Toni Nadal: 'I'm glad people took Rafael as a good person' | ATP Tour

Nadal's retirement

Toni Nadal: 'I'm glad people took Rafael as a good person'

'Uncle Toni' reflects on his nephew's legacy

November 26, 2024

Under the cover of his ever-present cap, always watching from afar, Toni Nadal has played a major role in the current era of professional tennis. The Balearic Islander, uncle and longtime coach of former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, played a key role in building the most complete tournament in the history of the sport. The current director of Movistar's Rafa Nadal Academy, whose toughness, intelligence and determination may have been instilled in his nephew, spoke to ATPTour.com about Nadal's retirement from the professional game.

“A few months ago, Rafael told me that he was thinking of retiring. He wanted to do it in Malaga during the Davis Cup,” said Toni. “Yes, it was very much expected. We knew the decision would come sooner or later. I found out a few months ago because Rafael came to tell me.”

Nadal's retirement was one of the biggest sporting events of the year and its public reach was impossible to ignore. From his most passionate fans to his biggest rivals, everyone came to the same conclusion — Nadal's retirement ended an era of their lives.

How does Toni feel about it? What are his thoughts looking back on a career that exceeded all his expectations?

“I don't really like the word pride,” said Toni, very humbly. “I feel very happy with everything he has achieved, obviously he is on the court because of everything he has won. But, above all, the remarkable thing, which really pleases me as a relative, is to see that a boy who dreamed of becoming a great tennis player did everything possible without losing his way. He kept his feet on the ground. Staying competitive within the bounds of fairness. That's really what made me so happy. I'm glad to see how people appreciate that.”

A few weeks ago, Carlos Moyà confirmed that Nadal could retire without regrets, confident that he had given everything on the day of his career. That constant state of self-discipline, from training methods to competition, is a fact that Toni champions have seen Rafa grow from his early days to become a world-renowned figure.

“Yes, he can walk with his head held high,” said Toni. “After everything he has achieved, since he has been there for many years, he has been respected by many people. He left a good impression in all the competitions he participated in. I think it's clear that he can walk with his head held high.”

In Nadal's last few months, the inevitable conclusion was always there. He was taking the final steps in one of the best sports. That road, after so many legendary victories, ended because of a theme that had been pushed to its edges for years. It is true that Toni noticed closely.

“Of course I saw him suffer. But I got used to seeing him suffer many times in his tennis life,” he explained. “Many times he was seriously injured, an injury that seemed to cripple him and prevent him from continuing to play. Because I was used to that, I wasn't surprised to see him suffer a little at the end. The truth is, even seeing him suffer, I think Rafael cannot complain because life is treating him very well.”

Now, after two decades as a global sports star, Nadal will pass away from the tennis court. The legend is complete – now it's time to write the legacy. Without the procedures he has followed almost his entire life, he is now starting a new chapter. Toni is confident that her nephew will cope with this as he has made another phase of his career, like a duck to water.

“I think my nephew will face his new life in a normal way. I always knew that every sports journey has its end. “There is no sports career that lasts 100 years,” said Toni. “In any case, I think he's gotten used to the idea in the last few months. Yes, retirement is a difficult time, but I don't think it will be too difficult to focus the rest of his life doing other things. I think he will throw himself into this with the same passion as he does any tennis match.”

There are many memories of Nadal's career in the coach who has enjoyed amazing moments, situations that are etched in the minds of the fans, which Toni has seen up close. Among the collection of memories of life on the bench, there are details that he will never forget.

“I will remember, of course, [2008] Wimbledon finals, Roland Garros finals, tournaments in Monte-Carlo. But above all, I will remember the program that led Rafael to achieve that victory,” said Toni. “I've told him many times: If you don't like the process, it's going to be hard to like the result. I always put a lot of importance on the program we went through. Since I stopped training Rafael, sometimes I remember the old victories, but I also train at Club Tenis Manacor, when Rafael was a boy, trying to improve his forehand and his backhand.”