Uncle Toni on tactics, matchups, goatness...

aldeayeah

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
Source

Q: Can Federer be the best player in the world if there is another one who beats him two of every three times they play?

A: He can, just like somebody like Messi can be tactically suppressed by another player of a lesser level. Although that's not the case with my nephew Rafael, who does have a quite high level and can carry the tactical initiative.

Q: Explain us, mister coach: Is it because he hits to Federer's backhand?

A: Rafa focuses his game on Federer's backhand, indeed, but one can't just hit the same shot everytime. But he does throw him off his rhythm and timing, and sometimes he forces him to make rushed choices.

Q: But if Federer is the GOAT...

A: I don't know if Roger is the GOAT, it's impossible to compare. Although I would narrow it down to Federer and Rod Laver. Roger is indeed the best player of our time. And Rafael suffers against players below his own ranking too: Davydenko, for example.

Q: Brad Gilbert said your nephew Rafael could win 30 Masters...

A: Ha, ha... let's take it easy. It's taken us a lot to go this far; it will take a lot more to go that far.
 
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namelessone

namelessone

Legend
How arrogant of Tony to compliment Fed. This interview reminds me of something Nadal said about Fed,that he rarely loses to people outside of the top 5 and that's why he is a such a great champion, If you are mostly beating the top guys,you are probably winning the titles there.
 
mandy01

mandy01

G.O.A.T.
The funny part is I remember BOTH Nadal and Toni stating clearly that they thought Fed was the greatest.
Since last year the tune has shifted to Fed-Laver.LOL
I also remember Sampras fanatics getting furious because Toni put they darling boy in the second tier of all -time greats.
 
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namelessone

namelessone

Legend
mandy01 said:
The funny part is I remember BOTH Nadal and Toni stating clearly that they thought Fed was the greatest.
Since last year the tune has shifted to Fed-Laver.LOL
I remember Sampras fanatics getting furious because Toni put they darling boy in the second tier of all -time greats.

Anyway,what's the bet that this thread is going to turn into yet another my guy vs your guy row?
Click to expand...

I have heard Tony mention Laver before,quite often actually,with Federer in the second breath. Both he and Rafa said that Fed has been the best player that Rafa has been up against. Last year in Shaghai,Rafa was asked if he thought Fed was the greatest. He said that he can't compare with other guys from the past cause he did not play them but Federer is by far the most complete player he has ever played against. As Rafa said once,Federer can do everything on court.
 
Dilettante

Dilettante

Hall of Fame
mandy01 said:
The funny part is I remember BOTH Nadal and Toni stating clearly that they thought Fed was the greatest.
Click to expand...

It's not that I care but you're wrong, only Rafa talks about Federer being the GOAT.

Uncle Toni always had a word for Rod Laver.
 
mandy01

mandy01

G.O.A.T.
namelessone said:
I have heard Tony mention Laver before,quite often actually,with Federer in the second breath. Both he and Rafa said that Fed has been the best player that Rafa has been up against. Last year in Shaghai,Rafa was asked if he thought Fed was the greatest. He said that he can't compare with other guys from the past cause he did not play them but Federer is by far the most complete player he has ever played against. As Rafa said once,Federer can do everything on court.
Click to expand...
I already said they changed their tune since last year and I clearly remember Toni calling Fed the greatest.I personally don't care at all.I just find the change of tune amusing ,that's all.
 
Augustus

Augustus

Hall of Fame
Dilettante said:
It's not that I care but you're wrong, only Rafa talks about Federer being the GOAT.

Uncle Toni always had a word for Rod Laver.
Click to expand...

That´s no surprise in my opinion, Toni is old enough to have watched Laver play. It´s pretty difficult to say something that makes sense about someone that played 20 years before your birth.

That´s why all this talk about Laver´s game on this forum never ceases to surprise me; I assume all posters that pretend to know everything about Laver and other greats like Gonzales, Hoad and Roswewall are approaching 60 at least. :lol:

Seriously, I know Laver´s achievements and I´be watched some clips on YouTube, but I´ve never seen even one full match played by him. Therefore I´m not going to compare him to players I actually have watched a lot, like Federer, Nadal, Agassi, Sampras, and Borg/McEnroe to a lesser extent.
 
mandy01

mandy01

G.O.A.T.
Dilettante said:
It's not that I care but you're wrong, only Rafa talks about Federer being the GOAT.

