The longtime coach of Rafael Nadal believes Roger Federer has earned the privilege to be called the best player of all time.
Toni Nadal spoke about the Swiss 36-year-old during an interview with Cadena SER. On Sunday, Federer claimed his fifth consecutive win over Nadal at the Shanghai Masters to clinch his sixth title of the year. Heading into the final stage of the season, he already has two grand slam and three Masters 1000 titles to his name. Should Federer win another trophy before the end of the year, he will become only the second player in the Open Era to win 95 ATP titles after Jimmy Connors.
“He has made a change in his game, he has made a very intelligent change and now he is much more aggressive. It is much harder to play against Roger, especially on fast courts.” Said Uncle Toni.
“He is the best in history, I know few athletes who dominate his sport as much as Roger does.”
Although Federer has achieved many milestones throughout his career, so has Nadal. The Spanish world No.1 is the first man in history to win the same grand slam ten times (the French Open). He has also won more titles on the clay than any other player with 53 trophies currently under his belt. Justifying his nickname as ‘the king of clay.’
Nadal’s quest to be the best
Toni describes his nephew as ‘one of the best’ in the sport, but believes more milestones need to be broken to overtake Federer.
“Rafael is also up there, but there are other players who are also among the best… if in a few years Rafa continues to play well, Federer retires and Rafa wins more Grand Slams and we will talk, but I think now the best is Roger.” Toni explained about the prospect of Nadal becoming the greatest-ever tennis player.
The debate regarding who is the best shows no signs of easing between the two players. In their head-to-head, Federer trails Nadal 15-23 and recently admitted that it was unlikely he will be able to draw level. There is five years difference in age between the two.
“It’s not gonna happen. We don’t have enough years left on the tour, and we’re ranked too good that we play each other only in finals at the moment. It looks like that’s going to stay like this for a few months more. So can’t win them all against Rafa, to be honest. He’s too good of a player.” Federer told reporters in China.
#Fedal Stats@RafaelNadal leads H2H 23-15.@RogerFederer leads 11-9 on hard courts.
Rafa leads 14-10 in finals.
RF has won 5 straight H2Hs.— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) 15 October 2017
Whatever the future brings, it will be a new situation for Toni and his nephew. Next year the 56-year-old will step back from travelling full time on the tour. Instead, he will focus on commitments in Mallorca at the Rafa Nadal academy.
Nadal and Federer could clash once again at next week’s Swiss Indoors in Basel. Although there is uncertainty brewing over their attendance.
