Latest news with #ToniNadal
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Rafael Nadal's uncle blasts Carlos Alcaraz in rant and suggests he quit tennis
Toni Nadal has suggested that Carlos Alcaraz should retire from playing tennis if he is unable to deal with the pressures of the sport, after hearing about the young sensation's antics in his Netflix docu-series Toni Nadal, the uncle and former coach of tennis legend Rafael Nadal, suggested that Carlos Alcaraz should quit tennis if he can't cope with the sport's pressures. Speaking on the Nude Project podcast, Toni discussed his nephew's retirement before turning his attention to Alcaraz's Netflix docu-series, which revealed his off-court life, including a party trip to Ibiza weeks before Wimbledon. Alcaraz said in the series: "I ended up going and they know what I'm going there to do. In Ibiza, I'm not going to lie, it's pretty much all about partying and going out. "I basically went there to reventar [literally, 'burst' in Spanish], I'm not sure if that's the best way to put it, but I went there to go out." Despite not having watched the show, Toni didn't hold back in his critique of the world No. 2's behaviour, saying: "If it is too much for him, then he should quit tennis. I understand things differently in life. "In the world of sports, everything tends to be exaggerated. I've often heard about the sacrifice in sports, the sacrifices made by Real Madrid athletes, and I would say: 'Sacrifice?' "Life is about making choices, not just doing what I want. Sometimes it's worth it for people, and sometimes it's not. If it's not worth it for you, it's better to change jobs." He added (via the Express): "I hope Alcaraz doesn't change jobs because he's one of the best in the world, but one has to take on the challenge. "One must accept that things in life will involve a series of compromises. I don't talk about sacrifices because I think that sacrifice is what you do for others. "When you do it for yourself, it's the price you have to pay. Alcaraz, being a great tennis player, indeed pays a price. "But on the other hand, he earns much more money than the vast majority of young people his age, has much greater social recognition, and experiences things that few people do... but if it's not worth it for you, better make a decision." Alcaraz has already amassed an enviable collection of Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledon victories, a French Open, and a US Open. And while there have been comparisons between Alcaraz and Nadal - who secured 22 Grand Slams during his glorious career - there is still work to be done before the two can truly be compared. Alcaraz has his eyes set on another title this May as he continues to wow at Roland Garros. Following victories over Giulio Zeppieri, Fabian Marozsan, Damir Dzumhur and Ben Shelton, the 22-year-old has reached the quarter-finals. To move into the semis, Alcaraz needs a win over the world's current No. 12, Tommy Paul. Tennis fans can watch Alcaraz and Paul go head-to-head at 7:15pm at the Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday.
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Rafael Nadal to be 'excited' to have a friendly match against iconic rival Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal would be delighted and excited about the idea of playing against his iconic rival, Roger Federer, in a friendly exhibition match, according to Rafael's former coach and uncle, Toni Nadal. Nadal and Federer had one of the most exciting rivalry matches in tennis history as they fought each other 40 times, including 14 Grand Slam matches. Their last official match was in 2019, in which Federer defeated Nadal in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Moreover, both athletes played several exhibition matches during their careers, especially while they were still playing on the tour. The last one was in 2020 in Cape Town, where they played in front of 51,954 people. Federer then retired from professional tennis in 2022, and Nadal recently retired two years later in 2024. Toni Nadal said that he believes that an exhibition match between the tennis stars will happen soon. He stated that fans might not have to wait long to see their tennis greats share the court once again. ' I imagine he would like to play an exhibition match with Federer soon, to give back a little of what tennis has given him and what tennis has meant to him,' Toni expressed. Furthermore, Toni Nadal also admitted that it would be much more 'special' if Nadal and Federer had a chance to play against another long-time rival, Novak Djokovic. Recently, Djokovic defeated Mackenzie McDonald in the first round of the French Open. Toni Nadal also said, 'It would be very special for people to see the three of them playing again. And yes, I think they'll have to do something, because I suppose it will motivate people to see them play again in the future… I think I've been close enough to him to know him a little and know that he would be excited to play Federer.' 'Tennis has been a big part of his life; it has meant a lot to him, and you can't just erase that from one day to the next,' he added. When Toni was asked about when these matches might happen, he did not give an exact date. He stated: 'After these months away from the courts, I think that at some point he will want to get back to training and feel that he is hitting the ball well… I am convinced that he will play again soon, quite soon.' See also Golden gift from Shanti Pereira and Remy Ong to National Museum In this year's French Open, Rafael Nadal was given a special tribute for his legendary contribution to the tournament. In a social media post, the athlete shared, 'I don't know where to start, because after playing on this court for the last 20 years, after enjoying, suffering, winning, losing, and most of all, after being moved every time I've had the chance to be here! (translated)' Nadal added, 'Roland-Garros is unique, not only because he is a fundamental part of the history of tennis, but also thanks to all the people who work there tirelessly, always with a smile, to make this tournament what it is: UNIQUE…. Thank you France 🇫🇷, thank you Paris! (translated)' Netizens flooded Rafael Nadal's social media with messages of admiration and appreciation following his emotional tribute at Roland-Garros. One wrote, 'Thank you for everything, Rafa! You are legend not only in tennis but also in sports. You're an inspiration on and off the court! A tribute to the height of the immense champion that you are.' Another echoed the sentiment, 'It's a testament to how loved and adored Rafa is in the tennis world that his retirement continues to stir so many emotions. We love you Rafa. Thanks for the memories. And dear French People, pure class 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.' In another social media post, Rafael Nadal posted a photo of himself with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray with the caption: 'Thank you guys ☺️… From the bottom of my heart!' Fans warmly embraced the moment. 'Legends. The best rivalries! The finest gentlemen! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ How lucky we are to witness this era of tennis! 🎾' wrote one. Another added, 'The greatest era of men's tennis ❤️.'
