Toni Nadal makes honest Novak Djokovic GOAT confession as he issues Rafael Nadal claim

Toni Nadal has suggested Novak Djokovic is the greatest tennis player of all time over his nephew Rafael Nadal because he is “willing to pay the highest price to be the best.”

The legendary tennis coach declared Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer “all wanted to be the best in history”, but highlighted the Serbian’s diet as an example of his unmatched dedication.

Djokovic has won a record 24 Grand Slam titles, while Nadal and Federer sit second and third on the all-time men’s list with 22 and 20 respectively.

The 36-year-old icon also holds the records for most weeks ranked world No 1, ATP year-end No 1 finishes, Masters 1000 titles, ATP Finals titles, while he also has a winning record against his two greatest rivals.

Djokovic and Nadal have contested a men’s Open Era record 59 matches — from 2006 to 2022 — with the former holding a 30-29 edge, while the Serbian won 27 of the 50 matches he played against Federer between 2006 and and the Swiss’s retirement in 2020.

The world No 1, who won three of the four Majors in an incredible 2023 campaign, looks far from finished and could still add to his incredible legacy with further stellar accomplishments.

Djokovic and Nadal will both be in action at the 2024 Italian Open, which will be held from May 8-19. The legendary pair are on opposite sides of the draw at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament and could face off for the seventh time in a Rome championship match.

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Nadal, who will turn 38 in June, has revealed 2024 will likely be the final season of his illustrious career, although he has not set a definitive timeline. The Spaniard reached the fourth round of the Madrid Open last week, having returned from injury at the Barcelona Open in April.

Toni Nadal, who coached Rafael Nadal from his childhood until 2017 and helped him win 16 Grand Slam titles, claimed there is a key difference between Djokovic and his nephew.

“I think Djokovic has always wanted to be the best in history. Rafael always led a normal life, he played tennis, lived and ate normally. He played football and did this and that (translated from Spanish),” said the 63-year-old Spaniard in a recent interview.

“I got used to it at first, because I thought it was good for him in his formative years. I remember our manager once told us that we weren’t very professional.

“When Rafael was young, I told him I didn’t want him to be too professional. I wanted Rafael to give 100% on the court, but to maintain a normal daily life. Because I don’t think it makes much difference.

“When you’re at the highest level, it’s different. For example, Djokovic has been much more careful about his diet, just like Rafael and Federer, but I think a little differently.

“Regardless of whether one was better or worse, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic all wanted to be the best in history. But the question is not who wants to be the best, but who is willing to pay the highest price to be the best.”

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