Toni Nadal taints Novak Djokovic’s legacy naming Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as ‘more transcendental tennis figures’

Toni Nadal believes that Rafa would have won more Grand Slams titles if not for injuries.

Toni Nadal taints Novak Djokovic’s legacy naming Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as ‘more transcendental tennis figures’

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal (from left to right) (Image via: GMA Network/Sky Sports/4tennis.com)

Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s former coach, and uncle, believes that although Novak Djokovic may have won more Grand Slam titles, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the more transcendental icons of tennis.

The 62-year-old Spaniard, popularly known as “Uncle Toni,” has been Rafael Nadal’s mentor since the latter’s childhood days. He served as Nadal’s full-time coach and extensively traveled with the 22-time Grand Slam title champion until 2017.

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In a candid interaction at the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Manacor, Mallorca, Toni, the man who played a pivotal role in the rise of the juggernaut that Rafael Nadal became, opened up about a lot of different things.

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Speaking exclusively to Sebastian Fest of CLAY tennis, Toni was asked to give his take on former World No.10 Juan Monaco’s opinion that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal occupy a bigger place in tennis history than Novak Djokovic. He said, “I think Federer and Nadal have transcended their sport more than Djokovic. And Federer has transcended his sport more than anyone else.”

Toni continued to lavish effusive praise on Federer by saying that the Swiss maestro managed to play at a better level and do more difficult things. He opined that on the basis of titles won, it is Djokovic who has his nose ahead. Not to leave out his nephew’s name, Toni said that Rafa would have won a lot more Grand Slams than the other two, in retrospect, had it not been for the injury issues that have plagued him throughout his career.

“I think the one who has managed to play at a better level and do more difficult things is Federer, the one who has won more is Djokovic and if we were to count all the things Rafael hasn’t played because of injury, he would probably have won more than the others,” Toni reasoned.

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Toni Nadal feels that clear standards are needed for the ongoing GOAT debate

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Rafael Nadal and Toni Nadal (Image Courtesy : Evening Standard)

Ever since Novak Djokovic’s record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam victory at the French Open last month, debates on who deserves the coveted GOAT title in tennis have reached a fevered pitch. Toni had a more nuanced and philosophical take on this.

He believes that clear standards or benchmarks must be defined before the debate rages on about who is the ultimate GOAT. He used the analogy of track and field and other Olympic events to question whether the GOAT is the one with the world record or the one who has won gold at the Olympics.

Toni Nadal’s take on the GOAT issue is sagacious and incisive. The GOAT debate is unlikely to be settled anytime soon, as the passionate fan armies of the Big 3 will be unwilling to cede any opportunity to prop up their respective heroes. But one thing is clear: whether or not the Grand Slam title count is the sole criterion for establishing who the GOAT is is certainly subject to differences of opinion.

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