Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former long-term coach, is known for his brutal honesty. That was on display again when he spoke about Carlos Alcaraz.
A recent Netflix documentary about Alcaraz generated much attention. It gave a fascinating insight into the mind and life of one of tennis’s biggest stars as he tries to navigate the challenges of being a top athlete.
One moment included Alcaraz talking about his fears of no longer enjoying tennis because of the intense calendar, something he admits has already happened. The Spaniard has also spoken about that issue several times in the past during interviews and press conferences.
Toni’s response on the Nude Project Podcast was blunt. He said Alcaraz should quit professional tennis if he finds it too much to handle, and thinks athletes tend to exaggerate how bad things are.
“If it overwhelms him, then he should quit tennis. I understand things differently in life. In the end, in the world of sport, there is a tendency to exaggerate everything. I’ve heard people talk many times about the sacrifice of sport, the sacrifice that the Real Madrid athletes made, and I used to say: ‘Sacrifice?'”
Although Toni clarified that he does not want Alcaraz to stop playing, the 64-year-old also said that making some sacrifices is inevitable in life, and it is better to switch to another career if the sacrifices of tennis feel overwhelming.
“Life is a matter of sacrifice, not just doing what I want. Sometimes it’s worth it for people, and sometimes it’s not. If it’s not worth it, it’s better to change jobs. I hope Alcaraz doesn’t change it, because he’s one of the best in the world, but one has to accept the challenge. One has to accept that what one is doing in life will entail a series of sacrifices.”
Toni then pointed to the benefits Alcaraz gets from being a wealthy athlete at a young age. He reemphasized that his compatriot should decide whether he wants to keep playing if all of that is not enough for tennis not to feel like a drag.
“I’m not talking about sacrifices because I understand that sacrifice is what you do for others. When you do it for yourself, it’s the price you have to pay. Alcaraz, being a great tennis player, also pays a price, it’s true.”
“But on the other hand, he earns much more money than the vast majority of young people his age, has much greater social recognition, and has experiences that few others have… If it’s not worth it, it’s better to make a decision.”
Rafael Nadal’s words during his ceremony at Roland Garros contrasted with Alcaraz’s about sometimes feeling enslaved to tennis. The 22-time Grand Slam champion said all the hard work to be at the top and recover from several injuries did not feel like a sacrifice because he loved tennis.
Novak Djokovic is the only one of the legendary trio of him, Nadal, and Roger Federer still playing. However, the Serbian previously admitted that a big part of him had already left the sport after Nadal’s retirement.
