Rafael Nadal - ATP update 2016 (Photo : Getty Images)
Toni Nadal believes Rafa's rivalry against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic played a major role in his nephew's success, although the Spanish tennis coach would prefer no such rivalry exist.
Rafael has been tested several times in his 15 year pro tennis career by Federer and Djokovic, forming one of the greatest rivalries in the sport's history. Toni, Rafael's uncle and long-time coach, said Djokovic and Federer has made Rafa better in his career, although the 55-year-old coach admitted he would want the rest of the Big Four out of the picture.
"These rivals make you play better but don't make you better," Toni said, reports Tennis World USA.
"The number of titles won improves but that does not make you better. In the sport, let us not kid ourselves, it's not about how well you play but how much you win. Without a doubt I would have preferred that Djokovic, Federer and Murray would not be there."
Rafa has played Djokovic in 48 instances, with the Serb up by two wins in their FedEx ATP Head2Head matchup. Their last meeting was in the semifinal round of Indian Wells, where Djokovic defeated Nadal in straight sets.
On the other hand, Nadal leads Federer by 23-11 in their Head2Head battle, although the Swiss Maestro has won their most recent outing in last year's ATP Basel Swiss Indoors.
All three top players, including Murray, will have a chance to face each other in the upcoming Madrid Open at the Manzanares Park Tennis Center, where the fifth-seeded Nadal could face Federer in the quarterfinal round.
There is a growing sense that Nadal, a three-time champion in Madrid, will once again show his vintage form for the third-consecutive time on his favorite surface.
However, Feliciano Lopez, who is also competing at the Madrid Open, admitted that the tournament could be a test for the Nadal, considering the amount of top ranked players and next generation stars competing at the ATP 1000 Masters event. But Lopez also acknowledges Nadal's confidence in playing at a high level, which has arguably increased following his remarkable victories at the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open.
"At the moment, Nadal has been starting in the best possible way winning two tournaments. In tennis what matters is to win and his confidence is on the clouds," Lopez said in a promotional event for the Madrid Open.
"Madrid and Rome are toughest tests, but I see him do very well, with much confidence. I believe his game has been having an evolution since last year and he is going through a great moment."
