The former coach of 12-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal believes he has a strong chance of winning next months Wimbledon Championships.
Toni Nadal, who is the uncle of the world No2, believes his nephew has ‘the possibility’ to win the title after his latest triumph. On Sunday, Nadal defeated Dominic Thiem to win his 18th grand slam trophy. The second highest amount of all time behind Roger Federer’s tally of 20. He is now on a 12-match winning streak after also claiming the Italian Open title last month.
“When I talked with him today, I told him, ‘I think you have the possibility to win Wimbledon this year again’,” Toni told reporters on Sunday.
Nadal is a two-time Wimbledon champion. Claiming the title in 2008 and 2010. Overall, he has won 48 out of 59 matches played at The All England Club. Last year he reached the semi-finals before getting edged out by eventual champion Novak Djokovic in five sets. The run was his best performance at the major since reaching the final back in 2011.
“Last year he was very close, I think he had the possibility to win and I want to hope that this year will be possible,” Toni said.
“I know Federer is there, Djokovic is there, Dominic, many good players, but I think that Rafael has the possibility, because it’s impossible to work well without confidence. So he has to think that.”
The 33-year-old will play no warm-up tournaments on the grass prior to Wimbledon. A decision he has taken over the past few years. As for his rivals, Novak Djokovic is likely to do the same unless he takes a last-minute wild card. Meanwhile, Roger Federer will play in Halle. A tournament he has a lifetime contract to play in for the rest of his career.
Weighing up his chances at Wimbledon, Nadal is staying coy about the prospect of claiming grand slam title No.19. If he would be successful, he would become only the seventh man in the Open Era to win the tournament on three different occasions.
“Realistically, I’ve had my chances at Wimbledon when I’ve been fit and playing well. I played five finals in a row there (2006-08, 10-11).” He told atptour.com.
“I was on the cusp of reaching the final last year. Winning at Roland Garros has definitely given me a boost in confidence going into Wimbledon. If I’m fit and I can prepare sufficiently, well, we’ll see what happens.”
The Wimbledon Championships will get underway on July 1st.
