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Toni Nadal: Rafa crisis? He is human. Winning a Slam Why not´

Tennis - The Spaniard coach speaks about Rafa´s improvements and analyzed his 2015 season, focusing on 2016 ..
Rafael Nadal  27 Nov 2015 - 09:15 / by Gatto Luigi /

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Toni-Nadal-Rafas-crisis--Hes-human-Winning-a-Slam--Why-not-articolo28195.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

In an interview to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Toni Nadal spoke about Rafa's improvements and analyzed his 2015 season.
'We didn't arrive to the goal. There is much to do, to work. Maybe Nadal played his best tournament of the year at the ATP Finals. Against Ferrer it was a very tough match, but we understood how much time he could fight. He competed against the best players in the World. Against him, Djokovic was perfect but Rafa fought', said Toni.

'Surely it wasn't the year we expected. It was a transition season characterized by ups and downs, it's true that we have not won important titles but at the end we have been good to improve. Qualifying for the Masters as World No. 5 and reaching the semifinals is a good way to end 2015'.
The lack of confidence 'was the most difficult problem to face. When you are not confident on court it's very complicated to get good results. But also players are humans and even an athlete can have these problems.'

Is Rafa a normal guy even if he won 9 Roland Garros, 14 Slams in total and one Olympics? 'He has been always good athletically and always wants to work. He wasn't good enough to control emotions and it influenced his game, but already before ATP Finals his tennis improved and we've to improve even more.'

Can his nephew win a Grand Slam again? 'Why not? In London he competed against the best players. If you are able to beat Murray, Ferrer, Wawrinka, then you can win a Slam too'.

In 2016 'the goal is to start well with confidence and enthusiasm. And then as always win more than what you do. When you take the training wheels off, everything is easier: a victory calls another victory'.

Rafa said that he'll rest just a few days because he doesn't deserve vacations. Is he right? 'For sure, after a short rest period we start practicing again. You've to be used and mentally prepared to work. On January we'll start the year in Doha'.

What does Rafa do in a normal day? 'I don't follow much what he does. He's old enough and doesn't need to be controlled all the time. He trains physically, gym, and every day two hours and a half with me'.

Best qualify of his nephew? 'Tenacity and the predisposition to work'.

His worst quality? 'As uncle and coach, it's normal that there is some friction but one things makes me really angry: the wrong attitude when you work. When you've not will and makes mistakes because he hasn't will to commit, I get mad'.