CAMELOT FANTASIES

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I like the way Toni thinks. It keeps Rafa grounded.


The importance of accepting the reality, according to Toni Nadal

http://www.batennisworld.com/the-importance-of-accepting-the-reality-according-to-toni-nadal/
By Diego Amuy on 19 December 2014 Opinion

Toni Nadal remains a model for anyone who enters into coaching, and gives tennis instructors valuable tips when it comes to educate players about the importance of the mental and behavioral aspects of the game.
After all, the predisposition with which adversity is faced, and the way to mentally approach matches, can be key to the future success of many players who neglect it.

The essential part of it, according to Toni Nadal, is to accept the reality, and to work with a player towards this recognition that his rival may be better than him, and to work upon it to find ways to triumph:
    “I don’t have any issues in telling my nephew if Federer is better, or Djokovic, or Murray. After all, there are players who have more ability at hitting the ball than Rafael, who hit it better.

    I think that accepting the reality is the first step to solving the problems and improving.
    There is this story, which I have told many times before…
    In the Monte Carlo final, I think it was in 2006 or 2007… We usually met half an hour prior to the match in order to discuss the tactics. On this occasion, Rafael told me, “What’s your feeling about the match? How do you see it?”
    I told him, “Well, Federer has a better forehand than you do, his backhand is better, and his volley is also better”, and when I got to telling him, “And we better not talk about his serve”, he replied: “Uncle, then why do I have to take the court in a half hour?!”, I then told him, “Why should I mislead you? Should I trick you here, Federer wouldn’t on the court!”
   
 Once this is accepted, it is time to look for the solution. This solution is varied… Hitting everything to his backhand or being more eager and more dedicated, whatever it is.
    For this reason, I never hide myself. When I watch Djokovic play, I see in him qualities which are superior to Rafael’s and it doesn’t escape me. Same goes for Murray, who is very gifted, or for del Potro.
    When all is said and done, there are always solutions. The best player doesn’t always win, nor does the one who hits the ball better.
    Many roads lead to Rome, after all, and accepting that the other is better, or that the other is doing things better, or more easily, isn’t something offensive, to me, nor is it a bad stance.”

agreed.



his whole family keeps him grounded.


that is what makes him such a humble and kind champion.

True, he is as humble as when he first started. It's good to see. They are an amazing people to be so grounded about his success. And Rafa himself is to be credited for not allowing the world, the riches, and the recognition to get him off course.

uncle tony was a big reason why he is humble but his parents also raised him that way from the very beginning.



they all knew early on that he had that something special. he had the gift for athletics/sports.


there was never any doubt by the time he was 12-13 years old.

Oh, I know. The whole family seems to be grounded. Not a smug mug in the group. You can tell the family is supportive, but not haughty. It's Rafa's whole team that have earned my respect. They are a model of how I'd like to be if fortune ever chose to shine on me.