Toni Nadal names Novak Djokovic 'best player ever' but addresses Rafael Nadal's injuries & Roger Federer's flair

Toni Nadal guided Rafael Nadal to 16 Grand Slam titles.

Toni Nadal has stated that his nephew, Rafael Nadal, would have been the best tennis player in history if he hadn’t had injuries. However, he didn’t hesitate to name Novak Djokovic as the best player.

Nadal senior is one of the most successful coaches in tennis history. He guided Rafael Nadal to 16 Grand Slam titles. Moreover, to refine young talent, the Spanish coach regularly visits the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre at the Sani Resort in Halkidiki, Northern Greece.

During a recent interview with Euronews, he talked about the best tennis player of all time. Toni Nadal lauded the Swiss maestro Roger Federer for his on-court prowess and flair. He stated that Federer played better than the other two players of the ‘Big 3’.

However, in terms of statistics, success, and longevity, Novak Djokovic is unarguably the best player in tennis history. He also affirmed that their scenario would have been different if his nephew, Rafael Nadal, hadn’t been injury-prone. He said, “Who played better? (It was Roger) Federer. Who’s the best? (Novak) Djokovic, in terms of duration.

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Toni Nadal added, “Yes, Because Djokovic won more titles than the others. Who could be the best without the injuries? My nephew, Rafa. But he has injuries. So, in the end, the best is Djokovic. But in my opinion, what I have seen on the court when Federer plays, no one (else has done).”

Taking a look at Nadal’s injury timeline, he suffered his first major setback in 2003, when he suffered an elbow injury. Nadal was set to participate in the 2003 Roland Garros, but he missed the tournament due to the aforementioned injury.

In 2004, he suffered a Scafoid stress fracture, which forced him to miss the Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and Athens Olympics. After winning his first Grand Slam, he missed the Paris Masters and ATP Finals due to a left foot injury. Almost every year, he suffered an injury setback. And in 2008, he suffered a knee injury, which occurred multiple times in his career.

From 2009 to 2012, Nadal suffered from knee issues regularly, which affected his form on the tour. In 2014, his back issues started reoccurring as he also sustained a wrist injury. Later in 2018, Nadal injured his hip, and he had to withdraw from the Mexican Open in Acapulco, Indian Wells, and Miami Masters.

During the 2023 Australian Open, the Spaniard again suffered a hip injury due to which he has played only one Grand Slam in two years.

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