SUMMARY
- Rafael Nadal has opened up on his struggles with his mental health during his career.
- Rafael Nadal broke his tradition on psychological issues twice in his career.
Rafael Nadal has been facing setbacks on his comeback tour this year. Ever since his hip injury at the 2023 Australian Open, Nadal has not been able to play matches consistently. This season, he has been featured in three matches. He suffered a micro-muscle tear during the Brisbane International. Nadal has now opened up about the various challenges he encountered during his career.
The Spaniard is known to put all his energy on the court. Nadal’s court coverage has caused him constant injuries. But this time, he opened up about the mental struggles he had to go through in his career. Nadal said, “ I went to a psychologist twice in my life, in two different phases of my life for two different problems I had.” He never had a mental coach in his career, as it was a tradition he followed.
Nadal y la salud mental. “He tenido que ir dos veces al psicólogo”#ObjetivoNadal
— Ana Pastor 🇪🇸 (@_anapastor_) February 14, 2024
Nadal went on to say that mental health has been considered taboo, but he considers it a part of his body. He said it was the most crucial part of a person’s body. The former world No. 1 was trained by his uncle, Toni Nadal, for most of his career. The methods and strategies used by Toni are a bit different from those followed by the young players on the tour.
Toni Nadal shares his routine, followed by Rafael Nadal in the past
Nadal had been training with Toni since his childhood and was with his uncle until 2017. Toni has spoken about the changes in the coaching staff of the younger players as compared to the senior players. He stressed the fear faced by players, as they have too much information in their hands. They have separate members for nutrition and mental health, which affects them on the court.
Toni mentioned that Nadal’s mental strength was formed because he was groomed in a certain way. The 62-year-old said, “Rafa never had a mental health coach, never mind a nutritionist. I’m not his mother, I don’t know what he ate or eats or how much he weighs. It used to be just Rafa and I.” Toni said that the harsh conditions in training have helped Nadal in his career.
🇪🇸 Toni Nadal says he’s ‘worried’ about the next generation of tennis players:
“The teams behind the players have become so large, so many stats, analysis, nutritionists and mental health coaches.
And it is the latter [mental health coaches] that I believe are the cause for so… pic.twitter.com/vwxhxalz9Y
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) October 21, 2023
The esteemed coach stated he had different views on the upbringing of players in their careers. Toni is currently coaching Felix Auger-Aliassime, who has been Canada’s top player in the past. The coaching style remains personalized for each player, whatever their age, but the taboos of mental health have been addressed openly in the present.