Uncle Toni always had a word for Rod Laver.
Click to expand...
I don't know about that.You could of course be right-It's anyway hard to pull out all of his interviews at this point( and majority of them are in Spanish).
Anyway,I won't be surprised if he has mentioned Laver .What I said was based off what I could remember .And like I said it's amusing..not wrong at all.

I must say the Federer-Nadal dynamic is pretty interesting.
 
aldeayeah

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
It's certainly not the first time he brings up Laver. IIRC Uncle Toni never said Federer was the unqualified GOAT, but I could be wrong.
 
R

rafan

Hall of Fame
mandy01 said:
I already said they changed their tune since last year and I clearly remember Toni calling Fed the greatest.I personally don't care at all.I just find the change of tune amusing ,that's all.
Click to expand...

If Nadal has done one thing for Federer it is the fact that he has distanced Federer from the same image of boring predictability that Sampras had. When Nadal is around there is far more excitement regarding Federer. Federer was winning so often that it was not fun to watch a final anymore. We all knew the outcome. Now even thinking about these two playing a big slam is so exciting. For that Uncle Toni should be darn grateful to his nephew
 
Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas

Legend
mandy01 said:
I already said they changed their tune since last year and I clearly remember Toni calling Fed the greatest.I personally don't care at all.I just find the change of tune amusing ,that's all.
Click to expand...

Toni has always said Laver is the greatest, he put Federer in the top tier with him thats all. Toni put Sampras in the second tier because he'll have an understandable bias towards clay court tennis and Pete struggled on that surface.
 
egn

egn

Hall of Fame
Cesc Fabregas said:
Toni has always said Laver is the greatest, he put Federer in the top tier with him thats all. Toni put Sampras in the second tier because he'll have an understandable bias towards clay court tennis and Pete struggled on that surface.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Toni Nadal also seems to have this void in his memory of from the year 69-03 as he never seems to credit any of the players from the 70s and 80 and 90s.
 
I

illuminati

Rookie
toni has ALWAYS said laver is the greatest he has ever seen.
even rafa said that toni always says to him that laver was the greatest ever.
for toni, laver is the greatest then followed by federer.
and i agree, those 2 calender year slams and not playing for like 6 years between the 2 calender slams is something incredible.
laver could have won 25 slams and he has like 22 slams if u count the PRO slam tournaments he played during his absent years and won.

i dont think sampras can be with federer since he didnt win the french, and borg didnt win a hardcourt slam.

so for me laver and federer are the 2 greatest players ever since they have won all 4 slams in their career.

just like the CLAY court GOAT discussion is between nadal and borg.
the overall GOAT discussion is between laver and federer.
 
D

dropshot winner

Hall of Fame
illuminati said:
toni has ALWAYS said laver is the greatest he has ever seen.
Click to expand...
In all the interviews I watched and read Toni never took Laver over Federer, he regarded them as equal, and since then Federer has won 3 slams.

egn said:
Agreed. Toni Nadal also seems to have this void in his memory of from the year 69-03 as he never seems to credit any of the players from the 70s and 80 and 90s.
Click to expand...

Didn't he once say that Borg was underrated and at least top5 of all time?
 
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B

bolo

G.O.A.T.
aldeayeah said:
Source

Q: Can Federer be the best player in the world if there is another one who beats him two of every three times they play?

A: He can, just like somebody like Messi can be tactically suppressed by another player of a lesser level. Although that's not the case with my nephew Rafael, who does have a quite high level and can carry the tactical initiative.

Q: Explain us, mister coach: Is it because he hits to Federer's backhand?

A: Rafa focuses his game on Federer's backhand, indeed, but one can't just hit the same shot everytime. But he does throw him off his rhythm and timing, and sometimes he forces him to make rushed choices.

Q: But if Federer is the GOAT...

A: I don't know if Roger is the GOAT, it's impossible to compare. Although I would narrow it down to Federer and Rod Laver. Roger is indeed the best player of our time. And Rafael suffers against players below his own ranking too: Davydenko, for example.

