Tommy Paul drops 1-word reaction to Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni's unique motivation technique

Tommy Paul had a brief yet impactful one-word response to Rafael Nadal's story about his Uncle Toni's unique approach to motivation. Paul, who has often spoken highly of the Spaniard, once again showed his admiration for him.

Nadal recently penned a first-person essay for The Players' Tribune, sharing a fascinating anecdote about his uncle and coach, Toni. He recounted going fishing one day and losing a match the next, after which Toni motivated him.

"I was crying in the car on the way back home, and my uncle, who at that young age had a big influence on me, and who was the one who made me fall in love with tennis, he said: “It’s OK, it’s just a tennis match. Don’t cry now, there is no point. If you want to fish, you can fish. No problem. But you will lose. If you want to win? If you want to win, then you have to do what you have to do first," Nadal wrote.

He added:

"It was a very important lesson for me. If people see me as a perfectionist, then it comes from that inner voice that was calling to me on the car ride home. The voice has never left me. One day, I can be at the sea. Today, and tomorrow … I have to practice."

Paul took to his Instagram Stories on December 24 to repost a post featuring Nadal's quotes. The American wrote in the caption:

"Damn."

Tommy Paul via Instagram Stories

Rafael Nadal retired from tennis in November this year, bringing an end to his illustrious career spanning over 20 years, during which he claimed 22 Grand Slam titles among other remarkable achievements. Since then, he has kept himself active, participating in sports like golf and even appearing in tennis tournaments.

Rafael Nadal attends Next Gen ATP Finals final between Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien

Rafael Nadal pictured at the 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals | Image Source: Getty

Rafael Nadal was recently present at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Serving as an ambassador for the Saudi Tennis Federation, he expressed his commitment to fostering tennis growth in the region and promised to visit a few times each year with his coaching team.

Nadal stole the spotlight from the stands during Joao Fonseca’s final match against Learner Tien. The Spaniard was greeted with a hero's welcome, with the crowd erupting into applause as he entered the court.

Fonseca, who idolizes the 22-time Grand Slam champion, went on to claim the title by defeating Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2. With this victory, he became the second-youngest champion in the tournament's history, following Jannik Sinner’s win five years ago.