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Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, shocked many when he shared his pick for the greatest tennis player of all time.
oni Nadal, who coached his nephew Rafael Nadal for 16 years—from 2001 to 2017—was instrumental in shaping one of the most celebrated careers in tennis history. During their partnership, Nadal won an impressive 17 Grand Slam titles, cementing Toni Nadal’s reputation as one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches
Unlike many tennis coaching relationships that often span only a few years, Toni and Rafael’s partnership stood the test of time. Toni was there for almost all of Rafael’s career milestones until their professional split in 2017.
“When I threw a ball to Rafael, he went to get it. He didn’t wait for it to come to him,” Toni Nadal told BBC Sport in 2022. “Normally, when I threw a ball to a little kid, they stood still, waiting for it. But my nephew went after it. For me, that was special”
Toni Nadal’s pick for the greatest player
In a 2024 interview with Euronews, Toni Nadal weighed in on the perennial debate over the best tennis player of all time. While he praised all three members of the sport’s legendary “Big Three,” his ultimate choice was Novak Djokovic. However, he also acknowledged Roger Federer’s artistry and suggested that his nephew might have been the greatest if injuries hadn’t held him back.
