Nephew Nadal and how everyone needs to have an Uncle Toni in their lives

Indian Express

a day ago

Back in the day, Rafael Nadal, 15, endured a strange evening. In the company of two men he respected, Rafa sat silently listening to them speculate about his future. This was early 2000 and Nadal, along with his coach and uncle, Toni, were guests at the home of Spain's national hero of that period – the square-jawed, long-haired Carlos Moya.
During dinner, Moya, Spain's first-ever World No.1, threw a ridiculous question at Toni. Can you sign on a paper proclaiming that Rafael will turn out to be as good as Albert Costa? Just a few months back, Costa had won the French Open. Not known for diplomacy or false modesty, Toni declined. In his deep tenor-like voice, he said Nadal would do better than Costa. Moya didn't end the game there. 'Do you think he is as good as me, can you sign on to that?'
Years later, recalling those bizarre meal-time events in a podcast; Toni said he reluctantly signed the paper just to be courteous to their generous host. But once the goodbyes were done and Toni was sure that the door behind their back was shut, he looked at an utterly confused young Rafa. 'I told him, I should have never signed on it but had to. I am sure you will be better than him. For me, it is not enough for you to be Carlos Moya.'
Everyone deserves an Uncle Toni in their lives but only a few lucky nephews and nieces are blessed to have one. Nadal would at times feel the greatness inside him but he wasn't sure. Toni was always around to remind Rafa that he was the 'Special One'. The uncle also forced him to train hard, shielded him from distractions and, like that evening at Moya's home, didn't let his impressionable ward be satisfied by being merely as good as one of his idols and limit his goals.
That day when he had signed the paper at Moya's home, Toni knew Rafa would one day put his indelible signature on the game. What he couldn't have imagined, it would be in the form of a red-clay footmark, etched on a sparkling white tile and cemented next to the net at Court Philippe Chatrier forever. Who could have read the mind of the aesthetically blessed and incredibly graceful French?
In his teary, emotional speech at his grand Paris farewell the other day, where the French in the stands kept reaching for their handkerchiefs, Nadal extended a 'thousand thank yous' to Toni. He did mention his parents, sister, friends and wife but Nadal's virtual 'what do I say' surrender when it came to paying tribute to his mentor and guide underlined uncle Toni's role in the making of the Clay King. This was so like Sachin Tendulkar at the end of his career at Wankhede, pouring his heart out when talking about his own Toni – elder brother Ajit.
'Toni, you are the reason I am here. Thank you for dedicating a large part of your life to wanting to be with me. Training, speaking and winning, making me suffer, making me laugh, and pushing me to my limit. What I experienced was not always easy but, without doubt, it was worth the pain. Toni, my gratitude for the sacrifice you made for me is infinite. The best trainer I could have had. A thousand thank yous.'
In the stands, Toni was being his stone-faced self. His eyes did squint, but there were no tears. He had been at Nadal's 14 triumphs here, sat through some disappointing losses, gulped down emotions watching his warrior nephew play through pain. He had seen it all. This was a happy 'last goodbye' party. Known as 'Dr No' for his stubborn nature, Toni isn't known to be the sentimental kind.
Having an uncle, and not a father, as coach has some unique advantages. With a parent, a child can take liberties, throw a tantrum to try to get concessions in training. A strict uncle doesn't allow all that. Toni had a torturous coaching regime – he would make a young Rafa train on under-prepared clay courts, make him play with old bald balls, didn't allow him to drink water during a session, forced him to have endless repetitions and on days even reduced him to tears.
Teenager Rafael Nadal playing tennis with uncle Toni 😊 pic.twitter.com/AkxC9xxAx1
— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) October 16, 2024
But Toni knew the limits of the young boy's patience. He ensured that Nadal didn't start to hate tennis. He would also cajole him, show patience with his mistakes and also be his protector. Once Toni couldn't travel for a tournament with pre-teen Nadal, so he asked a local coach to accompany him. Before they left, Toni had a word with the new coach. 'Don't be tough with my nephew, I am tough enough,' he said.
Nadal's father was Toni's elder brother and they all lived in one big building. The family patriarch was a musician. Rafael was the family's first grandchild, a favourite among his uncles.
In his book 'The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay,' Christopher Clarey mentions how Toni, besides teaching him tennis skills, was also his 'unofficial performance psychologist'. He was an incredible story-teller, who wanted the trust of his nephew. Toni wanted Nadal to believe that he had magical powers and can do anything – even make him invincible.
A charming little anecdote from the time Nadal was seven explains this. To relax his nephew before a crucial game against an 11-year-old, Toni came up with a story. He told Little Nadal that in case he was trailing in the game, he could magically arrange for rain and the game would be washed out.
The game would start with Nadal trailing 4-0 and Toni getting restless. But the tide turned and it was 4-3 soon. That's when the skies opened up and there was a downpour. Nadal took his word. He was too obedient to challenge his elder. The match had started with Nadal 0-4 down. Toni's promised showers were nowhere around. Left with no option, Nadal hit back. 1-4, 2-4, 3-4 …
Over to the book, where Clarey quotes Toni. 'At 4–3, it starts to rain, so I stop the match and take shelter on a porch at the club. And Rafa comes up to me when the other player can't see him and tells me, 'Listen … I think you can stop the rain because I think I can beat this guy.''
That lovely story then takes a big jump. Cut to 2008 and the Wimbledon final against Federer. Here Nadal takes the first two sets and it starts to rain. 'Toni reached Rafael in the locker room during the forced break, Rafael's first words to him were – 'Now was not the time to make it rain!', writes Clarey.
The two laugh and after a while the rain actually stops. Nadal loses the next two sets, but in the final set, beats Federer to win his first Wimbledon. It was a miracle, a Spaniard had won on grass. So how could Toni agree that his nephew was as good as Costa or Moya? How could he have undervalued the precious diamond he was so diligently polishing? Everyone deserves an Uncle Toni in their lives but only a few lucky nephews and nieces are blessed to have them.