Rafael Nadal (Photo : REUTERS/Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)
Toni Nadal, the outspoken uncle and coach of Rafael Nadal, believed the mental struggle of his nephew is currently dealing with presents a bad timing for him as they prepare for a grueling clay-court season.
Nadal admitted that Rafael's 'nerve problem' is something he never experienced before, and he seems submissive to the fact that it may take more losses in the upcoming tournaments for the Mallorcan Bulls recapture his old groove.
In the wake of back-to-back early exits at the Miami Masters and Indian Wells Open, Nadal admitted that he's facing something more challenging than the myriad of health woes the past few seasons. Suddenly, his composure is starting to trouble him, making him more fragile under pressure-packed situation than he has ever been before.
"He is training well, but on the court, he hasn't the strength of mind that he had before, but I hope it comes back. I think he needs a win to regain confidence. I hope that things will change in Montecarlo. If you lose, you can't have confidence. He lost the match against opponents of low rank, and this is the first time that he has had a problem of this type," Toni Nadal said of Nadal's quandary via Tennis World USA.
I think it's a matter of relaxation. I am sure he will be fine at the end, sooner or later. If he doesn't do well in Monte Carlo, he will try again in Barcelona, or he will try again in Madrid. We are at a bad time, but I think Rafa will continue up to 29, 30 and 31 years."
Francisco Roig, who served as Nadal's second coach, also agreed to Toni's evaluation that it mat take time for Rafa to have the same kind of confidence in his game. Still, the coach is also confident that Nadal will overcome this setback and return to elite level thereafter.
"Before he won or lost, he felt the rhythm of the match. Now he feels that the game does not depend by him and therefore does not take the lead. The rivals think they can win, and he thinks that he can lose. He is worried because his confidence is minimal," Roig said in an interview via Tennis World USA.
"Rafa has always had motivation and hunger, but the decline of the great players passes through the very mental plane. First he used to win with pain. Now he doesn't hurt, but this return after so much inactivity is more normal than extraordinary in 2013."
The 28-year old Nadal is heading into the clay-court season with a mission of winning the French Open title for a record 10th time.
