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Gilbert Says the Sky is the Limit for Rafael Nadal
Exclusive interview for VamosRafael.com
August 18th, 2005
CINCINNATI: Brad Gilbert is doing ESPN commentary at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati. The former Top 10 player and coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick spoke with us regarding Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal, who has won nine titles this year, including Roland Garros and three AMS events..
VR.COM: Are you surprised at Nadal�s success this year, rising from No. 51 to No. 2 in six months?
GILBERT: No. In 2002, Carlos Costa [Nadal�s agent] told me, �I have this kid who is really special.� When I saw Nadal, I saw the same promise in him that I saw in Andre Agassi at the same age. In 2003, I posted on my website [bradgilberttennis.com] that he was someone to watch. I said even then, �If he
were a stock, he would be a definite buy.�
VR.COM: Nadal has nine claycourt titles, and just won his first hardcourt
title at the Rogers Masters in Montreal. Do you think he will continue to
have success on surfaces other than clay?
GILBERT: Yes. He can play on any surface. The thing about Nadal is that he's
only going to get better. He's a great athlete with a great attitude. He�s a
great mover on clay, but I think his movement shines even more on hardcourts.
Most claycourt players rely on their slide, and cannot make the appropriate
adjustment on hardcourts. This is not true with Nadal, who moves like a
gazelle.
VR.COM: How great do you think Nadal�s career will be?
GILBERT: The sky is the limit with Nadal in terms of greatness. The biggest
thing in his favor is time. He is only 19 years old. I have never seen a 19-
year-old player who did not improve by the time he was 23 or 24. No player at
age 19 is complete, and it is very rare for a player to post these results at
age 19 and not go on to be a Hall of Famer. Boris Becker, Mats Wilander,
Bjorn Borg and others had early success, and I expect Nadal will follow the
same path. Michael Chang is an exception, but �Nadal is no Chang.�
VR.COM: What do you think Nadal has to improve?
GILBERT: His English. That is the one thing that will keep him from being a
superstar here in the United States. I believe he actually speaks English
better than he understands it. I know he�s working on it, and I think it�s
good that his handlers are pressing that. With respect to his game, all
aspects, including his serve, will improve in time.
VR.COM: Nadal has already won Roland Garros. What other majors do you think
he can win?
GILBERT: All of them. Nadal is among the top three favorites for the U.S.
Open this year, and perhaps even the second favorite after Federer. He can
win in Australia, and even at Wimbledon. That one will be his biggest
challenge. I think he may have made a mistake by going to Halle right after
Roland Garros this year. Next year Nadal may want to make some adjustments to
better prepare for Wimbledon.
VR.COM: Some folks have been calling Nadal the next Thomas Muster. Do you
agree?
GILBERT: No. Nadal is better than Muster. I believe Nadal is going to be a
great player. Many people say Roger Federer is the next Pete Sampras. I
think he�s the first Federer, and I think it�s the same with Nadal. In a few
years, people will be calling some other player the �next Nadal.�
VR.COM: Some people don�t like Nadal�s strokes, especially in comparison to
Federer�s?
GILBERT: Who cares? They are fun to watch.
VR.COM: Do you think that with his style of play, Nadal will be more prone to
injuries?
GILBERT: Have you seen that kid? He�s a Mack truck. If he were American,
he�d be a football linebacker. He�s in great shape. All players have
injuries, but I don�t see Nadal being more injury prone than others. Many
people are surprised that Roddick�s serving arm has held up this long.
VR.COM: You are so positive about Nadal. Is there anything you don�t like
about him?
GILBERT: No. I just love watching him play. I think he�s the most
entertaining player to watch on the ATP. He has a great support team, and
that's huge. He's handled well, and he�s a nice kid. There�s nothing not to
like about him. He just needs to improve his English.
Then Gilbert switches roles:
GILBERT: So what is the biggest thing Nadal has going for him?
VR.COM: Time.
GILBERT: You got it!
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