Blood runs deep for Rafael Nadal
Should Rafael Nadal win Wimbledon today, he is likely to follow in the footsteps of past champions by clambering up to the players' box to celebrate. The person he will embrace first is his coach and uncle, Toni. If Nadal wins the men's final at the third attempt, he will become the first man to win back-to-back French Open titles while also taking Wimbledon and the silverware at Queen's Club.
Family life is paramount to the Nadals of Manacor in Majorca. Almost 20 of the clan will be at the All England Club this afternoon. As many a nephew will attest, the disciplinary words of a respected uncle are often heeded more than anything uttered by a father. That was the case when a four-year-old Rafael stood on a dusty court on their home island and looked up at his uncle, who had just agreed to teach him the game that would propel him to world fame. As Toni recalls, there was one basic rule. "I said to him on that first day, 'If I ever see you throw a racket, then it is over'. For me it is unacceptable that a kid breaks a racket. I told Rafa they are expensive and there are a lot of people who cannot afford them. He listened well and that is why he never shows his anger in that way on a court.
"Ever since Rafa was a young child, I have told him, 'When you lose, it is your fault, not mine. It is not the rackets, not the balls, not the wind'. It's true. In life there are so many people who have other excuses. For me it is very bad when you have a problem and you have a bad face."
Similar strong words were needed after last year's Wimbledon final. Nadal pushed Roger Federer to five memorable sets in a contest accepted as one of the finest in the 131-year history of the Championships, but he fell just short after the Swiss warded off four break points in the final set. Back in the locker room, the Spaniard allowed his disappointment to surface in a flood of tears.
Toni recalls: "I looked at Rafa as he cried and I did not like it. I said, 'You must not do that. It would be the same as me crying just because I don't have a Jaguar motor car'. He told me it was maybe his last opportunity to win Wimbledon. I said he was the champion of Roland Garros and No 2 player in the world. I told him his life does not change because he has not won this match."
Like his nephew, Toni is warming to the task of conversing in English. Initially he talks through an interpreter, but soon is expressing himself in a foreign tongue while chewing thoughtfully on a handful of almonds. "I said he could be sad for one week but there would be another Wimbledon and other finals. Rafa had no reason to cry, and here we are again."
Before stepping on to the court, Nadal will practise for his customary 45 minutes, have the obligatory ice-cold shower and fix precautionary white tape below both knees, as he has for the past year to protect against a recurrence of the tendonitis he suffered at last year's US Open. This will not be a time for intense briefing from his coach; instead there will be a few sentences at five-minute intervals. "Rafa gets more nervous as it gets close to the final," says Toni. "There is no need to say too much. Normally in the locker room I just say two or three things. But he knows one important thing I have always told him: there is no such word as 'cannot'. You must do what you have to do. Obligations are obligations."
Toni admits he will be restless as he takes his seat. While Federer has repeatedly changed coaches and now plays with occasional input from Swiss Davis Cup captain Severin Luthi, the uncle-nephew relationship has been a constant throughout Nadal's career and is unlikely to change. "Rafa did not change coach because I am not too much expensive," Toni says with a smile, before becoming serious. "Some people say they are surprised at the way Rafa can now play on grass, but I no listen. I have seen the evolution and it is normal. Everybody is saying Rafa needed to improve this thing or that thing, but nobody paid attention to his age. To me it's just a natural progression. Now he has a better service. A better backhand with slice. I remember the first time Rafa played on grass. He came here once to play the juniors in 2002 and reached the semi-final. He did not find grass strange and I remember saying to people that I thought he could do good here. Of course it is difficult for everybody, but not especially difficult for Rafa. To do well on grass, you must have two things: good shots and good movement. Rafa has both. For this final I will be nervous but not as nervous as at Roland Garros, where he is now expected to win. If he can win this tournament, it would be unbelievable for two things. First, people say he can only play on clay. Second, Wimbledon is the most important tournament of all; it is the one we have worked towards and dreamed about winning."
Watching a relative play top-flight sport is nothing new for Toni. His younger brother Miguel Angel established a fearsome reputation as a defender for Barcelona, winning 62 caps for Spain. "The worst time was here," said Toni, pointing north in the direction of Wembley. "We came for Euro 96. Spain is playing England in the quarter-finals. It went to a penalty shootout and my brother had his kick saved by the goakeeper. That was bad, but now I think tennis is harder for the family."
Miguel Angel was among the relatives present as the Nadal clan met for dinner at Rafa's favourite restaurant on London's Old Brompton Road on Friday. Player and coach sat at opposite ends of the table and conversation rarely involved tennis, but both are more than ready for what is to come.
Tale of the tape
HEAD TO HEAD
Nadal leads 11-6 March 2004 Miami (hard)
3RD RD Nadal won 6-3 6-3
March 2005 Miami (hard)
FINAL Federer won 2-6 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-1
June 2005 French Open (clay)
SEMI-FINAL Nadal won 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3
March 2006 Dubai (hard)
FINAL Nadal won 2-6 6-4 6-4
April 2006 Monte Carlo (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 6-2 6-7 6-3 7-6
May 2006 Rome (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 6-7 7-6 6-4 2-6 7-6
June 2006 French Open (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 1-6 6-1 6-4 7-6
July 2006 Wimbledon (grass)
FINAL Federer won 6-0 7-6 6-7 6-3
November 2006 Shanghai (indoor cement)
SEMI-FINAL Federer won 6-4 7-5
April 2007 Monte Carlo (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 6-4 6-4
May 2007 Hamburg (clay)
FINAL
Federer won 2-6 6-2 6-0
June 2007 French Open (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 6-3 4-6 6-3 6-4
July 2007 Wimbledon (grass)
FINAL Federer won 7-6 4-6 7-6 2-6 6-2
November 2007 Shanghai (indoor cement)
SEMI-FINAL Federer won 6-4 6-1
April 2008 Monte Carlo (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 7-5 7-5
May 2008 Hamburg (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 7-5 6-7 6-3
June 2008 French Open (clay)
FINAL Nadal won 6-1 6-3 6-0
GRASS RECORD
Roger Federer has won 40 consecutive matches at Wimbledon, since 2002. If he wins today, he will equal Bjorn Borg's unbeaten run of 40 matches from 1976-81, and would surpass Borg's achievement of five straight Wimbledon singles titles, from 1976-80
GRAND SLAM TITLES
14 Pete Sampras 12 Roy Emerson, Roger Federer 11 Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver
THE EXPERTS' VERDICT
Andy Murray If Nadal plays as well as he has done all tournament and returns serve like he did against me, I think he's very close to being the favourite to win. He was close last year, and he's playing better now
Tim Henman I would never bet against Federer
John McEnroe I go with Federer but it's a tough call because there is huge pressure on him after the talk of his demise. If he loses it will signal the end of his long reign as world No.1
Boris Becker I am going with Federer because he is the man who knows how to win at Wimbledon. I expect it to be a classic
Guy Forget (French Davis Cup captain) It is as even a contest as you can find but if I must choose I go for Federer. I give the defending champion the edge because he is still the more complete player
Guillermo Vilas(former French and US Open champion) Nadal because he is in the best form of his life. Unlike the last two times when he met Federer in the final, he is no longer the underdog. Federer will be looking to avenge the French Open but that only adds to the pressure on him
BETTING
Federer 4/5 Nadal 10/11
ON TV TODAY
1.30PM BBC1, match starts 2pm Highlights:10.00PM BBC2