Uncle Toni reveals Rafael Nadal's advantage over Roger Federer at the French Open

From 2006 to 2017, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played four finals at the French Open, three at the Wimbledon Championships and two at the Australian Open. Nadal has won six of these nine finals losing the first two in Wimbledon and the last in Australia. Four of these nine finals have reached the fifth set (Wimbledon 2007 and 2008 and Australian Open 2009 and 2017), moreover the 2008 Wimbledon final has been indicated by many as the most beautiful and exciting game in the history of tennis.

Former and current coaches to Rafa Nadal, Toni Nadal and Carlos Moya, have revealed the matches they will always remember as his most epic performances. Toni recalled the 2011 French Open final between Federer and Nadal.

“Yes, what I wanted when I came to Roland Garros, was that Djokovic loses. It’s the only thing I wanted. When we played in Rome, I have seen in this moment Djokovic was playing better than Rafael. And when we arrived in Roland Garros, we knew that Djokovic was the best. Then for us, it was good that Federer won his semi final against Djokovic, it was a wonderful match and more, because Federer won. And then, I remember I think it was the first defeat of Djokovic that year" - Toni said in a recent interview with Eurosport.

"Many times, when we arrived at Roland Garros in Paris, he started with little confidence Rafael. Sometimes I said “Rafael, what happens? Do you believe that you can lose against this player? You are so good, it is not too difficult in the first round or the second round, no?”

But then, after the first week, normally, he starts to play better and better and normally when he arrives in the final, he arrives with confidence, and then the center court for him is so good. It is a big court. He can move, and he has the feeling that it is very difficult to make points against him. Then, everything changes" - he concluded.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2XqGAIl