Rafael Nadal’s former coach, Toni Nadal, has proposed a controversial solution to what he calls the “violence” of modern tennis: make the rackets smaller.
Nadal, 63, believes the sport has become too focused on power—a “competition to see who can hit it the hardest”—leading to a dramatic rise in severe player injuries and the decline of tactical play.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he argued that faster balls and explosive, high-intensity movements are pushing players’ bodies to their limits.
“I think we should slow the game down a bit.”
He asserted that smaller rackets would make the game less “violent,” more difficult for professionals, and restore the “beauty” of skill, movement, and tactics seen in previous generations.
The proposal carries weight given the injury-plagued career of his nephew, Rafa Nadal, who retired last year after winning 22 Grand Slam titles.
The former coach admitted he grew used to seeing the champion suffer frequent injuries due to his explosive style.
Toni Nadal believes a fundamental equipment change is necessary to protect players and enhance the quality of the spectacle.
