“If Roger Federer had not been there, Rafael Nadal probably would have won one more Wimbledon” – Spaniard’s uncle Toni

Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle, believes that Roger Federer stood in the way of his nephew winning another Wimbledon title. Rafael Nadal, who has claimed 22 Grand Slam titles in his career, has secured two of these victories at Wimbledon.

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, often referred to as the ‘Big 3,’ have dominated men’s tennis for two decades. Together, they have amassed an impressive 66 Grand Slam titles. Their intense rivalries have produced numerous memorable matches on the sport’s biggest stages.

Toni Nadal recently lauded his nephew Rafael Nadal’s exceptional talent, highlighting his ability to excel in challenging situations. Despite not possessing Roger Federer’s characteristic elegance, Toni noted that Rafael often performed the best under pressure.

“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 Nadal reflected on the “extraordinary” occurrence of the ‘Big 3’—Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic—competing in the same era. He acknowledged that their simultaneous presence spurred their development but also limited their individual trophy hauls.

Toni argued that Rafael could have secured another Wimbledon title if he had not competed alongside 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.

Rafael Nadal claimed his first Wimbledon title in 2008 with a hard-fought victory over Roger Federer, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7 after two consecutive final losses to the Swiss star at the grass court Major. Nadal secured his second Wimbledon title in 2010 by defeating Tomas Berdych with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Roger Federer won a record eight Wimbledon titles during his illustrious career. His dominance at SW19 is highlighted by his 3-1 winning record against Rafael Nadal at this prestigious event.

“I struggled against Rafael Nadal the most” – Roger Federer on his toughest opponent

During an interaction with young fans in his ’24 Hours with Roger’ series, Roger Federer acknowledged Rafael Nadal as his toughest opponent. He admitted that he struggled with Nadal’s topspin and left-handed playing style, which posed significant challenges for him on the court.

“I struggled against Rafa the most. Yeah, just because of his topspin and lefty, you know,” Federer said.

Interestingly, Novak Djokovic has also identified the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, as his biggest rival in tennis.

“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 Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic expected to compete at the upcoming French Open, excitement is growing for the possibility of their 60th career meeting at the claycourt Major.

Their last encounter was in the quarterfinals of the 2022 French Open, where Nadal emerged victorious with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) win over Djokovic.