Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are getting closer to Roger Federer’s Grand Slam title record. The Spanish champion could match his eternal rival already at the French Open this year, which will be held in late September.
The former number 1 in the world has confirmed his participation if there were to be safety conditions, while he appeared much more doubtful about the conduct of the US Open. Uncle Toni said that Rafael Nadal has age on his side, and that both he and Djokovic can overtake Federer’s tally of 20 Grand Slams.
Uncle Toni on Roger Federer’s Grand Slam record
“I think that both Rafael and Djokovic can beat Federer in Grand Slam titles,” Toni Nadal said to La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Federer …things are against him because he is older than his rivals and has it more complicated.
Age is in their favor, although there are young people who are gaining experience and who are increasingly dangerous,” Toni added. “If Rafael won Paris (Roland Garros) he would equal the 20 titles from Federer. We will see…
If the injuries do not appear, I think my nephew still has three or four years left to continue competing for important things in tennis. Toni Nadal feels his nephew doesn’t have the same kind of problems against Roger Federer as he does against Djokovic.
“Federer has a much clearer way of playing and leaves you the option of being able to attack him,” Toni Nadal said. “(But) against the Serb you have the difficulty that although you play well you never know how and when to attack him.
He defends himself very well and leaves you very few gaps to get to the offensive,” he added. Nadal is, along with Wilander, the only male tennis player to win at least two Grand Slams on three different surfaces (hard, grass and clay).
Nadal is also, along with Agassi, the only male tennis player to win the Olympic Gold in singles and the four Grand Slams in his career, a feat known as Career Golden Slam. In 2010, Nadal became the only male tennis player to win Grand Slams on three different surfaces (clay, grass and hard courts) the same calendar year.
Nadal holds the record for most consecutive years winning a Grand Slam (2005–2014), as well as the record for most outdoor titles (83).
