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Nole army is back in action! This time at the receiving end is Rafael Nadal‘s uncle, Toni. The ‘Big Three’ of the tennis world has never failed to produce some serious debates over the years. Irrespective of their forms or their current status in their playing career, their fans always find ways to engage in a conversation with a strong backing for their idols. One loves to dominate the other fanbase! Even this time, there was no exception. Novak Djokovic fans were spotted taking a jibe at Uncle Toni over his recent comments on the GOAT debate.

During a recent interview, Toni Nadal was heard saying, “Djokovic has a little more desire to be the best in history. Rafael always led a normal life and played tennis. Living a normal life, eating normal, going to football, doing this and that because he was interested and because I got used to it in the beginning like that.” He further went on to add, “All the Big 3 wanted to be the best, but question isn’t who wants to be the best but who was willing to pay a bigger price.“

After hearing all these from Rafael Nadal’s uncle, one of the fans looked quite bewildered. He pointed out that Novak Djokovic has married his high school crush, Jelena Djokovic and also has children with her. Djokovic loves sharing time with his family and he often shares those heartwarming with his fans on social media. The fan couldn’t figure out what Toni was trying to explain and that he should quit drinking. “Oh yes? Novak married his high school crush, had children already after marriage, Enjous life and showing it…Uncle Toni should stop drinking bier too much…“

While another Nole fan took a sarcastic way to give a reply to Toni Nadal’s statement. “Rafa always led a normal life.” A few of the fans were also spotted dropping ‘laughing’ emojis under this comment. Rafa fans might wonder what’s so funny about this.

Toni Nadal has been running the headline off late, due to the remarkable performance of Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Madrid Open. However, the Canadian has clearly attributed his recent success at this tournament partly to his father’s presence. He openly admitted, that Toni Nadal is no longer actively traveling with him. But what’s the excuse? He didn’t disclose the exact reasons for it! Now, after hearing this recent comment involving Nadal and Djokovic a fan stated that the 63-year-old Spaniard has a “book of excuses.“ He said, “I bet he has a book of excuses for any possible scenario in life.“

Controversies are never too far away when someone steps in to put a remark on the ‘Big Three’ of the tennis world. Most of the time one or the other fanbase will get offended at the end of these debates. Another fan sarcastically said, “He doesn’t sound bitter at all…“

While, after several attempts to figure out what Toni Nadal was actually trying to say, one of the fans came up with this. He said Uncle Toni was just trying to see an idea between desire and health and not the skill they possess. “Uncle Toni is trying to sell the idea that the entire difference between Novak and Nadal is in desire and health; not in skill. It’s an idea that he could sell if Nadal didn’t hold nearly every record on clay by a huge margin.“

The ‘Big Three’ have dominated the sport for almost two decades. And what they have achieved over the years has been nothing short of truly remarkable. A sheer dominance on the court! But what is the exact reason they have managed to showcase this dominance over the years with this amount of consistency? What is the difference between them and the next generation? Here’s what Toni Nadal said about this almost four years ago.

Rafael Nadal’s uncle speaks about the difference he saw in the ‘Big Three’ and the ‘Next Gen Stars’

During an interview, Toni Nadal said, “Rafael, Novak and Roger have stayed because they have not met people who have the same commitment as them. When they play well, they win; when they don’t play well, they fight and usually win.” But in the case of the next-gen stars, he feels, “there is the difference. Because those of this new generation can have a good day and be very good. But the day things don’t work out they lose their way, they get out of focus.“

via Getty

Toni Nadal is absolutely proud of what Rafael Nadal has achieved so far in his career. But there remains a slight disappointment in his heart. “I am almost sure that I will never train a boy like Rafael again. But it still motivates me to keep setting goals and fight for new challenges, even if they are smaller,” Toni Nadal. Talking about challenges, currently Novak Djokovic leads the H2H against Rafael Nadal by 30-29. Can Nadal pull one back and level it up on the clay court season this year?