Nadal: ‘super coach’ mooted

Beijing – Rafael Nadal’s lifelong mentor, his uncle Toni, has opened the door to hiring a “super coach” if the 14-time Grand Slam-winner fails to recapture his spark next season.

Toni Nadal said the 29-year-old (above) should consider following Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and others by bringing in a superstar mentor if the turnaround does not come soon.

Calls for Nadal to abandon Toni intensified after he flopped at both the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

“I think you need to ask Rafael,” he said at the China Open in Beijing, when asked if Nadal should consider a new mentor.

“Maybe if next year Rafael is playing not too good, then I think he can think about some changes in his game or in his team.”

Top-ranked Djokovic has flourished since adding Boris Becker to his team, winning three Grand Slam titles this year, while Roger Federer, 34, is enjoying an Indian summer under Stefan Edberg.

Britain’s Andy Murray pioneered the trend when he hired Czech Ivan Lendl as his coach, in what helped him win two Grand Slam titles and Olympic singles gold.

But Toni, despite his lack of credentials when they started out, has forged a career which has made him one of the most successful coaches in tennis history.

Nadal himself insists he can get back to the top, and is using the end-of-year swing starting in Beijing as “practice” for next season. – AFP