‘Rafael Nadal’s only downside was also his biggest asset’, says Roger Federer’s ex-coach
Roger Federer’s former coach Paul Annacone believes Rafael Nadal’s “only downside” was his humility and argued it was also the Spaniard’s “biggest asset.”
The former world No 12 admitted he wondered how Nadal “didn’t have a bigger ego” and suggested this sometimes hindered his ability to play aggressively.
Nadal called time on his remarkable 23-year career at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga last week.
The 22-time major winner was beaten by Botic van de Zandschulp in his last-ever match as Spain suffered a surprise 2-1 quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.
The former world No 1 won his 92nd and final career title at the 2022 French Open — where he claimed a record-extending 14th crown.
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Speaking on the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, Annacone spoke about Nadal’s humble nature and claimed it impacted the way the Mallorcan played.
“Rafa’s only downside was also his biggest asset,” he assessed. “His only downside was his humility and that’s also his biggest asset.
“There are times where I would look at him and wonder how he didn’t actually have a bigger ego.
“He was always so gracious and so humble about what he’s doing that sometimes that hindered his ability to step on a court and just crush the ball.
“And when Rafa was vulnerable, he didn’t crush the ball and we saw that [in his match against van de Zandschulp] because he hasn’t played and it’s on his worst surface — his ball gets very spinny and it sits up.
“But because of that humility, he didn’t just walk on that court and start ripping balls everywhere.
“He felt like every match he had to be at the top of his game, he was vulnerable and because of that he sometimes played a little bit tentatively until he got the match reps in and then when he did that, he played more aggressive.
“But again, the biggest liability — if he even had one — his humility. And if you swap that for how gracious that is and what an asset that is, I’ll take that balance.”
The American, who also coached his legendary compatriot Pete Sampras, then discussed helping Federer prepare to face Nadal when he worked with the Swiss.
“There’s no bigger challenge, and for me, luckily I also got to play with Roger, arguably one of the most gifted athletes that has ever held tennis racquets, so what a great contrast between the two, and it was always fun to try to sit there and problem solve and figure out what Roger could do to make him uncomfortable,” Annacone added.
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