“Life is not only about winning”: Uncle Toni explains why Federer and Nadal earned "superior respect" compared to Djokovic

Toni Nadal explained why his nephew Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have earned "superior respect" compared to Novak Djokovic in their careers. The 63-year-old coach shared his thoughts, mentioning he doesn’t like "at all" some gestures Djokovic has made in the past.

Toni coached his nephew from 1990 to 2017, guiding him to 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. Recently, in an interview with El Mundo, he was asked about the gesture some players make, cupping their ears to antagonise or draw applause from the crowd after winning points.

Toni Nadal contrasted Djokovic’s behaviour with Federer’s and Nadal’s. "When Federer made a great point, he raised his thumb upwards, stretched his arm, and lowered his head. He never looked at the audience. Rafael would make gestures of passion, of strength. I don't particularly like demonstrations of the kind you are talking about, but they have become fashionable, and a lot of people do it. If Rafael had done it when he was with me, I would have said to him: ‘Don't do it!’

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"There are players whose sporting merits go beyond their specific sport, like Djokovic. But there are others whose winning ways go beyond sports. That is what happens with Federer and Rafael because life is not only about winning but also about how you win. Both have earned superior respect."

A few weeks ago, Nadal’s uncle named Djokovic "the best in history" based on his achievements but argued that his nephew could have been the GOAT if not for physical issues. "I think my nephew would be the best in history if he didn't have so many injuries. When people ask me who is the best in history, I say, 'The best in history is Djokovic because of everything he accomplished, and the one who played the best tennis is Federer,’" he said. "But I think my nephew would be the best in history if he didn't have so many injuries."

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Toni Nadal also expressed bitterness over Djokovic’s gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. "The images of Carlos crying on the court with clear signs of grief and frustration have left us with a bitter feeling, but they should not at all lead us to think that it was a defeat."