Secrets of Spanish Tennis: Culture and Infrastructure

[chrislewit]

One thing I have always been curious about is whether Borg was an influence on Uncle Toni in the making of Nadal. I know Toni has been very complimentary about Borg's achievements in pressers from time to time. Although Borg is not Spanish, he seems more the model for Nadal than previous Spaniards. The footwork, the fitness, the mental toughness, the relentless gruelling style of play...all have Borg roots. Maybe it's all coincidence...

I know the men are 30 years apart, but I wonder if Toni ever said "Borg would have done this"...or "Borg would have done that."

It's something I have been curious about for a long time.

Great connection. Luis Bruguera has modeled much of his Spanish system based on not only Borg's technique, but also his philosophy. If you read Borg's autobiography, many of his approaches and philosophies mirror the Spanish style of training to follow in the coming decades.

There is a major link between Borg's game and the Spanish method. I would say Sergi Bruguera's game was modeled after Borg and then Nadal is a model of Bruguera and Borg too.

The roots of the Spanish system in Borg is an article that I have contemplated writing about--and may do so in the future.

Best
Chris

[stotty]

One thing I have always been curious about is whether Borg was an influence on Uncle Toni in the making of Nadal. I know Toni has been very complimentary about Borg's achievements in pressers from time to time. Although Borg is not Spanish, he seems more the model for Nadal than previous Spaniards. The footwork, the fitness, the mental toughness, the relentless gruelling style of play...all have Borg roots. Maybe it's all coincidence...

I know the men are 30 years apart, but I wonder if Toni ever said "Borg would have done this"...or "Borg would have done that."

It's something I have been curious about for a long time.

[captnemo]

If Rafael Nadal did not exist would there still be Spanish secrets?

[klacr]

Thank you Chris.

Great answers. Keep up the good work.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[chrislewit]

By the way, traditionally private training is generally frowned upon in Spain.

Most top coaches believe group training in a good school is key. Mr Bruguera even goes so far as to refuse to allow privates at his school, with rare exception

This is an interesting cultural contrast to the US, where we have leading coaches like Lansdorp who are big believers in private training, as opposed to groups, or Rick Macci, who also really believes in the private lesson

Just an example of how there is more than one way to becoming a champion. Some kids respond to privates, others flourish in small groups

[chrislewit]

Spanish Tennis Success. Teamwork, mentoring, passing on tools, ideas and encouragement. I hope folks at USTA are reading this. Sharing success and not protecting and hiding it. Isn't that what makes tennisplayer.net so great? Coaches and players from around the world that contribute to this site and shares their insights and opinions. I always enjoy Chris' articles as he brings a perspective from his interest and experience in the Iberian peninsula and how the players are trained. We don't have a Spanish tennis voice on tennisplayer.net besides Chris. There is one Jose Higueras article on the website but I'll tend to side with Chris due to his willingness to share his vast amount of info.

Questions for Chris:

Based on the typical baseline playing style and ideology of "receiving the ball" of the Spaniards, how did they coordinate and develop a player with the attacking style of Feliciano Lopez. Was there an urge to keep Lopez on the same path as others or could they see his physical size and encourage and accept an attacking style?

Outside of Nadal, who do the Spanish consider their best player of the more modern era Ferrero, Moya, Corretja (no grand slams, but long and successful career)? Just curious as they were all exceptional.

When talking about the Spanish system, how much did Nadal use or benefit from it. I always had the impression that Nadal (from island of Mallorca) was coached and brought up by one guy, Uncle Toni. How much input and influence did Spanish tennis have on him or is he the exception in that he was trained away from academies? If Nadal was trained privately outside of Academy vision, has his success threatened the idea of the "system" and given other players and coaches the impetus for going private?

Thank you.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Hi Kyle

Thanks for always supporting my work.

1. Feliciano Lopez is a good example of a Spanish style player with a good serve and all court game. Unfortunately, I have not interviewed his junior coaches. I believe he was recruited to train at the National training center, which is called the CAR.

My assumption is that he had an open minded team of coaches and they let him develop a good style that fit his personality and ability. It is unusual for a Spaniard to be tall and with a huge serve. He is perhaps a good example of a future Spanish prototype--more aggressive. Sergio Casal had a similar game in the eighties, so it's not unprecedented.

However, Lopez shows good patience and baseline play on slow courts. He has perhaps the ideal hybrid game--can attack and defend.

2. Moya is a hero because he was the first Spanish number #1. Then Ferrero. Bruguera is a hero because he broke the 18 year Grand Slam drought--1975-1993

3. Nadal plays a classic Spanish style and it's inconceivable that Uncle Toni was not influenced by the legendary coaches who preceded him--like Bruguera and Alvarez. While Mallorca is an island to itself, it is closely connected with Barcelona and Catalonia, so I assume Nadal received a very classical Spanish tennis education. Many of his philosophies and approaches are classically Spanish, as discussed in his book Rafa.

All across the country the academies and coaches generally have very similar coaching parameters. Nadal was mentored by Uncle Toni, Jofre Porta, and Carlos Moya had a huge impact on him

I call it a "system" for lack of a better word, but it's not a completely top down approach. It just seems all the coaches and top private schools have agreed on some fundamental parameters, despite smaller differences in drills etc

Best Chris

[chrislewit]

I agree. The importance of older established players mentoring younger juniors is huge factor in Spain's rise.

It is an issue here in the US as well, where top players are not always eager to give back and help develop the next wave

It's an important lesson for all Federations to learn, and relates back to the humility of the players

Chris

[stotty]

I really get the "generations" thing. I think it's one of the keys to perpetuating success. Sadly, all too often over here (UK), once the better players break free of the pack they tend to be somewhat aloof towards other up and coming players. I think this is a big weakness in a system. The Spanish are known to support one another across all their sports. I know for sure this is the case with their soccer. I feel this a terribly important aspect in perpetuating success.

[klacr]

Spanish Tennis Success. Teamwork, mentoring, passing on tools, ideas and encouragement. I hope folks at USTA are reading this. Sharing success and not protecting and hiding it. Isn't that what makes tennisplayer.net so great? Coaches and players from around the world that contribute to this site and shares their insights and opinions. I always enjoy Chris' articles as he brings a perspective from his interest and experience in the Iberian peninsula and how the players are trained. We don't have a Spanish tennis voice on tennisplayer.net besides Chris. There is one Jose Higueras article on the website but I'll tend to side with Chris due to his willingness to share his vast amount of info.

Questions for Chris:

Based on the typical baseline playing style and ideology of "receiving the ball" of the Spaniards, how did they coordinate and develop a player with the attacking style of Feliciano Lopez. Was there an urge to keep Lopez on the same path as others or could they see his physical size and encourage and accept an attacking style?

Outside of Nadal, who do the Spanish consider their best player of the more modern era Ferrero, Moya, Corretja (no grand slams, but long and successful career)? Just curious as they were all exceptional.

When talking about the Spanish system, how much did Nadal use or benefit from it. I always had the impression that Nadal (from island of Mallorca) was coached and brought up by one guy, Uncle Toni. How much input and influence did Spanish tennis have on him or is he the exception in that he was trained away from academies? If Nadal was trained privately outside of Academy vision, has his success threatened the idea of the "system" and given other players and coaches the impetus for going private?

Thank you.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[johnyandell]

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