Nad verbal volley over ancient laws

Jul 6 2008 By Gavin Berry

TONI NADAL has been with Rafa every step of the way. He was the man who spotted potential when his four-year-old nephew returned a tennis ball he had thrown at him.

And that's why Toni has fired a verbal volley at tennis chiefs over the rule that will deprive him the chance to offer advice to the Spaniard on the biggest day of his career today.

Toni likes to get heavily involved - to the point where Rafa's final opponent Roger Federer once accused him of illegally coaching from the players' box and asked him to stop.

But he has contempt for the no coaching rule from off-court and has urged those running the sport to consider shelving it. Toni said: "I am 40 years old and don't like to go behind the umpire's back.

"But I like to say what I want because I amthe coach and I've come all the way over from Majorca and I want to be able to coach and say something. It's an ancient rule and life has changed now.

"Maybe the people have to change the rules because the players pay a coach who might go to Australia or wherever and for himto have nothing to say or do makes no sense."

There will be few prouder men than Toni if Rafa ends Federer's dominance of Wimbledon today.

But he revealed it will only be pride and not pounds at stake as he coaches his prodigy for nothing.

Toni said: "I amRafa's coach but I don't take money.

"I have a glass business with Rafa's father. This is not a hobby though - for that I'd play golf or chess. It is like my work but I don't earn money.

"For Rafa and for me it is much better he is not my boss because sometimes the problem with these guys is that they are the boss.

"Lifting the Wimbledon title would be priceless anyway. I knew from an early age Rafa was good but I couldn't say then he'd win a Grand Slam.

"I was the uncle and it was so much easier for me to be working with my nephew as soon as I realised Rafa was going to be good.

"If I thought Rafael would turn out not to be good some days I wouldn't work with him.

"For example, I havemy son who is now four and I don't believe it with him.

"With him it is better to go to the beach on Sundays. He is interested but I don't think he will be so good.

"When I saw Rafa could be good I immediately wanted to work him hard.

"I threw him the ball and he had a good swing at it and I thought this guy has a good talent.

"When he was eight years old he won the Balearics championship at under-12 level.

"He was so fast and worked hard. Rafa always played with so much illusion that I thought he'd be good."

Whatever Nadal achieves in his career Toni has taught him to appreciate what he has.

And Toni reckons that is one of the reasons why his man never breaks a racket through his temper as other players have been known to do.

He said: "For me in life the money comes first, second is the fame.

"I know Rafael has the shoes and the racket. But it is terrible if he breaks a racket for there are so many people who can't afford to buy a racket or a pair of shoes.

"The respect for those things and life are most important.

I was a hard coach, sometimes too much.

"It is difficult to be a coach when you are family, not just the coach. My interest is so much more."