Toni Nadal: ‘2012 was the toughest moment’; Carlos Costa: ‘Rafa is an exceptional person’

The Italian Channel SuperTennis TV held an amazing program in Rafael Nadal’s hometown, Manacor, a city that is, was and will be his residence forever. In June, he will officially open his Academy there, completing a long-held dream.

“If I had a structure like the ones we are building would have be easier, – admits Rafa – but I think to be lucky to have lived in Mallorca.”‘I preferred to play football more than tennis without any doubt, playing in a team makes you have a different responsibility’. Once his team was awarded a penalty kick: “At that time i did not have the personality to score a penalty kick. My friend took it and scored.”‘He was playing football with kids of one category bigger – reveals one of his friends – He was different than the others because of his ambition to improve.'”I was a coach that took care of the formation of the character not only on court but off-court too – affirms Toni – Having a strong character, a great mental strenght. That”s what interested me. Values are important as much as the tennis part. The basic preparation is …

continue reading in source www.tennisworldusa.org