Rafael Nadal’s uncle and long-time coach, Toni, says the world No. 1 will eventually catch Roger Federer as the Grand Slam title leader with 19. The gap is three–exactly what it was when this season began, although each player unexpectedly added two to his respective total.
“We will get to Federer’s 19, yes,” Toni said. “I think it will happen. It’s difficult, but there is some more Roland Garros and I am confident other titles will come. When he was 12, 13 or 14, you never think he will get to this level. I am very happy to see my nephew lift so many trophies, knowing that he has achieved another piece of history.”
Nadal added to his total by recently capturing his third U.S. Open title. That came three months after he triumphed at Roland Garros for the 10th time in his career.
“He has won a hard-court tournament for the first time since 2014,” Toni noted. “We are very happy that he has won another Grand Slam, his 16th, and is in a position to fight for No. 1. It was unimaginable that would happen, of course. But I had faith that Rafael would win one more Grand Slam, I tell you truthfully.”
Federer had been stuck on 17 and thought by many to remain there until his retirement. But the two all-time greats tag-teamed to monopolize the major trophies in 2017. Federer prevailed at the Australian Open (his fifth there) and Wimbledon (his eighth).
The scored could be 18-17 right now, but Federer recovered from a break down in the fifth set to topple Nadal in a memorable Aussie Open final.
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