In a recent interview with Toni Nadal for her regular podcast, Daniela Hantuchova asked what makes his nephew a great champion.
Uncle Toni, for so many years Rafael’s coach, referred to the relentless work ethic and focus which was applied to whatever the younger Nadal was doing.
‘I remember he put always big attention into hitting the ball, and he did the same with golf and football, which he also loved to play. He is very competitive, he loves to win,’ explained Toni.
Daniela Hantuchova says Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal switching off aids their success
Following his 13th title at Roland Garros last month Nadal unwound by playing golf, at which he has a 0.3 handicap.
His build-up to this week’s Paris Masters involved him coming sixth in the Balearic Golf Championship, from a field of sixty which was a mix of both professionals and amateurs.
Hantuchova, the former world number five who now works for Amazon Prime, has known both Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and their families, for a long time.
For her the ability of the two greatest male players to switch off is a key to the longevity of their remarkable success on the court.
Following his 13th title at Roland Garros, Nadal had unwound by playing golf in Mallorca
Hantuchova, the former world number five, has known Nadal and Djokovic for a long time
‘They’ve got a great balance in life and they know how to take their focus off tennis,’ she says. ‘That’s what makes them so good. But when they come to the court it is all about tennis.
‘And when you win so often, it’s a feeling that you just want to keep repeating.’
Djokovic has absented himself from the last Masters event of this truncated season in the French capital, but plans to be in London in this month for the last event, the ATP Finals at the 02 Arena, which has survived UK government restrictions.
After contemplating cutting his season, Nadal has opted to play on by first returning to Paris, where only on October 11 he thrashed his greatest current rival to win Roland Garros yet again.
Nadal thrashed his greatest current rival, Djokovic, to win at Roland Garros again this month
By doing so the Spaniard moved to twenty, level with Roger Federer, and three ahead of Djokovic in the race to see who ends up with the most Major titles.
However Hantuchova, who is close to fellow Slovakian Marian Vajda – the Serb’s coach and mentor – believes the pursuit of Major titles still has a long way to run.
‘Given Novak’s willpower and fitness, he can be around for a very long time,’ she says.
‘I feel he has so much left in his game. He is so strong physically and mentally I would say at least four or five years. The way the physios do their work and the rehab, the recovery techniques are completely different to what they were 15 years ago so he recovers better. Perhaps it’s really about whether it still fulfils him.’
Djokovic trails Nadal by three Major titles in a race Hantuchova expects to last quite some time
The whole landscape has changed due to Covid, and she believes that the absence of competition has given the large majority of players a new perspective.
‘I think it has made them really appreciate what they do for a living and how much of a privilege it is. We saw that when the tour came back, players were hungry and that’s why we have seen so many comebacks at places like Roland Garros.
‘In normal times you go from one week to another, and maybe you are a set and a break down – it’s not like you give up but at the back of your mind you think there’s always another week. In this situation everyone is giving everything and that’s been refreshing to see.
‘I actually wish (when I was playing) I could have had this window and had a chance to do other things in life. With everything that has been going on it’s a miracle we actually had tournaments.’
Djokovic has absented himself from the last Masters event of this truncated season in Paris
She believes that in Iga Swiatek, the new French Open champion, this strange year has unearthed someone who is going to be a dominant player for years to come.
‘Swiatek has got something special, she reminds me a bit of Martina Hingis and Aga Radwanska, the way she moves around the court and reads the game. She has natural power and timing, so she has a lot things going for her, a lot of varieties in her game. I think she will win more Slams.
‘Some players come and go but I feel like her game is quite complete and she will be in the same category as someone like Naomi (Osaka).’
Hantuchova expects Iga Swiatek, the French Open champion, will dominate for years to come
Given its over-reliance on China the women’s season has pretty much fizzled out, although there is still one more tour event left in Linz, Austria.
The men have three more, in Paris, Sofia and London. The indoor season is not traditionally the happiest hunting ground for Nadal, and Paris can sometimes throw up unlikely winners.
It would not be the greatest surprise if that happens again as this troubled tennis year winds towards its conclusion.
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