Just as important was the way that Rafa approached their matches mentally. He was the first opponent to use Federer’s otherworldly reputation against him. Credit, in part, must go to a bit of reverse psychology on the part of his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal.
“Toni,” Nadal has said, “has never ceased to remind me—and I know he is right—that Federer is more technically gifted than I am.”
Toni’s words freed Rafa from having to think of himself as “better” or “worse” than Federer, and freed him from the pressure of trying to measure up to him. When he played Federer, all the younger man could do, as he has said many times, was “try my best in every moment.”
In Rome, though, Federer felt something more than doubt. For the first time, he let his frustration with not being able to beat Nadal show. During the match he looked toward the player’s box and asked, “Everything all right, Toni?” Was he was talking to his coach, Tony Roche, or his agent, Tony Godsick? No, Federer was lobbing a little sarcasm in the direction of a third Toni: Rafa’s uncle. Federer felt that he was illegally giving his nephew advice.
“He was coaching a little bit too much again today,” Federer said.
The handshake between the two was as hurried and icy as the match had been long and hot. Later, Federer called Nadal’s game “one-dimensional.” The next day, back in Mallorca, Nadal said of Federer, “He has to learn to be a gentleman even when he loses.”
