taller than Rafa so some truth in both statements.


Wog Boy Says:

“ivanisevic is not a good coach? He is the only reason cilic won US Open out of nowhere.”

Well I don’t know for how long you’ve been watching tennis (or Cilc) but to say something like that is huge overstatement. Cilic was GS material from the time he reached top 20-30, though I am not fan of his I stated that quite a few years back on this very TX and to say that he “won USO out of nowhere” is not just disrespectful to Cilic, but laughable.


Wog Boy Says:

elina,

Agree and disagree, little bit of both:) Cilic always had great serve but I’ll give you here benefit of doubt, let’s say Goran sharpened Marin’s serve, but where are the results since USO? One can say he was injured, well not for over one year since USO. Clic was always great player and contender in every GS he played (made few SF prior last year USO) but last year everything fell into place during the USO, he had few toufh matches where he managed to get through and the door suddenly open for him, he ran into an uninspired Berdych (surprise surprise), Federer after grueling five setter with Monfils and Nishikori who was still thinking (did I just beat Djokovic and made USO final” and he took the chance that was presented to him and won USO fairly and squarely, he played great.
Now, do yo remember how Cilic looked like most of his career except for the last year and this year USO, yes, he looked like stick nsect, he might as well paid his price for putting all of those muscles and overworked his body and that may cost him the rest of his career, they went for all or nothing and that where Goran’s coaching comes in, they got USO, but are they paying price for that now, I don’t know.


Wog Boy Says:

^^ shoud say “stick insect” and not “stick nsect”


Okiegal Says:

I guess Rafa has set the shorter shorts trend….Pospisil’s shorts are short like his opponent’s………reminds me of an old song from the 50s or 60s….not sure….”Who likes short shorts, da da da da da da da, we like short shorts”…..of course it was a men’s group singing the song and was directed towards the female gender….yeah, it’s time for a change!! Lol


Gypsy Gal Says:

We wear short shorts,we wear shorts lol,HI Okie Janis hows things?….


Okiegal Says:

@Gypsy Gal…… Of course, there will never be much improvement in Byron. Getting the hospital bed today. He has been sitting up in the recliner more, difficulty breathing lying flat on his back all the time. He still takes his showers on his own. He decided at 4:00 in the morning he wanted one, so I accommodated him. He just won’t eat…..he’s got to start to if he ever expects to get a wee bit of strength back. If I could get him to drink at least 2 Ensures a day, that would help. They have one that’s 350 calories, which would be so good for him, but I can’t make him. Thanks for asking. Have a great day! Janis


Gypsy Gal Says:

All the best to you both Janis,my dear ethereal friend,love from Alison ;)XX….


skeezer Says:

New Coach?
Try Roger Federer, but he might be too expensive.
For sure Dump the Unc, never had any tennis credentials beyond Rafa.


Gypsy Gal Says:

Mustve done something right,with everything Rafas won,hmm who knows?….


Okiegal Says:

Thanks, GG!

@Skeezer…..I started to suggest that the other day…..if Roger retired and started coaching Rafa to another slam or two, Roger’s resume could look even better, kinda sorta….. :) lol


Gypsy Gal Says:

Its sad to see that a guy,who was once one of the most tenacious tennis players on tour,is now seen as a laughing stock by most people,dissapointing to say the very least….


Okiegal Says:

Exactly, GG……

BTW, I don’t think the Uncle is no slouch when it comes to coaching…..just saying..


Giles Says:

Hey skeezer. Your envy towards Rafa knows no bounds. Keep wallowing, it’s getting rather amusing!
23-10


Margot Says:

@OK
Not on here much at mo. Rugby WC absorbing all my spare time but my thoughts are with you and I hope you’re doing OK.
Big internet hygs.


elina Says:

You guys, Roger coaching Rafa would be the perfect example of if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.


skeezer Says:

You girls, Roger could teach Rafa how to hit a slice, a chip, an approach shot, a serve and how to get 17 Slams. Fed has no need to do the “can’t beat ’em join ’em’ approach, He has beaten the ultimate opponent in Tennis and owned em. Who is that? Mr. Slam.


elina Says:

Roger could teach Rafa that there’s no crying in tennis.

Oh wait. That was Tom Hanks and softball.

Nevermind.


Okiegal Says:

@Margot…..Back at you with hugs! I’m not on here much either. More important things going on.

@Elina 12:00…..Good one….. :)


skeezer Says:

Rafa’s never cried about tennis? LOL.
Fed could also teach Rafa how to quit whining, get lucky and be married, have kids, then win some more Slams.
Saaweet!


Gypsy Gal Says:

He always said marriage and kids were for after his career,and Xiscas studying for a University degree ATM,they seem happy and commited without the need to live in each others pockets,marriage and kids is certainly no guarantee of a happy relationship or t success tennis or otherwise anyway,sometimes the two are just a happy coincidence,im sure Rafa and Xisca will have both in their own good time,never the less i think we should leave personal stuff and relationships off a tennis forum,their relationship is their buisness….


Okiegal Says:

@Gypsy Gal…..Hugh Jackman is on the Today Show this morning….thought you might be interested!! He’s promoting a new movie….I think it’s a fantasy kid’s film, which I don’t care for, but nonetheless, it stars Mr. Jackman!!


Okiegal Says:

When I think of whining by a tennis player, my mind wonders back to Wimbledon, not sure what year, but it was a Roger/Rafa match and Roger had a whining meltdown over Hawkeye, I thought that was hilarious. He wanted Hawkeye removed……:)


Giles Says:

So he thinks he’s greater than Hawkeye. ROFL


Gypsy Gal Says:

Okie lol thanks,wouldve loved to have seen the simply divine Mr Jackman but had to go to work,agree about the film choice not my cup of tea either,but that guy could recite the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,and i still wouldnt be able to take my eyes off him,and be sat open mouthed and drooling,been that good looking should be made ilegal,TAKE CARE YOU ANYWAY XX….


Armend Says:

Mr. John McEnroe? light back the extinguished fire in Nadal!

Or a more cautious approach through Lendl, don’t know about the fire with this one.

Nadal has always had and still has the ingredients that Lendl helped Murray with, still a good choice.

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