Toni Nadal: “Rafa still has three or four good years left”

Toni Nadal gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport coinciding with the 34th birthday of his nephew Rafa Nadal, who this year will not be able to blow out the candles during the Roland Garros celebration, since the Parisian Grand Slam has been postponed to September due to the coronavirus.

'Tío Toni' reviewed in the interview what have been the most relevant victories for him among the 12 titles that his nephew has conquered in Paris. “Of Rafael's 12 Roland Garros I take his first victory in 2005. He was very young and was his most coveted target. He got it after a lot of work, effort and self-denial. It was also very important triumph in 2010. It had as much emotional impact as the first, because Rafael had lost to Soderling the previous year. It was a shocking defeat for us as Rafael was seeking his fifth title in Paris. The first thing my nephew said to me in the locker room was: 'next year's goal is to be the best on clay again.' And so he did. In 2017 he came after two years without winning and lifted the title to return to the circuit. “

Nadal also reviewed how he and his nephew have passed the confinement and the concern for the boys who have passed the quarantine at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor. “It has been a very strange period, with everything that is happening in the world. I have not spoken with Rafael about the break. We have spoken more about the Academy and the children who were confined there. He was concerned that these weeks would pass with maximum security and without being affected by being away from the family. But I think he missed games more than training. It has been difficult for him to have lost his routine, travel the world and play matches. Rafael is a born fighter and, like the other athletes, he has regretted not being able to measure himself against others. Competition is their fuel. “

Toni Nadal also stated that he hopes his nephew will continue to perform at the highest level on the circuit and affirms that the break has been good for him, Federer and Djokovic. “If the body and health help him, I think Rafael still has at least three or four years to continue to excel in tennis. Who knows if they will be more, because this 2020 has allowed him not to force the body. The 'older' players have benefited the most from the hiatus, including Federer and Djokovic. With their comeback experience following other injury stops, I think they will have the best chance of winning when the season is restarted. “

Nadal is also confident that his nephew and Djokovic will exceed Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slam. “I think that both Rafael and Djokovic will be able to beat Roger in the Grand Slams. Age is on their side even though there are young people who are stomping. If Rafael won in Paris this year he would equal Federer's 20. We will see. “He also highlights Nadal's difficulty when playing with Djokovic and stressed that Federer gives him more options to play his nephew. “As the results indicate, Nole is Rafael's toughest opponent. Because even if you play well, you never know how and when to attack him, he hardly leaves you room to hit. On the other hand, Federer, although he is a phenomenon, has a clearer tactic and it gives you more chances to hit. “