Boris Becker claims he was approached by Toni Nadal when Rafael was just 14 years old, and the Spanish family listened to his advice after he was asked to give his opinion.
Becker, a former six-time Grand Slam champion, had a house in Spain where he used to spend his summer days. Apparently, he was one day approached by Uncle Toni, who was the first coach of Rafael. At the time, a 14-year-old Nadal was already regarded as a very talented player but played a two-handed forehand and a two-handed backhand.
After coming across Becker, Uncle Toni asked the former world No. 1 to share his thoughts on Nadal using two hands for both forehand and backhand. The German tennis icon directly said that "it was not a good idea," and advised them to start practicing a common one-handed forehand.
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Becker: I told Toni that Rafael playing a two-handed forehand wasn't a good idea
"I know Rafa too, because I had a summer house next to him in Mallorca, between Manacor and Art. I was there for a long time. I knew his family. I met him when he was 14 or 15 and I met Toni," the German tennis legend said on a Spanish program La Revuelta.
He asked me what I thought of Nadal at 14, because he is right-handed, but played left-handed. But at that time, Rafa hit with two hands from both sides, and I told Toni that it wasn't a good idea, that the best thing was for him to use only one hand [on the forehand]. Look at that, it went well for them. Rafa also had some merit."
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Just a couple of years later, Nadal became a Grand Slam champion at the 2005 French Open at the age of 19. The legendary Spaniard won 21 more Grand Slams before retiring and he spent a total of 209 weeks at the world No. 1 spot.
