Toni Nadal, uncle of Rafael Nadal, doesn’t necessarily expect record holder Roger Federer to win another Grand Slam in the future.
Toni Nadal’s forecasts often hit the bull’s eye. At the WTA Tournament in Mallorca in June, 57-year-old Angelique Kerber had in short declared herself the Wimbledon favourite. Despite the fact that the German number one on the Balearic island failed in its opening match against qualifier Alison Riske (USA).
Just four weeks later the prophecy became reality. Kerber crowned himself the 2018 Lawn Queen on Church Road on 14 July and achieved something like sporting immortality at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Uncle Toni will have laughed his way up his sleeve at home in Manacor for his golden tips.
Rafael Nadal’s ex-coach and uncle was recently confronted in an interview with the Spanish daily El Diario Vasco with his statement that he considered another Grand Slam coup by Roger Federer unlikely.
And Toni Nadal confirmed his assessment: “I said that with all due respect, because at 38 it will be difficult to win a tournament where ‘best of five’ matches are played”. Small side note and note for the Spaniard alike: Federer is still 37 – and he will not celebrate his 38th birthday until August 8, 2019.
Toni Nadal gave the Swiss rider the best chance of winning his 21st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. “But every year it gets harder.” The same applies to “Rafael”, his nephew, the French Open record champion, who is currently on holiday with his family in the Bahamas.
In the medium term, Toni Nadal expects the end of such a fascinating and formative era: “Sooner or later” Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer would no longer face each other in the grand finals.
There had been 38 times THE classic between the passionate power player and the Maestro who seemed to be hovering over the court since 2004 (23:15 victories for Nadal) – the elapsed playing time was only the second season in 15 years in which there was no electrifying duel between “Rafa” and “Rog” again and again.
According to Toni Nadal, the Tennis-Clasico offers enough material for a film adaptation – analogous to the film about Björn Borg and John McEnroe. “On the one hand we have this classic and elegant tennis – and on the other hand this passion based game. They’re two different styles, and I think it might be interesting to see them on the big screen,” said the 57-year-old.
According to his uncle, Rafael Nadal will start training on December 4th or 5th. About three weeks ago, the 32-year-old had had a free joint body removed from his right ankle joint. The world runner-up Nadal could therefore not compete at the ATP finals in London. At the tournament in Brisbane (from 30 December 2018) the left-hander wants to open his season.