Japan Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Roland Garros pays tribute 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal at French Open
Rafael Nadal was given a rousing reception as the "King of Clay" stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier for the final time on Sunday in an "unforgettable" ceremony to celebrate his career at the French Open. The 38-year-old, who retired from tennis last November, was serenaded by the crowd at Roland Garros, with spectators wearing different colored t-shirts to create the message "14 RG, Rafa." Nadal dominated the French Open after winning in his debut as a teenager in 2005, lifting the trophy a record-breaking 14 times. The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 112-4 record at the clay court Grand Slam. He last won the title in 2022 and played his final match on the Paris clay last year when he was defeated by Alexander Zverev in the first round. "I don't know how to start ... I've been playing on this court for 20 years," an emotional Nadal told the crowd after watching a video of his career highlights at Roland Garros. "I suffered, I won, I lost. I have lived many emotions here on this court." Nadal's family and friends watched from the player's box, along with many of his former coaching staff, including his uncle Toni. "It has been unforgettable, plenty of emotions for a guy like me that doesn't love these kind of things because I'm still a little bit shy for all this stuff," Nadal told reporters. "I don't like a lot to be the center of attention for these things. It was enough when I was playing tennis. But I enjoyed it, honestly. I suffered a little bit with the emotions, but I enjoyed a lot." Nadal's long-time rivals Novak Djokovic, fresh from winning his 100th ATP title on Saturday, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all joined him on the main Chatrier court. The trio walked out after Nadal's speech to greet their fellow former world No. 1 to a deafening roar from the fans. "To have my three biggest rivals there on the court with me meant a lot," Nadal said of the other members of the 'Big Four.' "At the same time, it's a great message for the world, I think, that best rivals, the toughest rivals probably in the history of our sport are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. "You don't need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your force. And that's the message that I think we showed people, we showed the new generations, and in some way that's our legacy." Nadal hung up his racket following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, initially denying him an opportunity to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in Paris. His tally of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam appears unlikely to be beaten, with Margaret Court's 11 Australian Open titles second on the all-time list. Nadal was presented with a special trophy commemorating his French Open record, with a mark of his footprint carved into the clay. "I didn't know anything about the ceremony," Nadal said. "Only thing that I knew before going there was going to be video when I go on, then gonna be my speech, and then gonna be a couple of surprises. "Then when I see that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that's going to be forever there, it's a present that I can't describe in words." The 22-time Grand Slam champion received a send-off after his final match at the Davis Cup, but French tennis federation chief Gilles Moretton said earlier this year that "the tribute was not, in my opinion, what it should have been". He said he had gone to visit Nadal at his home in December along with Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo to discuss plans for Sunday's ceremony.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Rafael Nadal's Roland Garros love-in was justified – he dominated like no other
Is Rafael Nadal the greatest tennis champion of all time? Impossible to say. But a tear-jerking farewell ceremony, staged at Roland Garros on Sunday night, proved beyond doubt that he is the most humble. In a halting and emotional speech, delivered in three languages, Nadal spent the vast majority of his time thanking others: his rivals, his fans, and most especially his coach, mentor and uncle Toni Nadal. From the little he said about his own achievements, you would have had no idea that he was effectively unbeatable here for 20 years: a period in which he won an absurd 112 of 116 matches at the French Open. Indeed, Nadal dominated Court Philippe-Chatrier in a way that no sportsman has ever dominated such a significant venue. His infallibility was partly the result of tennis physics in action – a phenomenon we explored in a long read on his unique forehand four years ago – but it also spoke of his relentlessness as a man. Many athletes have spoken about Nadal as the ultimate embodiment of the competitive mindset: a heroic figure who transcended his limitations to become the perfect sporting machine. Goosebumps 🧡 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2025 He approached every single point with the same intensity, whether he was waltzing to a straight-sets win or fighting for every inch against Novak Djokovic. He conquered physical pain and psychological doubt every time he walked on the court. You would never have known, from watching match-day Rafa, what the score was or how he was feeling inside. But match-day Rafa was absent when he emerged from the players' tunnel on Sunday, dressed in a classic navy suit, and looking – for those of us seated 60 yards away – curiously like Tom Cruise with a bald patch. What we saw instead was day-off Rafa: the very human character his sister Maria described in his fascinating autobiography, who is afraid of thunderstorms, dogs, deep water and the dark. He looked understandably nervous