Toni Nadal reveals his tennis GOAT: ‘Federer is the best’

Toni Nadal has declared Roger Federer is the undisputed GOAT of men’s tennis – but says his nephew Rafael Nadal is not far behind.

Speaking during an interview with Mats Wilander for Eurosport, Toni Nadal revealed that – apart from Rafa – Federer is his favourite player on tour to watch.

Elaborating, Toni Nadal labeled Federer as the greatest tennis player of all time, along with Australian legend Rod Laver.

“For me, he’s a wonderful player,” Toni Nadal said of Federer. “I like a lot to watch Roger Federer. [If] I was not the uncle or the coach of Rafael, I want Federer to win all the matches.

“I like how [Federer] plays because he’s very elegant, but he’s very effective, too. I know Federer is the best ever. I don’t know maybe with Rod Laver… Rafael is not too far. Federer is the best.”

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Federer leads the all-time singles Grand Slam title count with 20, but his last major came at the 2018 Australian Open, and with the Swiss set to turn 39 in August, it would be a monumental effort if he were to win another title – especially with the COVID-19 pandemic suspending tennis for an indefinite period.

Nadal is only one major behind Federer with 19 and would have had the opportunity over the next couple of weeks to equal his great rival at Roland Garros.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is quickly catching up with 17 Grand Slams after winning his eighth Australian Open crown in January.

Overall, the trio have combined to put together the most dominant Grand Slam run in tennis history over the last 15 years.

“There is a very clear statistic. Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe, who were great champions, won 26 Grand Slams combined,” Toni Nadal said. “Rafa, Roger and Novak have 56, which means more than the double.

“Many people tell me that they have improved, but each one could have won many more majors if some of them were not there. “Anyways, they were lucky that the following generation is unable to replace them.”