Q: Brad Gilbert said your nephew Rafael could win 30 Masters...

A: Ha, ha... let's take it easy. It's taken us a lot to go this far; it will take a lot more to go that far.
Click to expand...

Nice, thanks for the translation. :)
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
Uncle Toni is a very intelligent man. He'd look pretty stupid if he said Federer was GOAT considering that he is dominated by his own nephew!

I agree with Toni in any case. I don't see how Federer could be higher on the GOAT list than Rod Laver. It's a Federer lover fantasy, at best.
 
B

bolo

G.O.A.T.
Can you believe that gilbert has nadal's 2008 wimbledon final racquet?! That guy is unbelievable. :)
 
N

nikdom

Guest
ksbh said:
Uncle Toni is a very intelligent man. He'd look pretty stupid if he said Federer was GOAT considering that he is dominated by his own nephew!

I agree with Toni in any case. I don't see how Federer could be higher on the GOAT list than Rod Laver. It's a Federer lover fantasy, at best.
Click to expand...

On the other hand, he'd look pretty stupid if he denies Roger's GOAT credentials. I think he says pretty clearly that having a losing record against his nephew does not diminish Roger's "best player" status. (Unless you want to read stuff selectively)

Folks much more qualified to make an assessment about Fed's place in history, such as a plethora of GS champions, think otherwise - that Roger is indeed higher on the list than Laver.

Enjoy your opinion!
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
You need a reality check. Outside of clay, Rafa's achievements are mediocre at best. You folks like to elevate Rafa to levels he doesn't belong at just so Federer can appear to look great.

I won't be surprised if you Federer lovers start saying that Rafa was the greatest thing in tennis after Federer! Well actually, you guys did do that when someone claimed that the previous generation was stronger! LOL!

GasquetGOAT said:
:lol: ksbh must not think too highly of toni's nephew.

Rafatards always in a state of confusion.
Click to expand...
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
When Rafa won his first French Open title, Brad Gilbert predicted that Rafa would win Wimbledon one day. I thought the man was crazy but just 3 years later, we found that he was right on target!

bolo said:
yeah, no doubt. But that he managed to pull off that piece of history is pretty nice! That guy is doing something right. :)
Click to expand...
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
You need to give up this notion that one man or groups opinion is any more valid than another's. A sign of low self-esteem perhaps.

nikdom said:
On the other hand, he'd look pretty stupid if he denies Roger's GOAT credentials. I think he says pretty clearly that having a losing record against his nephew does not diminish Roger's "best player" status. (Unless you want to read stuff selectively)

Folks much more qualified to make an assessment about Fed's place in history, such as a plethora of GS champions, think otherwise - that Roger is indeed higher on the list than Laver.

Enjoy your opinion!
Click to expand...
 
N

nikdom

Guest
ksbh said:
You need to give up this notion that one man or groups opinion is any more valid than another's. A sign of low self-esteem perhaps.
Click to expand...

LOL. Low self-esteem? Speak for yourself man!

As far as the opinion of GS champions being more valid than yours > oh yeah. Looks like you're the one deluding yourself. Delusions of grandeur perhaps??

:)
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
Mustard ... I exaggerated of course! All said & done, I fully expect Rafa to be in the pantheon of all time greats when he decides to hang up his boots. Note that he's already made a great big dent in the resume of another great of his era! ;)

Mustard said:
11 titles, which includes 2 slams and 5 masters titles. Yeah, very mediocre :roll:
Click to expand...
 
Mustard

Mustard

Bionic Poster
ksbh said:
Mustard ... I exaggerated of course! All said & done, I fully expect Rafa to be in the pantheon of all time greats when he decides to hang up his boots. Note that he's already made a great big dent in the resume of another great of his era! ;)
Click to expand...

Oh, I see :oops:

It's just that I've heard similar accusations from anti-Nadal people about him supposedly being mediocre away from clay.
 
B

bolo

G.O.A.T.
ksbh said:
When Rafa won his first French Open title, Brad Gilbert predicted that Rafa would win Wimbledon one day. I thought the man was crazy but just 3 years later, we found that he was right on target!
Click to expand...

