Toni Nadal shares technical box with the French Frederic Fontangwith whom he forms a team Felix Auger-Aliasimusbut he could also be seen behind Carlos Moyà and Marc López in the first two games of his former pupil and nephew Rafa Nadal.
He could not see the meeting of the manacorí in front of Botic Van de Zandschulp because it coincided in time with the Canadian’s victory over the Serbian Filip Krajinovic. On Sunday he will not see one tennis player or another, he will have a couple of days off since he will not intervene in the direct clash between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Rafa Nadal, in the round of 16 at Roland Garros.
This was how Toni had expressed it from the beginning, as soon as he started working, in Monte Carlo 2021, with the Canadian, with whom he had established a good relationship based on the sessions he held at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.
“It was already decided that he will watch the game from a neutral place, he will enjoy it”
Auger-Aliassime knew it since then, as he recalled in Paris: “When we spoke, it was white on black since we started working. We knew it was a possibility, and it has happened in this Grand Slam. Toni will watch the match from a neutral place and you will enjoy it. It was already decided.”
“I don’t know if I need information about how Rafa plays, to be honest”
He does not believe that this matter will influence the preparation and development of the duel against Rafa. “I don’t know if I need information about how Rafa plays, to be honest. I think we all know what he does well. I don’t think Toni could tell me anything new about how Rafa plays, neither does Frederic (Fontang).”
“I don’t know how Toni feels because we haven’t talked about this”
He points out that “I don’t know how Toni feels because we haven’t talked about this. Regardless of what happens, what Toni did in Rafa’s career is much bigger than Sunday’s game. This is just a game, that a whole trajectory”.
Auger-Aliassime raves about Toni’s work with him. “I have improved a lot of things. We have worked a lot on the movement on the court, the intensity of the footwork, how to move. Now I can defend better. It makes my game more precise and efficient. By nature I have powerful shots but the challenge was control that power. And with Toni, with that movement and footwork, my game is more solid and precise.”
