Some may find it difficult to see how Rafael Nadal remains motivated following so much career success, but at least one man sees it differently.

The 20-time Slam champion has 88 titles over 18 career season on the ATP tour. Nadal has won every Slam at least twice apart from the Australian Open, his only triumph there coming in 2009.

The Spaniard also boasts a joint-record 36 Masters 1000 titles to his name and Olympic gold medals in singles and doubles.

With Nadal out for the rest of 2021 through injury, some might write off the legend moving forward.

But former coach Toni Nadal asserts that his nephew still has immense motivation.

“I‘ve been asked many times how to motivate a guy who has won everything,” Toni told Marca when asked how Rafa could rekindle his motivation. “First of all, Rafael has not won everything.

“In fact, he has gained absolutely nothing from what is to come. If a guy who is lucky in life and has challenges ahead of him is unmotivated, then he is ungrateful. I believe that one has to be motivated in life.”

Despite a record 36 Masters titles, Nadal has only won six of the nine events at that level. He has never won the Miami Open, Shanghai Masters or Paris Masters.

Moreover, 21 of his 36 Masters titles have come at just two events. Those events are of course two of the three clay Masters events, Monte Carlo (11 titles) and Rome (10 titles).

As a point of contrast, Novak Djokovic also has 36 Masters 1000 titles, but has won all nine events at least twice.

Nadal is looking to return to the court in time for the 2022 Australian Open, and has already taken to the practice court.