'Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic have stayed because...', says top coach

An air of revolution was announced before the Australian Open 2020, with the so-called Next Gen ready to overturn the hierarchies as already threatened for years, but the victory went once again to one of the Big-3: Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, certainly not walking around it is clear, overtook Dominic Thiem in the final who at 26 and a half years from the "New Era" has already left. The Austrian has shown on several occasions that he can undermine the three sacred monsters but winning a Major is another matter entirely. When the bar is raised in the big stages, the great stars still make the difference. As if that weren't enough Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer (who reached the semi-final in Melbourne at the age of 38) are always firmly at the top of world tennis. However, it’s not their talent that success has been build upon, says Toni Nadal it’s their mentality.

Uncle Toni on the Big 3

“Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have stayed because they have not met people who have the same commitment as them,” Toni Nadal said in an interview with the Colombian Tennis Federation. “When they play well, they win; when they don’t play well, they fight and usually win. And there is the difference, because those of this new generation can have a good day and be very good, but the day things don’t work out they lose their way, they get out of focus.” Toni Nadal was instrumental in the development of Rafael Nadal, and he is adamant he will never see the like of him again. “I am almost sure that I will never train a boy like Rafael again, but it still motivates me to keep setting goals and fight for new challenges, even if they are smaller.” Meanwhile, the US Open in terms of protocols has taken some strict decisions. There will be no fans in the Flushing Meadows. There will be regular temperature and symptom checks. And entourage with the player is also limited. Wesley Koolof, the dutch doubles specialist tweeted the waiver document the players have to sign to play in the US Open. The US Open is making sure that the players realize and take responsibility for the risk they are taking by coming to the US. “I am fully aware of the risks involved with entering USTA National Tennis Center Incorporated premises and facilities located at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, New York” read the first line in the waiver.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3gMOW5A