Antonio [Toni] Nadal has once again been speaking about who he thinks should be viewed as the greatest from the traditional big three.
Unsurprisingly, his biases to nephew Rafael Nadal are clear, but that has not stopped him from lauding Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic in the past.
In fact, his latest comments actually concern the latter, and what he was prepared to give to become the greatest that Nadal simply did not.
Toni Nadal compares Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Having coached Nadal for 27 years, and boasting that familial tie, it is no surprise that Toni Nadal would side with his nephew.
However, the extent to which he has been guilty of tying himself in knots trying to prove why his relation is the superior tennis player out of the big three has been tough to watch at times.
Yet, this latest effort actually seeks to downplay his efforts to reach the pinnacle though, instead admitting that Djokovic had something more than Nadal which helped him reach the level he has done.
He claimed: ‘Djokovic had a little more desire to be the best in history, but Rafa always led a normal life. All the Big 3 wanted to be the best, but question isn’t who wants to be the best but who was willing to pay a bigger price.’
Novak Djokovic never knows when to quit
Whilst all of the big three have showcased remarkable longevity over the years, with Federer playing until he was 41 whilst Nadal and Djokovic continue to shine at 37 and 36 respectively, the latter is certainly garnering more praise at the moment.
Especially considering last season saw him win three of the four Grand Slams available as well as the ATP Tour finals, in a year when many expected his level to drop.
2024 has finally seen that occur, and yet despite only entering three tournaments, he has reached at least the semi-finals in two of them.
The Serbian’s unrivalled athleticism and ability to withstand immense pressure must be admired, and despite Nadal having been lauded as a fine physical specimen back during his prime, it seems that such dependence on that explosively has hampered him most recently with persisting injuries.
Djokovic, on the other hand, is the perfect blend of toughness both technically and physicality, and blends that with a mentality that few have ever exhibited in tennis before.
That is why he holds the record for most Grand Slam titles won by any man ever, and why he will likely extend that record before he calls time on a remarkable career.
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