Former Grand Slam champion Manolo Santana has jumped to the defence of Rafael Nadal after a roller-coaster season for the 9-time French Open champion.
Santana, who won four Grand Slam titles during the 1960’s, wrote a piece for El Espanol is which he compared Nadal’s season to Federer’s troublesome season a couple years ago. This year, Nadal failed to reach the last four at any Grand Slam for the first time since 2004. The below-par start to the season resulted in the Spaniard falling down the rankings in June to his lowest position since 2005, 10th in the world. Despite the disappointment, Nadal is enjoying a positive end to his year after reaching the final in Beijing (losing to Novak Djokovic) and Basel (losing to Roger Federer).
“Exactly what happened to Nadal this year is very similar to what Federer experienced a few seasons ago”. Santana wrote.
“And where is Roger now? Number two in the world, winning titles galore and playing Grand Slam finals”.
The mixed season for Nadal has lead to some people calling for him to change his coaching arrangement with his uncle Toni Nadal. Nadal has worked with his uncle throughout his entire career. During Wimbledon John McEnroe called for Nadal to ‘axe’ his uncle in order for the Spanish player to get new ideas in his game. Despite the calls, the two have remained defiant and continued working together, a decision praised by Santana.
“His uncle is the person who launched him and is also the only one that can have absolute confidence to overcome the current situation, which he has practically already achieved. Sometimes the changes are good, but if you’re fine with that person and secure. … The most important thing for a player is trust. And it’s something that Toni conveys better than anybody”. The 77-year-old said.
Nadal is competing in this week’s BNP Paribas Masters in Paris for just the fifth time in his career.. The 29-year-old has reached the final of the event once before, back in 2007. After receiving a first round bye this year, the 7th seed will play either Czech qualifier Lukas Rosol or fellow countryman Guillermo García-López in the second round.
