By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, June 13, 2025
Picture credit score: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Toni Nadal has spent his teaching profession centered on the tennis ball not a crystal ball.
Nonetheless, watching an “distinctive” Carlos Alcaraz out-duel world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the longest Roland Garros remaining in historical past compels Toni Nadal to a robust conclusion: Alcaraz has the talents to match—and maybe surpass—King of Clay Rafael Nadal’s profession.
Toni Nadal, uncle and authentic coach of Rafa Nadal, met Spanish media at “The Battle Of Stars” celeb golf pro-am in Mallorca on Thursday.
Uncle Toni cites just a few the explanation why he believes Alcaraz can obtain a profession just like 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal: the reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner is exceptionally expert, an explosive athlete—and for now the 22-year-old Spaniard’s main rival is Sinner whereas Rafa Nadal needed to confront two fellow legends in Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
“[Carlitos] is an distinctive participant who has all of the [skills] on the planet,” Toni Nadal informed Spanish media in feedback revealed by AS.com. He is the quickest, he hits it very exhausting, he hits it effectively with a drive, with a backhand, the serve has improved quite a bit…
“I see him as an excellent participant and on prime of that I believe he has a bonus, at this time he does not have one of the best Federer or one of the best Djokovic as rivals. He has an excellent one which is Jannik Sinner, however I believe the others for him are fairly [manageable].”
In the course of the record-setting 5 hour, 29-minute Roland Garros remaining on Sunday, TNT analyst and Corridor of Famer John McEnroe created controversy—and sparked some backlash from Rafa Nation— declaring the stratospheric stage each Alcaraz and Sinner produced would beat prime Nadal in a hypothetical RG remaining.
“You took a take a look at them bringing their A-game proper now — I am saying Sinner and Alcaraz towards Nadal on clay — you’ll make a severe argument with each guys that they might be favored to beat Nadal, at his finest,” McEnroe stated. “Do I believe they’ll attain, 20, 24 titles both of them?
“No. As a result of I believe that plateau is so exhausting it is virtually inconceivable; there’s extra depth within the sport, greater hitters, and extra issues occur.”
Toni Nadal took his evaluation a step additional than McEnroe saying Alcaraz, if wholesome, can match and maybe “surpass” his Olympic doubles companion’s profession.
“I’m not a fortune teller, however he has the [skills] to surpass [Rafa Nadal],” Toni Nadal stated.
