Toni Nadal will return to the circuit as a coach almost four years after he stopped accompanying and training his nephew Rafael. Felix Auger-Aliassime welcomed to his Mallorcan team on social networks, with a photograph in which they are seen together in Monte Carlo, on a clay court.
Toni will combine his new occupation, which he will share with the current Auger-Aliassime coach, Frederic Fontang, with the work of technical director of the Rafa Nadal Academy and the Mallorca Championships, the ATP 250 grass that will debut this year on the ATP calendar. In fact, his work in Manacor has had a lot to do with the decision made by Auger-Aliassime to have him, since the 20-year-old Canadian and number 22 in the world really liked the working methods of the 60-year-old coach, who he was able to experiment during his stays at the Academy.
“We had the opportunity to work with Toni and Fred, as well as the rest of the team in Mallorca last December. But officially, we will start our collaboration here. So far, it has gone very well ”, explains Felix in a two-way interview reproduced on the official ATP website. “I had already had a chat with him for quite some time and he made a very good impression on me. Also through my nephew, they always spoke highly of him to me. When they proposed to me the possibility of working together, I told him to come to the Academy for ten days so that we could meet to see if what I could say would serve him or not, “says Toni, before clarifying that he accepts his new responsibility as Rafa's Academy worker: “I am still the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar and obviously I have worked with my nephew, I am his uncle and I did not consider being with another player. Knowing that I have the possibility as director of the Academy to collaborate with a player who has the highest aspirations is a challenge that particularly satisfies me. It is a challenge for everyone. “
Possible duel in Monte Carlo
It could be the chance that Rafa Nadal and his uncle's new disciple will face each other in the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000, whose draw is drawn this Friday. “Toni will be in the big tournaments, the Grand Slam and other important ones on the calendar. He gives me advice and experience, but I work every day to be a better player. It is not that there is a secret tool or a single recipe that with the snap of the fingers works . We are starting to work together and building something solid, that makes me a better player, overall. That's what I want to do to reach the highest level in tennis, “argues Auger-Aliassime.