No nostalgia at final French Open, says Toni Nadal

PARIS: Toni Nadal, the uncle and long- time coach of record nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal, says he doesn’t feel a sense of nostalgia at his final Roland Garros.

The 56-year- old is working in tandem with former world number one Carlos Moya as part of Nadal’s coaching team in Paris where the Spaniard is hunting an incredible 10th title.

But the elder Nadal will step down from his role at the end of the season after more than 25 years of coaching his nephew.

“Zero, I do not feel anything at all, I’ll feel it next year when I see the tournament from home, so maybe I’ll think ‘ I was in Paris last year,’” Toni told AFP on Thursday.

“I’m not going to think about it anymore. I was fortunate to live incredible experiences here, but I’m not a person who dwells on things.”

Toni cited the demands of travelling on tour as the reason for the change and will oversee coaching at Rafael’s tennis academy on his home island of Mallorca.

The Nadals have enjoyed one of the longest and most successful coaching relationships in the history of tennis.

Nadal has won 14 Grand Slams under the tutelage of his uncle, tying Pete Sampras for the second most in history behind Roger Federer’s 18.

His last major triumph came at Roland Garros in 2014, but the fourth seed, who turns 31 on Saturday, is near his unbeatable best on clay this season. — AFP