Rafael Nadal’s former coach ‘trusts’ that he will win Roland Garros again
Rafael Nadal’s uncle, and former coach, Toni Nadal has faith that his nephew can be victorious at Roland Garros once again, but says that he takes it one tournament at a time.
Toni coached Rafa between 1990 and 2017 and won a total of 71 singles titles together, including 16 Grand Slams. The pair ended their professional relationship six years ago, and Toni is now working with fellow top 10 player Felix Auger-Aliassime.
There have been some recent concerns for Rafael Nadal after being knocked out of the second round of the Australian Open, to Mackenzie Mcdonald, having pulled up with what seemed to be a hip injury.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion has since confirmed that he suffered a grade two injury to the iliopsoas, and faces six to eight weeks on the sideline.
His uncle Toni has suggested that with the amount of issues Rafael has had it is impossible to look too far ahead, “When one has been there for so many years, as is the case with him, and after having had so many problems in the last year, where he ended up too injured, I don’t consider the future beyond the next tournament.”
He continued, “You never really know how things are going to go. It is true that Rafael has a very punished body, but it is also true that he has been on the professional circuit since he was 16 years old and that is something you pay for.”
Rafael Nadal has won Roland Garros 14 times, the most titles for one person at a single major tournament, and was champion again in 2022. Despite his former pupils injury woes, Toni Nadal believes that he can do it once again this year.
“There are many years hitting the ball and moving at high intensity. When you have that, it is easy for the body to fail here today and there tomorrow. I trust that he can lift the Roland-Garros trophy this year, and then we’ll see.”
With Rafa expected to miss around eight weeks of action, it is looking unlikely that he will make it back in time for the sunshine double, with Indian Wells starting on the 6th March and the Miami Open starting on the 20th March.
However, the Spaniard should be fit and ready for his beloved clay court season heading into the second major of the year.
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