Toni Nadal: Frustrated players? "They Think They Are Better"
Toni Nadal has once again put forward an interesting thesis - and shown that he appreciates clear words.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
Oct 22, 2022, 07:47 am

When Toni Nadal speaks, you should listen. Because the famous coach uncle usually says clever things about life itself and tennis in particular.
Likes to be at the center of his thoughts: things like humility, hard work, overconfidence (in others). And that's exactly what it was about recently when Toni Nadal was a guest on the El Hormi Guero show.
A problem for many young players, according to Toni Nadal, is a certain frustration. But where does this come from? When you're frustrated, you fight less and kind of give up. And the less commitment you show, the more difficult it is to be successful. So where does the frustration come from? "Because people overestimate themselves," was Nadal's verdict. "People get frustrated because they feel life needs to treat them better. Because they think they're better than they really are."
"You fail because you're not good"
He has a principle, Nadal continued. Just a few days ago he asked a young player he was training why he was failing. He was desperately looking for an explanation, but Nadal quickly replied that he shouldn't think about it so much. And then said, "You fail because you're not good." And further: "We make sure that you become good, but you are not yet. So accept that you are not good and change it."
However, if someone overestimates themselves, Nadal said, "he will not accept mistakes and will never improve."
Toni Nadal has coached Rafael Nadal since he was a child. He is now the coach of the Rafa Nadal Academy, and he is also on tour as coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime.