ATP: Toni Nadal - tennis degenerates into an "unimaginative game"
Rafael Nadal's uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, is concerned about the future of tennis and its attractiveness.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Sep 04, 2021, 08:32 pm
In addition to his current coaching work for the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, just now at the US Open, Toni Nadal is an accomplished observer and commentator of the "white sport". Rafael Nadal's uncle, who coached his nephew until 2017 and thus led him to practically every major success, also writes columns for the largest Spanish daily newspaper "El Pais". And what the now 60-year-old has to say about the current developments in tennis is more than questionable.
"Devilishly hard blows"
"It seems that there is only one tactic left: to hit as early and as hard as possible, brutally, but not only when serving, especially when returning," said the Spaniard. If the big three Djokovic, Nadal and Federer actually throw in the towel soon, this tendency will be fueled even further, fears Uncle Toni: “I therefore hope that those responsible for tennis will be able to bring about a change that will affect our sport gives back old diversity and saves it from becoming an unimaginative game. "
He is well aware that 10, 20, 30 or 40 years ago there were loud voices warning of the increasing speed of tennis. However: "The difference is that the increasing speed in tennis has not prevented so far that there are different, even contradicting styles and views of the game". Today's "devilishly hard blows" could quickly put an end to this beautiful tradition.