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FollowSummer Series: Rafael Nadal Academy (Part One)
Tennis View writer Karen Helf recently spent five days at the Rafael Nadal Sports Centre and Academy in Manacor, Spain. In this six-part series, Karen shares her experience and gives you an inside look, highlighting the many aspects that make the facility one of the finest in the world.
Part One
After attending the Madrid Open, I had the opportunity to visit and participate at the Rafael Nadal Sports Centre in Manacor, Spain on the island of Mallorca. The centre is an adult facility co-located with the Rafael Nadal Academy. The academy opened in June 2016 and the Sports Centre followed in September 2016. This orientation provides a place where children and their parents can thrive together. Although, like me, you do not have to be raising a tennis prodigy. The Nadal Sports Centre is open to everyone and every level of tennis or any athletic interest.
While many people recognize the academy as a place for young talent development, it is that and much more. I spent 5-days on the campus and hope that you will enjoy and perhaps find some inspiration in in the story of my experience.
Day 1 - May 29th
Upon my arrival, I was greeted by Natalia, an academy representative that I had met at the Madrid Open. She began my tour with a bang. We went straight to SportXperience Museum that opened in May 2017. Timing is everything, I was lucky to be one of the first few visitors…
The SportXperience has a unique and special entrance, the tunnel. And while I have been in a few tunnels as a volunteer at both Indian Wells and Miami, I had chills as the audio began to rumble with the sounds of the crowd cheering. As the tunnel doors open that is your cue to enter. A perfect transition to a space that celebrates sport of every kind. However, Nadal fans won’t be disappointed. Rafa’s achievements are on display, but there is a depth that is so much more.
This space is a who’s who of sports achievement from football (soccer), running, swimming, boxing, Formula One racing, water-ballet and more. Virtual reality gives guests a chance to see sports from the viewpoint of the athlete and to connect with their favorites. From the tennis world, you will find Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic and others standing right alongside Rafa.
While sharing a drink with a couple from Denver, Colorado in the Sport Café, they reflected on the exhibit stating it was “so Rafa,” I knew exactly what they meant. Yes, the spoils of the hard-working Spaniard are all there, but they are not the focus. They are in fact located more on a back wall, not near the entrance and not held up as a higher achievement than any other athlete in this sporting hall of fame. There is a humility in the layout which I believe is in kind, the influence of Toni Nadal.
In a recent article concerning the state of his nephew, Toni spoke on being hard on the ones you love because you want the best for them. The best things do not come easy, they come only thru hard work. And it is when you know that you tried your best that you can feel a pride, a confidence without arrogance of course.
Having been a tennis volunteer and now writing, I have seen countless matches of Nadal and many others on both the WTA and ATP tours. The ingredient that for me appears most critical for tennis success is to know how to struggle and come out on top. I have thought that the importance of Toni Nadal is not so much in the technique but more developing that mentality in Rafa.
The Nadal family was successful in both sport and financially long before Rafa came along. I believe it could have been possible for Rafa to grow up somewhat spoiled and feeling entitled. This can easily happen when children are not taught the meaning and joy of working hard to succeed in life. As we know, Rafa is the polar-opposite.
Resuming our tour of the academy, about 30-minutes later I would again be reminded of the mark of Toni Nadal when visiting the Rafael Nadal Academy. The locker room is filled with meaningful quotes. Probably the most significant, “Trust your work, more than your talent” -Toni Nadal. To me, that quote sums up Toni’s formidable hand in Rafa’s success.
I am often asked when the United States will have another No. 1 player. My answer is always the same, when we have another person who has learned how to struggle and come out on top. Then I list a group of American tennis achievers who grew up without privilege, Serena and Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Arthur Ashe to name a few. While each had perhaps less than an ideal “material” childhood, they worked hard and reaped the positive benefits of their life experience. In competition, they put that experience to good use. The strokes matter but the mind matters more. Living a childhood where things come easy is a “gift” that may be detrimental to becoming a great competitor. Please do not mis-interpret my words. Yes, Americans players work hard but the mentality to struggle is something more and very difficult to learn.
This mental toughness survival skill is not easily taught and may be the true genius of Toni Nadal. Toni understood the criticality of instilling this in his nephew who showed physical talent and promise. Rafa has acknowledged Toni’s way throughout his career. At a 2017 Indians Wells presser, Rafa reflected stating Toni was “very, very hard on him.” It was, in fact, tough love.
In the aforementioned 360 Sport article, Toni spoke these words concerning his approach with Rafa as well as his own children, “I am never so strict. I’m not strict. I am hard with my words only, because I think that’s the good thing for him, nothing else,” he explains. “I’m never hard with someone who can’t handle these hard things.”
“Never have I been hard with someone I don’t love. I am hard with my kids because I love them so much. That’s the problem today, you want to be a friend of your kids and to say always good things, I don’t like to do that.”
When asked about how things may change after next year, Toni responded, “The only thing I think he can be so much better because when he does something wrong, no one will say anything, that’s so much better for him,” he added with a laugh. For me, this is a familiar theme as my own father reminds me that the people who care the most about you will tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear…
This article is absolutely worth a full read, credit to sports writer, Reem Abulleil.
There’s much more to share about my time at the Sports Centre and I will… but for now, it seems appropriate to leave you with the academy core values. As a guest, they come alive in the artwork, hearts, minds, campus and the Academy and Centre team members who walk the talk.
Mental strength - Keep the right attitude to face any situation throughout the sport.
Philosophy in defeat and victory - Always get a valuable lesson from each match, It doesn’t matter if he or she has won or has been defeated.
Fair Play - Fair play must always be present in sport and in the case of tennis, it is not an exception. A champion is a real champion 24 hours a day, inside and outside stadiums whether he or she wins or loses.
Mental Speed - We need to be quick but also know how to take these decisions wisely
These are not the only values to learn; humility, respect, and friendship, despite not having an exact formula to be learned, are promoted and enriched in this environment…values are not only part of the learning, but also a way of life.
Content Source: https://www. rafanadalacademy.com
Visit https://rnsportscentre.com/en/ and https://sportxperience. rnsportscentre.com/en/ for more information.
In part two, Karen discusses how her own mentality and listening to ego almost destroyed a huge opportunity.
