Uncle Toni: Rafa Will Reach Roger’s Grand Slam Record

Rafael Nadal started the Grand Slam season losing a five-set thriller to rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open final and ended it winning his 16th Grand Slam crown at the US Open.Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and coach, says the 10-time Roland Garros champion will reach Federer's all-time Grand Slam record of 19 major titles.More: A Case for Nadal As GOAT"We will get to Federer's 19, yes, I think it will happen," Toni Nadal told Eurosport. "It's difficult, but there is some more Roland Garros (titles) and I am confident other titles will come."

The world No. 1's straight-sets sweep of Kevin Anderson in Sunday's US Open final snapped a three-year hard-court title drought.It was the 31-year-old Spaniard's first hard-court championship since Doha in January of 2014."I am very happy to see my nephew lift so many trophies, knowing that he has achieved another piece of history," Toni Nadal told Eurosport. "He has won a hard-court title for the first time since 2014. We are very happy that he has won another Grand Slam, his 16th, and is in a position to fight for number one."]]>