With David Goffin, the current technical director of the French-speaking Tennis Association has also had tough training sessions: “It could be a nightmare because it imposes crazy intensity. He is a player of extraordinary generosity on the pitch, because he does not count his efforts. He really plays with panache, with incredible enthusiasm. I’m rave because I’m a complete fan. I find that nature has given him extraordinary physical qualities. But also, self-sacrifice and courage. I also remember the relationship that there was sometimes between Toni and Rafa, it was the fight sometimes on the pitch. It was heating up in all directions. It was really rock’n’roll at times.”
Justine Henin talks about Nadal…
And when it was necessary to prepare for a match against the Mallorcan on clay, it was not always easy: “His ball was incomparable, it squirted so much, he put so much intensity on it. For a coach, reproducing such a ball in training was impossible. The only way to beat the great Nadal was to take away his time by playing very early. There aren’t many players who knew how to do that. David succeeded at times. He had the weapons to, from time to time, disturb him. And when we had to play on a big court against him. In a few strokes, we were further and further away. It was hell.”
