Toni Nadal more motivated by working at the Academy than coaching Rafa
In an interview, Toni Nadal commented on the work they are doing at his nephew's academy. Toni insisted that kids shouldn't go there thinking they will become the next big players of tennis. 'Here they came parents who asked that we make their kids a champion', Toni said. 'The first thing I tell them is that I do not know how to make a champion, I do not know, or at least that's what I believe, what a person needs to breakthrough, to train more or less well, but the decision is up to you and it does not depend on me. When I started coaching in the Manacor tennis club I also had less knowledges, but I has a lot of passion and more youth as well. Now my vision is different. When I started coaching there my goal was that someone coached by me would achieve something important. In the end I was lucky that I made it, but I not only made it, but it was also a family member. I know that living this experience, coming back to have a player of this level is almost impossible. I keep hoping that some of the people who are here can work in tennis professional Tour. I think we have some guys who can do it, I do not know at what level, I do not know it they will have the chance to win some Masters 1000 or some Grand Slam, I do not know it. I am not worried that they can win as much as Rafael or a little less, I care about kids who achieve their potential and in the end they achieve the happiness in the effort to try it.'
Toni added: 'We have people of a high level that decided to prepare him here. We have Jaume Munar that came being the world No. 300 and now is 75. There is Casper Ruud, the best 19-year-old Norwegian; he ended the year very well and I think he made a step forward, he ended as world No. 110 and I think next year he will make a big step forward. We also have an Australian, Akira Santillan, who comes with the idea of being in the top 100 professional rankings, let's see if he can make it. My work here is to say how I think things should be done. Over all these years I saw what I did well with Rafael and what I did badly. I tried changing and improving. What I try bringing these kids is this vision. I think my work here is much more productive with kids than with someone shaped. I understand that when someone is shaped what you can bring is little details and I believe that what you bring here in the shaping of 12, 13, 14 or 15-year-old guys is more important than what you can do on the professional Tour.'
ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2RoXwOj
No comments