Toni Nadal took a swipe at Novak Djokovic’s actions on the tennis court and explained why his nephew Rafael Nadal has managed to earn “superior respect”
Toni Nadal has belittled Novak Djokovic again by saying his nephew – Rafael Nadal – and Roger Federer have earned “superior respect” in their tennis careers.
Nadal will play his last ever tournament this week at the Davis Cup, where the 22-time Grand Slam winner hopes to secure a fifth victory for his nation, Spain. The 38-year-old announced in October his decision to retire from tennis in an emotional statement, but not before trying to end on a high at the yearly event, which is to be played in Malaga.
Over the course of his glittering career, the Majorcan has clinched an extraordinary 22 Grand Slam titles, bested only in the men’s game by Djokovic (24 Slams). But Nadal’s uncle believes the Spaniard has earned greater respect than Djokovic throughout his career due to the way he conducts himself on the court, and in victory.
Toni, who coached his nephew from 1990 to 2017, helping him win 16 of his Grand Slams, was asked about the growing trend of tennis stars cupping their ears in order to antagonise or gain applause from fans after winning points. The 63-year-old said he doesn’t like the gesture which Djokovic has performed in the past “at all”, before being quizzed by Majorcan outlet El Mundo on whether that is why Nadal and Federer appear to be more universally liked.
He said: “When Federer made a great point, he raised his thumb upwards stretching his arm and lowered his head. He never looked at the audience. Rafael would make the gesture of passion, of strength. I don’t particularly like demonstrations of the kind you are talking about, but they have become fashionable and a lot of people do it. If Rafael had done it when he was with me, I would have said to him: ‘Don’t do it!’.
“There are players whose sporting merits go beyond their specific sport, like Djokovic. But there are others whose winning ways go beyond sports. That is what happens with Federer and Rafael, because life is not only about winning but also about how you win. Both have earned superior respect.”
Nadal’s uncle has not been shy when talking about Djokovic in the past, either. He has regularly praised the Serbian by calling him the greatest tennis player ever – but with the caveat of saying Nadal would have had a better career if he avoided so many injuries.
Toni said after Nadal’s retirement announcement: “I think my nephew would be the best in history if he didn’t have so many injuries. When people ask me who is the best in history, I say, ‘The best in history is Djokovic because of everything he accomplished, and the one who played the best tennis is Federer. But I think my nephew would be the best in history if he didn’t have so many injuries.”
The coach even admitted that the sight of Djokovic defeating another Spaniard, Nadal’s 2024 Paris Olympics doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz, during the singles final of the Games, left him feeling “bitter”.
He wrote in his column for Spanish publication El Pais: “The images of Carlos crying on the track with clear signs of grief and frustration have left us with a bitter feeling, but they should not at all lead us to think that it was a defeat.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, himself previously admitted he could never be good friends with Nadal because of their intense rivalry, having fought many battles over the years. He told Italian publication Corriere Della Sera: “Nadal and I are both Geminis, at first we even went to dinner together, twice. But even with him, friendship is impossible.
“I have always respected and greatly admired him. Thanks to him and Federer, I grew up and became who I am. This will unite us forever; therefore I feel gratitude towards them. Nadal is a part of my life, in the last fifteen years I’ve seen more of him than my mum! We have never been friends. Between rivals, it is not possible, but we have never been enemies.”
