Rafa’s Return Higher Than We Anticipated

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, January 4, 2024
 
Toni Nadal has lengthy been considered one of Rafael Nadal’s staunchest supporters—and hardest critics.

Toni Nadal, uncle and authentic coach of Rafael Nadal, says Team Nadal is worked up by the king of clay’s degree of play.

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Speaking to Onda Cero Mallorca on this interview, Toni Nadal says the 22-time Grand Slam champion has exceeded expectations scoring his opening-round win over Dominic Thiem and a crushing conquest of Aussie wild card Jason Kubler, 6-1, 6-2.

A fierce Nadal steamrolled Kubler successful 9 of 11 factors performed on the Aussie’s second serve and breaking 4 occasions in an 84-minute victory.

Toni Nadal says he is happy with Rafa’s efficiency and is intrigued to see how he’ll reply towards higher-ranked opposition in each Brisbane and Melbourne.

“The truth is that Rafa can be very happy and excited because his level is good enough,” Toni Nadal instructed Onda Cero Mallorca. “It’s true that we have to see it in more difficult matches, but at the moment things are going better than we expected.

“Rafa has all the time had the situation of coming again by getting again into type shortly. This time it is tougher and we’ll see if he can proceed like this.”

The former world No. 1 experiences his physique, notably his surgically-repaired hip, feels good. Rafael Nadal mentioned accumulating extra match play earlier than the Australian Open is vital as a result of it allows him to sharpen his strokes and point-by-point focus.

“I think today, not talking only about today’s match, today in general terms, every day is a learning again, no?” Nadal instructed the media in Brisbane. “I need to play every single point focus. I try to do it because doesn’t matter the result, is something I need to keep doing, learn again how to play every single point focus and with the right intensity. In the end is something that you lose.

“You have to get used to the competitors once more and to grasp the moments of the match to know when you must push, know when you’ll be able to play slightly bit extra calm down.

“Is something that today I’m not able to do it, no? I need to play every single point very focus. That’s the thing that I need to do now, is practice that. Of course, wins helps to be more self-confident and to spend more hours on court.”

If two-time Australian Open champion Nadal can proceed to enhance in Brisbane and receives a good attract Melbourne, then uncle Toni Nadal believes Rafa can do injury on the Australian Open, which begins on January 14th.

“I think if in Brisbane he can play more matches competing with players with more qualified players and in Australia the draw favors him, as he is not seeded, I think it will be possible to see him having a good tournament,” Toni Nadal mentioned.
“I think Rafa will take it day by day and depending on how things go and how competitive he looks, even though he has said that it is his last year, we will almost certainly see.”

Photo credit score: Mark Peterson/Corleve