On Nadal & Nerves

Over the weekend Rafael Nadal lost early again in Miami, the 2nd straight tournament he has lost early. He admits to suffering from nerves. Every player suffers from nerves to some degree or another. I know in my long ago playing career, I had bouts with nerves that I had to address. Below is what one of the greatest competitors I have ever seen has to say about tennis & nerves. Hope his struggles can help you out when you run into a patch of competitive anxiety.




“It’s a tough issue to fix, but I’m going to keep trying,” said Nadal. “I am trying my best. I am practicing with the right attitude.”
The World No. 3 said the “anxious” feelings he has on court started at the beginning of this season.
“It's not the question of tennis, [It’s] the question of being relaxed enough to play well on court,” the 28 year old said. “Today my game in general improved since a month and a half [ago]. But at the same time, [I’m] still playing with too many nerves for a lot of moments, in important moments.”
A four-time runner-up at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Miami, Nadal exited the BNP Paribas Open early last week as well, losing to Canadian Milos Raonic for the first time in the quarter-finals after holding three match points.
“I have been able to control my emotions during 90 per cent, 95 per cent of my matches of my career… But I’m going to fix it,” he said. “I don't know if [it’ll be] in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I’m going to do it.
"It’s something that I need to fix for myself and with my team. I need the help of my team, but especially I need the help of myself. That's what I am trying to do. Nobody’s going to change the situation for you."
“At this point in my career, I’ve won enough things to say I don't need to win more, but I want to do it,” said Nadal. “I want to keep competing well. I want to keep having the feeling that I can be competing for every tournament I’m going to play, and I have the motivation to do it. Obviously clay is [a] surface that I’ve had some success, and I hope to be ready for it again.”
It is now clay court season and that just might be what Nadal needs to regain his competitive edge.

All the best

~Coach Rodgers