Toni Nadal has addressed the prospect of coaching Carlos Alcaraz and identified the difference between the Spanish star and world No 1 Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz has been coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero since he started training at the former world No 1’s academy in September 2018, when he was 16.
The collaboration has been hugely successful, with Alcaraz winning four Grand Slam titles and becoming the youngest world No 1 in ATP history in 2022.
The 22-year-old also works with Samuel Lopez, who coaches at Ferrero’s academy.
Toni Nadal famously coached his nephew Rafael Nadal from the age of four until the end of the 2017 season, when Nadal was 31.
The Mallorcan coach helped Nadal win 75 of his 92 singles titles and 16 of his 22 Grand Slams during their remarkable partnership. He also worked with Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime between 2021 and 2024.
Speaking on the Nude Project podcast, Nadal hailed Alcaraz as he assessed the world No 2’s game.
“Tennis-wise, I think he’s terrific. He does everything, and he does everything well,” the 64-year-old said.
“He’s the fastest, he has devastating shots, both forehand and backhand. On the serve, which is perhaps his least good, but I think he also has a good serve.
“He’s skilful. He fails a little sometimes, I don’t know if he’s distracted, or tactically… but he’s terrific.
“For me, I like Alcaraz more than Sinner, but nowadays, he (Sinner) is a bit more reliable than Alcaraz. Alcaraz, I’m telling you, an extraordinary player.”
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Despite his high praise, Nadal suggested he would reject the chance to coach Alcaraz as he would not want to help him chase his nephew’s achievements.
“He certainly wouldn’t call me, he has enough good coaches. I don’t think he needs my help at all,” he added.
“And if he did call me, well, I wouldn’t want him to surpass Rafael, otherwise I’d have a problem.”
On the same podcast, Nadal issued a harsh message to Alcaraz in response to the Spaniard’s open statements about struggling with the demands of tennis.
“If it overwhelms him, then he should quit tennis. I understand things differently in life,” Nadal asserted.
“In the end, in the world of sport there is a tendency to exaggerate everything. I’ve heard people talk many times about the sacrifice of sport, the sacrifice that the Real Madrid athletes made, and I used to say: ‘Sacrifice?’
“Life is a matter of sacrifice, not just doing what I want. Sometimes it’s worth it for people and sometimes it’s not. If it’s not worth it, it’s better to change jobs.
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