By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Wimbledon—Novak Djokovic is Grand Slam king, but Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal exert a greater impact on tennis, says Toni Nadal in a new interview.
Speaking to ClayTennis.com, Toni Nadal, Rafa Nadal’s uncle and original coach, said both Federer and Nadal have transcended tennis more than Djokovic. Toni Nadal also says had Rafa Nadal not suffered so many injuries “he probably would have won more than the others.”
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Uncle Toni also pointed out of the Big 3 champions only Rafa Nadal owns the career Golden Slam—winning all four Grand Slam championships as well as Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles, which he achieved partnering buddy and now coach Marc Lopez at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I think Federer and Nadal have transcended their sport more than Djokovic,” Toni Nadal told ClayTennis.com. “And Federer has transcended his sport more than anyone else.
“When it comes to categorizing who is the best… we would have to establish clear standards that are always a bit open to opinion, because who is the best, the one who holds the world record or the one who wins the Olympics? I don’t know.
“I think the one who has managed to play at a better level and do more difficult things is Federer, the one who has won more is Djokovic and if we were to count all the things Rafael hasn’t played because of injury, he would probably have won more than the others.”
Toni Nadal says based on record, Djokovic is the best, however he asserts both Federer and Rafa Nadal are more important to the game’s growth than the 36-year-old Serbian superstar.
Twenty-three time Grand Slam champion Djokovic is two wins away from capturing his 24th major title to equal Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record.
If Djokovic defeats Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and goes on to defend his Wimbledon crown on Sunday, he will tie Federer with eight Wimbledon championships. If Djokovic defends Wimbledon he will arrive in New York for next month’s US Open on the verge of momentous history bidding to become both the first man since Rocket Rod Laver in 1969 to win the calendar Grand Slam and seize a 25th Grand Slam crown to break Court’s record, which was once believed to be untouchable.
Still, Toni Nadal says the fact only one of the four Grand Slam is played on clay and the year-end ATP Finals are staged on hard court hurts his nephew’s cause and helps…
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