ATP > Paul Annacone, former coach of Roger Federer: “Rafael Nadal's only flaw was also his greatest asset. There were times when I looked at him and wondered how he didn't have a bigger ego”

Former coach of Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Tim Henman, Paul Annacone knows Rafael Nadal well having faced him as a coach when he was alongside the Swiss between 2010 and 2013.

And on the occasion of the end of the Spanish champion's career, the American had an interesting reflection during a podcast on Tennis Channel.

“Rafa's only fault was also his greatest asset: his humility. There were times when I looked at him and wondered how he didn't have a bigger ego. He was always so gracious and humble in what he did that sometimes it hindered his ability to get on the field and crush the ball. And when Rafa was vulnerable, he didn't crush the ball enough and we saw it in his last career match (against Van De Zandschulp) because he didn't play enough and that's his worse surface, so his ball was spinning a lot and it stayed in the air. But because of his humility, he didn't get on the court and start throwing balls everywhere. »

Published on Saturday November 23, 2024 at 2:55 p.m.