Toni Nadal Transformed Rafael Nadal's Career With a Single Change Says Goran Ivanisevic
Speaking candidly, Novak Djokovic's former coach reflected on how Toni Nadal's early intervention in Rafael's development might have fundamentally shaped the career of one of the sport's greatest players.
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"Nadal is naturally right-handed," Ivanišević said. "His uncle made him switch hands somehow, and who knows if Nadal would've been as good had he stayed right-handed?"
It's a fascinating insight into the early days of Nadal's training, where Toni Nadal, ever the visionary coach, saw something that most would overlook. For Ivanišević, this move teetered between 'genius and madness' — and yet, it ultimately proved to be a stroke of brilliance.
Rafael Nadal (ESP) receives a replica trophy from his uncle Toni Nadal© Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
The advantages of being a left-hander in tennis are well-documented. Left-handed players often force right-handers into uncomfortable positions, spinning the ball differently and disrupting standard game plans.
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Ivanišević emphasized this, saying, "It's traditionally tough to play left-handers in tennis. The spins are different; everything changes. Your whole game plan changes when you're playing a lefty. Everything just feels off when you're up against them."
Nadal, though not known for having a massive serve compared to some of his contemporaries, made his delivery devastatingly effective simply through his left-handed spin and placement.
"He never had a crazy good serve," Ivanišević noted, "but because he's left-handed, his serve was still super effective. He'd pull you way out wide, and then you're defending with a backhand or a forehand. If he were right-handed, that serve wouldn't have been half as effective."
"So, it's definitely an advantage, and his uncle sensed that. It's unbelievable how his uncle saw that, he is a genius and he turned Nadal into one too," Ivanišević added.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) plays against Rafael Nadal (ESP) in the men's tennis singles second round during the Paris 2024 Olympic© Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Toni Nadal's early, unconventional decision clearly paid off in remarkable ways. It speaks not only to his deep understanding of tennis but also to the courage he had to mold a young player's instincts in service of a bigger vision. As history shows, that one bold choice helped create a 22-time Grand Slam champion and one of the greatest competitors the sport has ever seen.
Related: Rafael Nadal Clarifies Retirement Decision: 'My Body Wasn't Going to Recover'
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