Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni once warned his nephew that if he ever broke a racket in anger, their coaching relationship would be over. This stern advice helped instill the discipline and mental toughness that became hallmarks of the Spaniard’s career.
Despite being known for his fierce competitive nature and aggressive playing style, Nadal has never broken a racket in frustration. His remarkable self-control has become one of his defining characteristics, setting him apart from many of his colleagues.
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and other famous rivals have all had moments of frustration, often taking it out on their rackets. The 22-time Grand Slam champion, however, stands apart—despite nearly giving in to anger at times.
Rafael Nadal’s composure on the court was deeply influenced by his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal. In a 2021 interview, Toni shared that he had warned his nephew about smashing a racket, reminding him that many people couldn’t afford one.
“You throw one racket and I’m no longer your coach. There are millions of kids in the world who would love a racket and don’t have one,” Toni told a six-year-old Nadal (via Tennis World USA).
“It would be showing a lack of respect to people who actually have to buy the equipment to play the sport,” he added.
Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni on being strict with him: “It was for his own good”
In a 2020 interview with Spanish media, Toni provided further insights into the strict discipline of Rafael Nadal. He shared that the tennis star never went through a “rebellious” phase during his adolescence, attributing it to the strong foundation of good education instilled in him from a young age.
“Rafael Nadal never broke a racket and did not have a rebellious phase in adolescence,” Toni said. “He was an educated child, who behaved normally. There are so many, don’t think it’s just Rafa. However, in the world of tennis there are few who have never broken a racket.”
Toni explained that his hardline approach was necessary to build the 38-year-old’s mental toughness and he believed this discipline helped the latter handle adversity better in his career.
“I was tough because I think a person needs to be prepared for any situation, especially the difficult ones. You can’t make decisions at times if you’re not prepared a little harder. I think he felt I was tough, but he understood it was for his own good,” he said.
Toni began coaching Nadal when he was three years old and remained a key figure in his team until December 2016, when former world No. 1 Carlos Moya joined as a coach. He officially stepped down from his role in February 2017.
