Rafa, Netflix review: The anatomy of endurance
A review of the Netflix documentary 'Rafa' explores the physical toll of Rafael Nadal's legendary tennis career. The film highlights the balance between his intense competitive drive and the chronic injuries sustained from early-age training.
Why it matters
The documentary provides insight into the psychological and physical sacrifices required to reach the pinnacle of professional sports.
Uncle Toni, his father’s brother, was coach when Rafael Nadal won 15 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. He started when his nephew was three or four. That’s too early. It might have led to the tennis great’s Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative foot condition causing chronic, debilitating pain. There’s a moment in Netflix’s four-part docuseries Rafa when Nadal’s mother says Uncle Toni was teaching his ward “how to suffer through sport”.
The review is a balanced critique of a documentary, focusing on the subject's career narrative.
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