Nadal Will Pass On Hiring A Celebrity Coach

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 30th December 2013

Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi

Nadal Will Pass On Hiring A Celebrity Coach

epa04001996 Spain's Rafael Nadal serves the ball to his countryman David Ferrer during their semi final match of Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 27 December 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

While Roger Federer may be the latest elite player to take on a “celebrity” coach in the form of Swede Stefan Edberg, Rafael Nadal has insisted he won’t be joining the new trend.

Edberg will work with Federer for 10 weeks annually, starting at the Australian Open. He joins a list of former players who are now in the coaching ranks: Andy Murray is heading into another season with Ivan Lendl, Novak Djokovic brought Boris Becker onside and Japan’s Kei Nishikori is to be advised 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang.

France’s Richard Gasquet is now with double French Open winner Sergi Bruguera and Croatian Marin Cilic is back with countryman and 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

But Nadal says he’s perfectly happy to keep his uncle Toni – the only coach he’s ever known – as his mentor after decades together.

“It is great to have a great champion in tour games as they bring great charisma to the game. It will be great to have Ivan and Boris around this season. It is a good thing and will do positive things to the tour,” Nadal the Gulf News as he played the Abu Dhabi exhibition – losing to David Ferrer.

“However, I will stick to my team. I always feel when I play bad, it is my fault and when I’m winning I’m doing the right things. I had success in my career with the same team. If I had good and worst moments with the same team. I understand if anything goes wrong, nobody is responsible more than me.”

Editors note : We love Rafa. But just saying… Who else but uncle Toni could coach so well from the stands…

Topics: 10sballs, Andy Murray, Boris Becker, David Ferrer, Ivan Lendl, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Sports, Stefan Edberg, Tennis, Tennis News