The uncle and long-time coach of Rafael Nadal, Toni Nadal, has spoken in a column about the high-class quarter-final match of his nephew against Dominic Thiem. He reported that Thiem’s mother Karin was the first to congratulate him and emphasized why the two players are a role model for world sport.
“Right after the match – and after a sleepless night – I got a message from Karin. It was the first, just a few minutes after the game,” Nadal wrote to El Pais.
“Not once did my nephew lose a game hanging by a thread. So I know exactly how difficult it is to deal with this bitter feeling – especially as a relative. It is difficult to free yourself from the images of a match ball or a tight tiebreak. I therefore appreciate the mother who had the goodness to write such words at such a painful moment.”
Tuesday night Nadal prevailed against Thiem after almost five hours in the tiebreak of the fifth set. It was the eleventh duel between the two – the first on hard court.
After the match, Toni Nadal stressed that the rivalry between the two is an example of a new understanding of one. The relationship between the players is consistently friendly, both sides value each other very much.
“The day Dominic wins a Grand Slam trophy, I’ll be very happy. I basically pursue three sports: tennis, football and golf. I have always rejoiced with those winners who act correctly, educated and with good manners,” Nadal said.
The day after the match, the 57-year-old went to his nephew’s academy and used the opportunity to give a speech about two athletes with an exemplary mentality. He emphasised the fighting qualities of Rafael Nadal, who fought back after a 6-0 lead in the first set.
Likewise, he paid tribute to Thiem’s fighting spirit after he played his way into a decisive passage after losing two and three sets. “From the beginning to the end, the balance of power was equal, so that in the end the result was decided only by the factor luck.”