about standing alone in front of 15,000 fans on Chatrier, every one of whom was wearing a terracotta T-shirt emblazoned with the words 'Merci Rafa'. He seemed slightly uncomfortable to be handling a microphone rather than his iconic Babolat Pure Aero racket, especially when he realised that he had lost part of his speech. A ball-girl ran out with the missing sheet, just when disaster loomed. But this only added to the charm of a memorable occasion. The King's Speech. #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2025 The tears flowed throughout a wonderful – and very French – ceremony which included various presentations and a typically baffling outbreak of interpretative dance. The highlight was the arrival of the rest of the 'Big Four', getting the band back together for one last time. And yes, Nadal clearly includes Andy Murray in his own definition of this group, no matter what the more splenetic Murray-phobes might say. Nadal did his best to act surprised when his former rivals walked out, even though any hint of doubt had been wiped out when Djokovic – failing to read the room as ever – had given the game away during a press conference in Geneva on Saturday night. And Nadal's unscripted words at this moment were perhaps the most resonant of all. 'We showed the world we can fight as hard as possible but in a good way. Be good colleagues and respect each other.' Nadal's initial entrance had been welcomed with the traditional rallying cry from the master of ceremonies, listing his 14 French Open titles by year: '2005, 2006, 2007…' and so on. In his heyday, this ceremonial chant – delivered in the tone of Michael Buffer's 'Let's get ready to rummmble!' – would crush many opponents' spirits before they had even hit a ball. In the end, though, Nadal wasn't here for the trophies. He was here for the competition itself. As he put it in his initial speech, 'Nothing could have been as thrilling without these long-lasting rivalries which drove us all to improve every single day.' Here was the perfect epitaph to an unforgettable career. Big 4 ❌ Big 5 🤝 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2025
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roland Garros pays 'unforgettable' tribute to retired 'King of Clay' Nadal
Rafael Nadal was given a rousing reception as the 'King of Clay' stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier for the final time on Sunday in an "unforgettable" ceremony to celebrate his career at the French Open. The 38-year-old, who retired from tennis last November, was serenaded by the Roland Garros crowd, with spectators wearing different coloured t-shirts to create the message "14 RG, Rafa". Nadal dominated the French Open after winning on debut as a teenager in 2005, lifting the trophy a record-breaking 14 times. The Spaniard finished with a remarkable 112-4 win-loss record at the clay-court Grand Slam. He last won the title in 2022 and played his final match on the Paris clay last year when he was defeated by Alexander Zverev in the first round. "I don't know how to start... I've been playing on this court for 20 years. I suffered, I won, I lost. I have lived many emotions here on this court," an emotional Nadal told the crowd after watching a video of his career highlights at Roland Garros. Nadal's family and friends watched from the player's box, along with many of his former coaching staff, including his uncle Toni. "It has been unforgettable, plenty of emotions for a guy like me that doesn't love these kind of things because I'm still a little bit shy for all this stuff," Nadal told reporters. "I don't like a lot to be the centre of attention for these things. It was enough when I was playing tennis. But I enjoyed it, honestly. I suffered a little bit with the emotions, but I enjoyed a lot." - Old rivals pay tribute - Nadal's long-time rivals Novak Djokovic, fresh from winning his 100th ATP title on Saturday, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all joined him on the main Chatrier court. The trio walked out after Nadal's speech to greet their fellow former world number one, to a deafening roar from the fans. "To have my three biggest rivals there on the court with me meant a lot," Nadal said of the other members of the 'Big Four'. "At the same time, it's a great message for the world, I think, that best rivals, the toughest rivals probably in the history of our sport are able to be good colleagues, to respect each other. "You don't need to hate the opponent to try to beat him with all your force. And that's the message that I think we showed people, we showed the new generations, and in some way that's our legacy." Nadal hung up his racquet following the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, initially denying him an opportunity to wave goodbye to his adoring fans in Paris. His tally of 14 victories at a single Grand Slam appears unlikely to be beaten, with Margaret Court's 11 Australian Open titles second on the all-time list. Nadal was presented with a special trophy commemorating his French Open record, with a mark of his footprint carved into the clay. "I didn't know anything about the ceremony," Nadal said. "Only thing that I knew before going there was going to be video when I go on, then gonna be my speech, and then gonna be a couple of surprises. "Then when I see that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that's going to be forever there, it's a present that I can't describe in words." The 22-time Grand Slam champion received a send-off after his final match at the Davis Cup, but French tennis federation chief Gilles Moretton said earlier this year that "the tribute was not, in my opinion, what it should have been". He said he had gone to visit Nadal at his home in December along with Roland Garros tournament director Amelie Mauresmo to discuss plans for Sunday's ceremony. jc/mw
