"If Roger Federer had not been there, Rafael Nadal probably would have won one more Wimbledon" - Spaniard's uncle Toni
Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni has expressed his belief that Roger Federer prevented his nephew from winning another Wimbledon title. The Spaniard has won two of his 22 Grand Slam titles at the grasscourt Major.
Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic, collectively known as the 'Big 3,' dominated men's tennis for two decades, racking up a staggering 66 Grand Slam titles between them. They also forged thrilling rivalries with each other, regularly delivering memorable clashes on the sport's grandest stages.
Rafael Nadal's uncle Toni recently praised his nephew's remarkable talent, suggesting that he's the player who performed the best in uncomfortable situations, despite lacking Federer's trademark elegance.
"My nephew is very talented, because he is the player who has hit the best in uncomfortable positions, although he does not have the elegance of Federer," he told Diarios de Bicicleta (via ESPN).
Toni also reflected on the "extraordinary" convergence of the 'Big 3' in the same era, acknowledging its role in their development while lamenting that it also deprived them of adding to their trophy cabinets.
He argued that his nephew would have clinched another Wimbledon title if he didn't play at the same time as Federer.
"What is truly extraordinary is that the three best in history have coincided at the same time. It has helped them, but the competition also took away their trophies. If Federer had not been there, Rafael probably would have won one more Wimbledon," he added.
The Spaniard won his maiden Wimbledon title in 2008, claiming a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 win over Federer in the title clash after back-to-back final losses to the Swiss legend at the grasscourt Major. He secured his second victory in 2010, beating Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Federer, meanwhile, won a record eight Wimbledon titles during his illustrious career. The Swiss legend's dominance at SW19 is evidenced by his 3-1 winning record against the 22-time Grand Slam champion at the prestigious event.
"I struggled against Rafael Nadal the most" - Roger Federer on his toughest opponent
Roger Federer acknowledged Rafael Nadal as his toughest opponent during an interaction with young fans in his '24 Hours with Roger' series, admitting that he struggled against the Spaniard's topspin and left-handed playing style.
"I struggled against Rafa the most. Yeah, just because of his topspin and lefty, you know," Federer said.
Interestingly, Novak Djokovic has also labeled the 22-time Grand Slam champion his biggest rival.
"I can’t take anybody else but Nadal as my biggest rival. As long as Nadal is playing, as long as I am playing," he told TennisTV. "Regardless of the rankings or what’s going on, on the tour. just because of the history of our rivalry."
With the Spaniard and Djokovic expected to be in action at the upcoming French Open, anticipation has been building for them to potentially set up their 60th career meeting at the claycourt Major.
The duo last faced each other in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open, where the 22-time Grand Slam champion claimed a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) victory over Djokovic.