ATP: Farewell letter as coach: Uncle Nadal praises joint path with Rafa

Wise words of a great trainer: Toni Nadal said goodbye to Rafael Nadal with an open letter. It is the end of a 27-year success story.

Rafael Nadal would have loved to give his teacher in London the greatest possible farewell present. The dream of winning the first title at the ATP World Tour Finals was a thing of the past for the injured Spaniard after just one match.

Nadal will make a fresh start in 2018 – but then without Uncle Toni at his side. The former world number one Carlos Moya had already taken over the job as head coach just over a year ago. Now the 56-year-old finally clears the way – new challenges await him at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

Toni Nadal says goodbye to fans, media and the “main person responsible for my happiness: my nephew.”

Here you can read some passages published in the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais:

“Last week’s ATP finals mark the end of my career as my nephew’s coach. A 27-year, happy era ends. It started that day when my brother Sebastian’s son Sebastian’s son appeared on my tennis court for the first time at the age of three.

From the very beginning I tried to develop a strong and resolute character with him. This should help him to confront the difficulties in tennis in particular and in life in general.

I was always unpleasant rather than appetizing and more demanding than praise. I have always caused him a certain amount of dissatisfaction rather than satisfaction. And I’ve always given him full responsibility.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet a generation of great players. I have always believed that rivalry should never exceed the lines of the course. I have never considered opponents as enemies. This allowed me to appreciate, respect and learn from them.

I think it would be good for all of us to see that we would curb our passion for sport and transfer it to other areas as well.

Ultimately, I must thank especially the main person responsible for my happiness: my nephew. Today I feel very much respected and loved, because his figure has increased mine much more than I deserved.

(…) I want to avoid any overestimation of my person and return to my students in Manacor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and until the days.”

Toni Nadal