Rafael Nadal and the French Open crowd had a complicated relationship, especially at the dawn of the legendary Spaniard's career. A relationship that Toni Nadal, uncle and former coach of the 22-time Grand Slam champion, talked about, analyzing how the Parisian crowd changed their attitude towards Rafa - over time -surrendering to Nadal's behavior and his fair play. Toni emphasized that it was not just about massive victories, but how his nephew won.
"In the end, the French crowd gave in to Rafael's behavior because, in life, it's not just about winning; it's how you win. I think Rafael did it very well, and that's why there was a change in France, to the point of seeing the recognition they gave him at the Olympics. The first year I had no animosity. I think later, when he started winning so much, people didn't want to see him win so much," explained Toni.
Previously, Rafa's uncle, interviewed in Spain by MARCA, talked about his nephew's retirement.
"When something ends it always produces a feeling of sadness, but I am happy to see the emotion that Rafael has aroused in the world of sports. I have always been a coach who was afraid of losing. I have always known that there is a very small margin between victory and defeat and that if you don't reach the limit, maybe you will end up losing. If in 2004 they had told me that my nephew would retire in 2024 after having won everything he has won, I could not have imagined it. If Rafa had not taken risks sometimes, his trophy cabinet would be much smaller now. When they ask me who is the best in history, I say: the best in history is Djokovic for everything he has achieved and the one who played the best tennis was certainly Roger Federer, but I think that my nephew would have been the best in history, if he had not been injured so much."
In a recent interview with AS, the 22-time Grand Slam champion retraced the noteworthy moments of a career that will remain in the history of sports.
"Even if you took it for granted, the day you announce it, the day you record the video. It's been many years and it's been an important part of my life, since I can remember. It's a change, let's not kid ourselves: tennis has given me joy, happiness, very emotional moments. And when it's over, it's over and it doesn't come back. It's logical that, when it comes to communicating it, no matter how much you internalize it, you realize that you can't go back, there's nothing else. But, well, I recorded it a week before it came out and it had to be done. In the end it was incredible that a boy from a small town, from Manacor, managed to have a long and, of course, good career. I started like all boys, with the luck that when I was little I had my uncle Toniand a family who helped me with everything, and from there many things were born that made me in some way fight for what I wanted. Later, although many things went in my favor, but also many others against me, I have always managed, somehow, to find the way or the path to move forward with real chances of success.
Regrets? Of course I would change things, of course. Anyone who says no, that nothing would change, is deeply arrogant. Obviously I have made many mistakes in my career and also in my life. You accept it and look forward. I have always tried to do things the way I felt and with good intentions. It is always difficult to find the perfect balance, but of course, if I had to go back now, I would tell you exactly the points where I would not repeat what I did. What I am most proud of is having finished my career and having left tennis with the satisfaction of feeling appreciated and loved. It is the satisfaction of having done things well, not only by hitting the racket, but also on a human level, which in the end is much more important. And the other thing I am most satisfied with, the only thing that has always mattered to me in the end, is finishing tournaments and returning home with the peace of mind of having done what was in my hands to do it in the best way possible," Rafa analyzed.
The Spanish champion concluded by recalling the best moments, citing the success at Roland Garros 2006 - which came after the foot injury that threatened to compromise his career - Wimbledon 2008 and the Australian Open 2022.