Lol, gilbert is crazy. :)

He had a story behind how he got the racquet but I can't remember it. :( It was something like he kept badgering nadal for a match racquet for years and maybe nadal told him that he would give him one if he ever won wimbledon or something. Damn you memory!
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
OK, got your logic ... Federer must be the GOAT because so many past greats think so! LOL!

Sorry, we'll just have to agree to disagree.

nikdom said:
LOL. Low self-esteem? Speak for yourself man!

As far as the opinion of GS champions being more valid than yours > oh yeah. Looks like you're the one deluding yourself. Delusions of grandeur perhaps??

:)
Click to expand...
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
Ha ha, I was takin' a dig at some of the Federer lovers on this forum, Mustard! You know the deluded ones that still think Rafa can't do a thing outside of clay! LOL!

Mustard said:
Oh, I see :oops:

It's just that I've heard similar accusations from anti-Nadal people about him supposedly being mediocre away from clay.
Click to expand...
 
ksbh

ksbh

Banned
Don't let Babette know. She's already quite pissed that Rafa brushed against that ball girl! LOL!

bolo said:
Lol, gilbert is crazy. :)

He had a story behind how he got the racquet but I can't remember it. :( It was something like he kept badgering nadal for a match racquet for years and maybe nadal told him that he would give him one if he ever won wimbledon or something. Damn you memory!
Click to expand...
 
Totai

Totai

Professional
Laver should be thanking the heavens that Federer is such a great player. If Federer did not acheieve what he has so far, I can guarantee that 90% of this forum would have never even heard of Laver.
 
B

bolo

G.O.A.T.
Totai said:
Laver should be thanking the heavens that Federer is such a great player. If Federer did not acheieve what he has so far, I can guarantee that 90% of this forum would have never even heard of Laver.
Click to expand...

lol. 10 char. :)
 
N

nikdom

Guest
Cyan said:
It's amazing how weak Rafa makes Fed's BH look. It looks very average.
Click to expand...

Also, its amazing how weak a tennis court makes Rafa's knees look. They seem very fragile compared to Roger's.
 
billnepill

billnepill

Hall of Fame
aldeayeah said:
Source

Q: Can Federer be the best player in the world if there is another one who beats him two of every three times they play?

A: He can, just like somebody like Messi can be tactically suppressed by another player of a lesser level. Although that's not the case with my nephew Rafael, who does have a quite high level and can carry the tactical initiative.

Q: Explain us, mister coach: Is it because he hits to Federer's backhand?

A: Rafa focuses his game on Federer's backhand, indeed, but one can't just hit the same shot everytime. But he does throw him off his rhythm and timing, and sometimes he forces him to make rushed choices.

Q: But if Federer is the GOAT...

A: I don't know if Roger is the GOAT, it's impossible to compare. Although I would narrow it down to Federer and Rod Laver. Roger is indeed the best player of our time. And Rafael suffers against players below his own ranking too: Davydenko, for example.

Q: Brad Gilbert said your nephew Rafael could win 30 Masters...

A: Ha, ha... let's take it easy. It's taken us a lot to go this far; it will take a lot more to go that far.
Click to expand...

Toni and his nephew are the biggest *******s out there..
 
cucio

cucio

Legend
I can't claim I have read every interview Toni has given, but I am under the distinct impression that he is one of the biggest Lavtards out there, and I don't remember any occasion where he didn't put Federer in 2nd place after Laver.

He is of course entitled to his opinion, as anyone else, and it is impossible to prove him either right of wrong.
 
zapvor

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
i have read articles about nadal and toni and they are very good people. his comments have good intentions. we all read too much into it sometimes
 
slicefox

slicefox

Banned
Toni Nadal???

rofl, who's this guy to judge the other tennis players? He's just a noob who's never even played pro tennis
 
OddJack

OddJack

G.O.A.T.
Totai said:
Laver should be thanking the heavens that Federer is such a great player. If Federer did not acheieve what he has so far, I can guarantee that 90% of this forum would have never even heard of Laver.
Click to expand...

Maybe so, but Rodge will have to thank Rod too. He wouldnt be who he is now if there were no likes of Laver. Tennis just like any other sport or science and technology advances is a gradual improvement. Likes of Newton must show up first to produce the likes of Einstein.
 
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