Tennis icon Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, has sparked controversy by advocating for significant changes to make the sport less physically demanding. Toni, aged 64, proposes reducing racket sizes to mitigate injuries resulting from the strenuous tennis schedule. This alteration, however, could disrupt the established hierarchy as players would need to adapt their techniques entirely.
In addition, Toni argues that modern tennis has become overly focused on power, a sentiment he has expressed as a prominent critic within the sport. He emphasized the growing speed of the ball as a key issue contributing to injuries, attributing them to the intensity and forcefulness of player movements.
Opposing this view, Nadal believes that downsizing rackets is crucial for the sport’s future, a stance he has long advocated. He contends that smaller rackets would make the game less aggressive, benefiting amateur players while posing challenges for professionals.
Toni expressed concerns that the sport’s authorities prioritize maintaining the status quo to cater to top players rather than addressing fundamental issues. Drawing a parallel with football’s evolution, he suggested that tennis could learn from the changes implemented in football post-Italia ’90 World Cup, which led to significant improvements in gameplay and player safety.
Despite guiding Rafael Nadal to numerous Grand Slam victories, including 14 titles, Toni acknowledges the absence of an ATP Finals crown in his nephew’s illustrious career. He attributes this shortfall partly to the resistance to change within the sport, highlighting the lack of clay court competitions in the ATP Finals as a hindrance to Nadal’s success.
Furthermore, Sky has unveiled a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season, offering substantial savings and access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches in the upcoming season, a notable increase from previous years.