Toni Nadal, not mincing words about Rafa's farewell: "I expected something more up to his level"

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Although a day has passed since Rafael Nadal officially hung up his racquet, the farewell and everything related to that painful tie against the Netherlands continue to spark much debate in the media, with different figures coming forward to analyze the situation. In this case, it is someone very close to the former Mallorcan tennis player, Toni Nadal, who is straightforward about his thoughts on the legend's goodbye.

"I had work in Madrid, today I am in Soria and it was impossible for me to attend. I watched everything on TV. I had thought about going to Malaga on Sunday, because I couldn't go on Friday due to commitments," explained Toni on El Larguero on SER radio. "I would have liked to be there, I would have gone if I didn't have work commitments."

Why did Rafael Nadal take 'so long' to retire?

"It was a foreseen outcome. We all knew that this day had to come. Seeing how the last few months unfolded, you could tell that things were not going well and I believe Rafael made the most appropriate decision. It's true that many people said he waited too long. It's because he got used to pushing until the very end in everything, in his matches, in his recoveries... and he trusted that his body would hold up.

This time it didn't work out, so he did what needed to be done. I don't see anyone doing something they love retiring so early," said Rafa's uncle. "When someone succeeds as much as these people do, it's because they are obsessed with what they do, because they feel passion. And when they feel that passion, they want to keep doing what they love. When they have so much success, it's normal for them to continue."

Were you surprised that Rafael played singles?

"On Monday, everyone knows the line-up, you don't need to be very smart. I saw him training in Manacor, even playing against Bautista and some others on the circuit. The truth is that my nephew was playing at a very acceptable level, taking sets from these players, and David Ferrer must have thought the same. In the end, what usually doesn't happen often happened: Rafael used to play better in matches than in practice. This time, it was the opposite. Between the emotions, the lack of matches... 

I had accepted it quite well. You suffer because, if it were an individual tournament, I wouldn't have suffered much, but being for the Spanish team, I suffered watching his match and the doubles match because it meant defeat, it meant that Rafael's point would have been important. It feels worse because you are defending your country and this time it didn't work out. There, the activity of his legs was lower, and when that happens, everything declines a bit, you hit the ball a bit later, it causes less damage to your opponent."

Did the farewell tribute meet your expectations?

"No (laughs). It was certainly emotional with the public's support. I like to see images in these events, I would have liked to see images of Rafael winning the Davis Cup in Seville, of Rafael at the Madrid tournament, at Roland Garros or Wimbledon, because this creates more emotion. I'm not trying to criticize anyone. I would have preferred something different, more in line with his career. I appreciate the gesture they had as a family member and former coach of Rafael, and the good intentions, but afterwards, I would have liked something else. Nowadays, much more emotional events can be organized by mixing music with images, and Rafael is a person whose images convey passion and emotion. If they had done this, it would have been more fitting."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Toni Nadal, sin pelos en la lengua sobre la despedida de Rafa: "Esperaba algo más a su altura"