Alongside his nephew Rafael Nadal, Toni Nadal is one of the absolute experts in the tennis circuit. The ex-coach is disappointed with the next generation and gives reasons for the missing breakthrough.
Starting next year Toni Nadal will no longer be the companion of his nephew Rafael Nadal on the tour and will take care of the Rafael Nadal Academy from now on. Nevertheless, the Spaniard is a sought-after man and his assessments of current conditions and world tennis are still very much in demand.
In an interview with El Mundo,”Uncle Toni” spoke about the distinction between the old and new generations of tennis pros on the ATP Tour.
“Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and many others – like David Ferrer – have a great ability to make sacrifices,”Nadal explained. For the 56-year-old, it is crucial that tennis always comes first for top stars such as Federer and his nephew. In addition, there have always been good players, but the generation of players, who are now 30 years old, has committed themselves to the sport even more, the Mallorcan explained. The generation responsible for taking over the helm was simply not good enough. This reflects our society, which is ultra-protective,”says Nadal.
The Spaniard appeals to players between the ages of 21 and 25. One reason why Roger, Rafa and Co. Still at the top of men’s tennis, Nadal said:”Most of the players haven’t grown up yet. The top 20 in the world rankings include ten players who are 30 years or older.
Alongside his nephew, the 56-year-old won 16 Grand Slam titles and is considered one of the main reasons for Rafael Nadal’s great success. After a long injury break in 2016,”Uncle Toni” took his protégé back to the top of the world rankings. Last season Nadal announced that the duo will go their separate ways with immediate effect. However, Toni Nadal will continue to act as a consultant in special cases.
The men’s world ranking list