Rafael Nadal’s Coach Sounds Off

Written by: Staff on 21st March 2013

Rafael Nadal’s Coach Sounds Off

epa03629912 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning a point against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during the at BNP Paribas Open tennis finals in Indian Wells, California, USA, 17 March 2013. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

While Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s relations have always been cordial and full of mutual respect, the same cannot be said between the Swiss and the his great rival’s coach uncle Toni.

Federer has repeatedly shown his annoyance at Uncle Toni’s coaching methods, which frequently contravene the ATP World Tour’s rules on advice given to players. And the former world no.1 has occasionally snapped on court, shouting derision at the Spanish contingent in the players box.

Now Toni Nadal has fired back a salvo, maintaining that Federer might have used the back injury he admitted to suffering during the recent BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, as an excuse for his straight sets defeat to Nadal in the quarterfinals.

Speaking from his Majorcan home to Puntodebreak.com, Uncle Toni said: “Federer has beaten us more than once with Rafael having significantly more pain than was in at Indian Wells. “I’m clear that the situation of Federer was no worse than that Rafael has had on many other occasions.”

Toni Nadal also named his favorites for Roland Garros. He said seven-time Roland Garros champion Rafa is not the clear favorite, but just one of a group of favorites that includes Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, and David Ferrer. He added that he does not see former champion Federer as a favorite.

And is if this might be even more demeaning to Federer, Uncle Toni insisted that Rafa may not be this year’s overwhelming favorite to win the French Open, even though he has won seven titles in eight years, but the Swiss is not one of the major threats.

The senior Nadal acknowledged the era of the Roger/Rafa rivalry being the dominating factor was over, that the world’s best player is now undeniably Novak Djokovic, and that the Serbian world no.1 is the major threat at Roland Garros along with Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and David Ferrer.

“It is likely that in the coming years we will see more players with chances to win,” said Uncle Toni. “The players I see with chances to fight for the Grand Slam tournaments are those we all know: I think that del Potro will be there for sure. I also think it’s clear that Ferrer has a chance of winning a Grand Slam. And if Rafa is healthy he will also be a contender.”

Clearly Toni Nadal was in a vitriolic mood as he also aimed an attack at the now retired Belgian Christophe Rochus who brought Rafa’s name into the drug debate.

“Apart from being an imbecile, Rochus is just rude,” he said. “He is a real imbecile because if you knew something, I think it would be right to say it. But knowing, as I think he must know, that Rafael has never taken anything in his life and never will, I find it incredible that an idiot like this can say what he said.”

Nadal continued: “Anti-doping controls should be public and transparent, but I’m against the way it’s carried out. I find it incredible and unpleasant that a professional player, just because he plays sport, can be treated like a criminal. Nevertheless, I am in favor of them imposing the strictest possible controls, because that’s good – but with different ethics.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, Atp World Tour, David Ferrer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis Coach, Toni Nadal