Toni Nadal reveals Rafael Nadal’s ‘worst defeat’ of his career was against Novak Djokovic as it left him ‘devastated’
Toni Nadal had never re-watched Rafael Nadal's defeat to Novak Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final.
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Novak Djokovic, Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal (Images via X, Rafa Nadal Academy)
Rafael Nadal has played some of the greatest matches in the history of tennis, but there was one match that left his uncle, Toni Nadal, devastated. It was Rafa’s 2012 Australian Open final against rival Novak Djokovic, which the latter won with a scoreline of 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 5-7.
Rafa has played 30 Grand Slam finals and the summit clash in Melbourne against Djokovic was the only time he lost after winning the first set. Toni, who had been Rafa’s coach since his childhood until 2017, admitted that he had never re-watched that final.
The worst defeat was the Australian final against Djokovic in 2012. I have not seen that match again because I left devastated.
Toni Nadal told Marca
Rafa recently announced that he would no longer be seen on tennis courts after featuring at the Davis Cup in Malaga in November this year. He would join Roger Federer on the retirement list, which means only Djokovic will remain the only player from the Big 3 to still be playing tennis.
The 38-year old will also be seen in action for an exhibition event in Riyadh called the Six Kings Slam, scheduled to take place from October 16-19.
Toni Nadal reveals why he always had been tough on Rafael Nadal
Under Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal has won 16 of his 22 Grand Slams. In that same interview with Marca, Toni talked about the approach he took to train Rafa so that his nephew would become a tough player.
I was tough because Rafael had very high expectations and he was capable of withstanding that hardness. I was tough because of the appreciation I had for him. In the long run, I think he appreciated that toughness. There is a phrase: ‘What someone who loves you says will make you cry’.
Toni Nadal said
Though Toni did everything he could to help Rafa become one of the greatest players, he doesn’t think his nephew is the best player. He called Novak Djokovic the best player and thinks Roger Federer played the best tennis. Toni however, thinks that had Rafa kept injuries at bay, he would have become the best man in tennis.
Rafael Nadal will retire as the player with the second most Grand Slam titles in the history of men’s tennis, after Djokovic’s 24. The 38-year-old has still not competed in a tournament since his doubles loss alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics.
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Gouri Das
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