Emma Raducanu’s new coach made some big claims about Rafael Nadal when he was part of his team in 2018.
Raducanu has hired Francis Roig, who was part of Nadal’s team for 17 years until 2022, as her new full-time coach.
While Roig will be the main travelling coach for Raducanu, she will still have close contact with Mark Petchey, who is unable to fulfill the full-time role due to his media commitments.
This new collaboration between Raducanu and Roig has brought back some interesting comments that the Spaniard made about Nadal in 2018.
Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty ImagesFrancis Roig said Roger Federer was the only reason Rafael Nadal had not retired in 2018
After winning his 11th Roland Garros title in 2018, Nadal returned to the top of the ATP rankings once again.
Nadal had overtaken Roger Federer to return to the summit of the rankings, and at the time Roig revealed that this rivalry was the only thing that was keeping him from retiring.
“On a daily basis, you don’t speak about the world No.1 or being the best ever but Rafa is motivated by it,” Roig told Movistar Plus at the time.
“Here there is a very clear thing – If Federer hadn’t continued playing, Rafa wouldn’t have done it either. What Federer did, skipping the clay-court season, we don’t speak about it but I think he does it in order to avoid knee injuries.
“We will see if this year it will happen the same thing because it’s difficult not competing for much time.”
Photo by Chaz Niell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Nadal was 32 years old at the time of these comments, and actually continued playing for another six years.
Nadal was a 17-time Grand Slam champion at the time, and was looking to catch Federer’s record tally of 20 majors.
Using this rivalry as motivation, Nadal would go on to win another 13 titles, including five Grand Slams and four Masters 1000 titles.
After Nadal won the 2022 Australian Open in spectacular fashion, he led the men’s Grand Slam title race for the first time in his career after overtaking Federer with his 21st major title.
Roland Garros in 2022 was Nadal’s 22nd Grand Slam title victory in and actually the last time he would win a tournament of any kind.
YearTournamentFinal Result2018Canadian Open (ATP 1000)Nadal beat Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-2 7-6(4)2019Italian Open (ATP 1000)Nadal beat Novak Djokovic, 6-0 4-6 6-12019Roland Garros (Grand Slam)Nadal beat Dominic Thiem, 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-12019Canadian Open (ATP 1000)Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev, 6-3 6-02019US Open (Grand Slam)Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev, 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-42020Mexican Open (ATP 500)Nadal beat Taylor Fritz, 6-3 6-22020Roland Garros (Grand Slam)Nadal beat Novak Djokovic, 6-0 6-2 7-52021Barcelona Open (ATP 500)Nadal beat Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4 6(6)-7 7-52021Italian Open (ATP 1000)Nadal beat Novak Djokovic, 7-5 1-6 6-32022Melbourne Summer Set (ATP 250)Nadal beat Maxime Cressy, 7-6(6) 6-32022Australian Open (Grand Slam)Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev, 2-6 6(5)-7 6-4 6-4 7-52022Mexican Open (ATP 500)Nadal beat Cameron Norrie, 6-4 6-42022Roland Garros (Grand Slam)Nadal beat Casper Ruud, 6-3 6-3 6-0
Federer officially retired from tennis at the Laver Cup that year, with Nadal only playing 26 more matches in his career.
After the Spaniard waved farewell at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals, he received a tribute ceremony at Roland Garros this year where rivals including Federer were there to celebrate Nadal’s career.
They may have been part of one of the greatest rivalries in tennis history, but Nadal and Federer have now developed a strong friendship since stepping away from the tennis court.