“Rafael Nadal is more similar to Steffi Graf than Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic” – Serena Williams’ ex-coach on Spaniard’s ‘low-key’ farewell
“Rafael Nadal is more similar to Steffi Graf than Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic” – Serena Williams’ ex-coach on Spaniard’s ‘low-key’ farewell
Rafael Nadal (L), Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (inset) and Steffi Graf (R) (Image Source: Getty)
“Rafael Nadal is more similar to Steffi Graf than Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic” – Serena Williams’ ex-coach on Spaniard’s ‘low-key’ farewell
By
Urvi Mehra
Modified Nov 27, 2024 02:31 GMT
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Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs has drawn a comparison between Rafael Nadal and Steffi Graf over how they chose to retire from professional tennis. Stubbs suggested that Nadal’s farewell was devoid of excessive fanfare, which was reflective of his personality.
Nadal recently ended his illustrious career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, following Spain’s heartbreaking quarterfinal exit. While controversy has arisen over the seeming lack of grandeur for the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s farewell, Rennae Stubbs has put it down to the Spaniard’s personality being similar to Graf’s.
Steffi Graf shocked the tennis world when she announced her decision to retire at 30 while ranked the World No. 3, just months after winning her 22nd and final Grand Slam title at the 1999 French Open.
During the latest episode of the ‘Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,’ Stubbs explained that Graf chose not to prolong her career due to the physical pain she was experiencing throughout her body and her budding relationship with fellow tennis legend Andre Agassi.
Stubbs emphasized that Graf’s decision was also influenced by her aversion to the spotlight, suggesting Rafael Nadal possessed a similar personality to the 22-time Grand Slam champion, more so than Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Murray did.
“It’s like Steffi. It’s interesting because Steffi just dropped the mic and walked away because she was hurting. Her body was hurting, her knee was hurting, her foot was hurting, her back was hurting. She was in love. She’d just met Andre, and they were dating, but she was different so she just stopped,” Stubbs said.
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“She just walked away, but she’s very different to these personalities. She didn’t love the spotlight, she just loved playing. I think Rafa is more similar to Steffi than Roger or Novak or Andy,” she added.
Rennae Stubbs recalled how Steffi Graf chose not to delay her retirement by a few weeks to make a grand exit at the US Open, pointing out Nadal opted for a similarly “low-key” farewell with just his family, teammates, and home crowd.
“Even the way he retired, just the whole circumstances around it, it was more about playing at home, being with his family, there was no other players there. There was just his teammates and it was kind of low-key and it was kind of like for Rafa that was enough,” she said.
“For Steffi it was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t need all that pomp and ceremony.’ The first thing I said to her when she told me she was retiring, I was like,’Wait what? The US Open is in like three weeks. Why don’t you do it there?’ And she’s like, ‘Nah, I’m good,'” she added.
“I would have liked something else” – Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni disappointed with the Spaniard’s Davis Cup Finals farewell
Rafael Nadal (Source: Getty)Rafael Nadal (Source: Getty)
After Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya criticized his protege’s “shabby” farewell at the Davis Cup Finals, the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s uncle Toni echoed similar sentiments. Although he acknowledged the “emotional” aspect of the ceremony, Toni asserted that it lacked visuals and grandeur.
Toni Nadal, who did not attend the event, acknowledged the organizers’ “good intentions” but emphasized that he would have preferred a more elaborate farewell.
“It was emotional, obviously, with the support of the public. But I particularly like that there are images. I would have liked to see images of Rafael’s matches at the Davis Cup in Seville, in Madrid, at Roland Garros, Wimbledon… I think it creates more emotion,” he told El Larguero (Translated from Spanish).
“I don’t want to criticize anyone, I would have liked a slightly different event. I appreciate the good intentions, but I would have liked something else,” he added.
However, ITF president David Haggerty has defended the arrangements for the former World No. 1’s farewell, claiming that they had “delivered a ceremony that was what Rafael Nadal wanted.”
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