By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday May 27, 2022
Toni Nadal has been coaching Felix Auger-Aliassime for over a year, since last April. But Sunday at Roland-Garros will mark the first time that the Canadian will face the King of Clay Rafael Nadal since linking up with Rafa’s legendary uncle and former coach.
Nadal said he has zero issues, whether his uncle is in the coaching box or not when he squares off with the 21-year-old on Sunday in Paris.
“I already talked with Toni after my match," Nadal said after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets on Friday. "No, no, no, I don't have – I know you are going to ask, or you guys, gonna ask the question, but for me it's very simple. He's my uncle. I don't think he will be able to want me to lose, without a doubt, but he's a professional and he's with another player.
“I don't know what's gonna happen, if he's gonna stay in the box or not, but I don't care. I have zero problem with that. So it's not a story at all for me. I know what’s the feelings that we have between each other. I know he wants the best for me. Now he's helping another player. But honestly, for me, it's zero problem, and I know he wants the best for me.”
Auger-Aliassime, who defeated Filip Krajinovic in straight sets to reach the second week at Paris for the first time, doesn’t seem to think having Toni on his team while facing Nadal is a big issue either.
“I don't know if I need insight on how Rafa plays, to be honest,” The world No.9 said. “I think we all know what he does well. I don't think Toni will, you know, tell me anything new about how Rafa plays.
"But no, we had the discussion, you know, it was black and white from the first time we started working together. We knew it was a possibility that eventually I would play Rafa when I'm working with Toni. And actually now he's present here in this Grand Slam. But I think Toni will watch from a neutral place and enjoy the match.”
Nadal and Auger-Aliassime have met once, in 2019, with Nadal defeating the Canadian on the Madrid clay, 6-3, 6-3 in the third round.
Nadal has been magnificent through three rounds, dropping just 23 games in his three matches and spending just six hours and 22 minutes on court. He has erased worries about his injured left foot, which was causing him significant problems in Rome, when he lost to Denis Shapovalov in the round of 16.
Nadal will hope for another positive performance on Sunday, and if he is successful, he’ll likely face Novak Djokovic for the 59th time, and the tenth time on the Parisian clay.