With Rafael Nadal’s early US Open exit, critics are again urging the 14-time Grand Slam champion to make a coaching change. Rafa keeps his eye on the ball like few players in history and may not be distracted by all the talk, but if his uncle and coach Toni Nadal hears the chatter, he might start thinking. After all, if Rafa were to dismiss Toni (and there is NO indication from the Nadal camp that a change is in the works), Toni Nadal would command a very handsome price on the open market. And he would be in very high demand.
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The fact is that a free Toni Nadal would be offering his services in the most lucrative market in tennis history, with global prize money only rising. He’d bring with him a resume that says he is the winningest tennis coach in history, having coached Rafa to all 14 Slams. (The closest is Bjorn Borg’s coach Lennart Bergelin with 11.) Not only that, despite his dominance on clay, Nadal has won the career Grand Slam (victorious on all surfaces) so his ability to work in different styles is proven. There is an elite cadre of players just outside the very top rank who would all pay Toni Nadal a fortune to help them rise to the next level. Blood, of course, is thicker than money.
