“If instead of my nephew, I had coached somebody else, I would have stepped down much earlier,” Toni Nadal once admitted. For a decade, Toni was more than just a coach in Rafael Nadal‘s life—he was the guiding force behind the Spaniard’s legendary rise. After his nephew first held a racket at three, Toni shaped him into a relentless warrior. But tennis, like fate, is ever-changing. In December 2016, the dynamic shifted when Nadal brought Carlos Moya into his team, and by February 2017, his uncle officially stepped aside as his coach. Yet, his influence never faded.

So when Rafa played his final Davis Cup match in Malaga, everyone had one question in mind — where’s Toni Nadal? His absence sparked speculation. Did he step away because of a rift? Toni has finally broken his silence on his equation with the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

The former ATP No. 1 played the last match of his career at the Martin Carpena Arena when Spain lost the quarterfinal tie against the Netherlands in the 2024 Davis Cup. He failed to pose a challenge to Botic van de Zandschulp and lost in straight sets by 6-4, 6-2, 7-6, marking the end of his career. Nadal’s followers celebrated his farewell with emotional tributes, standing ovations, and heartwarming plaques. However, Nadal’s first coach and uncle, Toni Nadal wasn’t present in the stands as he was away in Rome.

Toni’s absence disappointed Rafa’s supporters but the reason behind his absence wasn’t a vacation but work.  He had to attend a series of conferences that barred him from joining his nephew in Malaga. “Was it bad for me not to be there? Well, it’s because I couldn’t. I had work. I was planning to go there on Sunday [November 24] but in the end… Work is work, and if I can’t go, I won’t go,” he said in an exclusive interview with Relevo.

Toni might not have attended Rafa’s farewell event, but his love for his nephew remains the same. “I think the relationship [with my nephew Rafael] is just as good as before. I’d be wrong,” he added with a smile.

Toni kept a close note of the event. Later, he shared his thoughts on the ceremony, highlighting what he would have liked to see. “I would have liked to see images of Rafael winning the Davis Cup in Seville, of Rafael at the Madrid tournament, at Roland Garros or Wimbledon, because this creates more emotion. I’m not trying to criticize anyone. I would have preferred something different, more in line with his career,” he said.

When Nadal retired, Toni dropped a heartwarming tribute on Instagram as well: “Some of them have managed to grow or even transcend their sport, and just a few, because of their attitude and the way they operate, have transcended the sport itself and become role models for society, I think, without fear of speaking out of turn, and openly accepting any criticism that may come my way after saying this as his uncle, that my nephew, just like his biggest rival for many years, Roger Federer, forms part of the latter category.” 

Toni certainly has a special corner in his heart for his nephew, which is evident from this tribute. And it’s not just because of Rafa’s tennis skills. It’s because of his personality as a whole.

Toni Nadal loved how his nephew “always kept his feet on the ground”

Toni Nadal reflected on Rafa’s legacy with a deep sense of respect and satisfaction. “I feel very happy about everything that he’s achieved, obviously on the court because of everything he won. But, above all, the most notable thing, which really pleases me as a relative, is seeing how a boy who had a dream of being a great tennis player did everything possible without losing his way,” he was quoted as saying by the ATP’s official website.

Toni also highlighted another aspect of Nadal’s personality, one that moved him the most. “He always kept his feet on the ground. Staying competitive within the limits of correctness. That’s definitely what has pleased me the most. I’ve loved seeing how much people have appreciated that,” he added. The Spaniard further confessed he knew about his nephew’s retirement much before the public. “A few months ago Rafael told me that he was thinking about retiring. He wanted to do it in Malaga during the Davis Cup,” he said.

Toni Nadal supported his nephew through thick and thin. He was of the view that Rafa deserved to “go with his head held high,” after “everything he achieved, having been there for many years, he has gained the immense respect of most people.” Do you think Rafael Nadal got the kind of farewell that he deserved? Share your thoughts in the comments below.