By Richard Pagliaro Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Photo credit: Rafael Nadal Academy
Toni Nadal praise Carlos Alcaraz As the most complete champion in the sport.
However, Toni Nadal believes the world number one made a mistake after winning the Australian Open on Sunday to complete a career Grand Slam.
Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle and original coach, He understood that Alcaraz praised the coach and said Samuel Lopez After defeating Djokovic to win the Melbourne Grand Slam title, the seven-time Grand Slam champion made a major unforced error by not thanking his former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
during an interview Radioestadio noche by Onda CeroUncle Toni highlighted a mistake by Alcaraz and the only two real opponents the 22-year-old Spanish superstar had.
Former world No. 1 Ferrero coached Alcaraz for about seven years before the pair split in December.
Toni Nadal says if Rafael Nadal praises coach Carlos Moya The complete neglect of decades of work with his uncle would bother him, just as he felt it was unfair for Alcaraz to omit Ferrero in his post-victory comments.
“It is good to value your coach, but one must also remember the other person,” Toni Nadal said. night radio station. “I don’t know how the relationship with Ferrero ended up, but I felt sad when he said that. I’m sure Samuel Lopez did a great job in these two months, but he can’t forget Ferrero’s work over the years.
“I wouldn’t have liked it if Rafa said something like that to Carlos Moya when I left.”
💥‼ ️ Toni Nadal’s thoughts on Alcaraz’s Haragos:
💬 “I am not my Hubi Segustado Rafa Hubi Se Gustado Hubi Se Dico Esas Kosas” pic.twitter.com/0BS6GZ7NDc
—Radioestadio Noche (@RadioestadioN) February 3, 2026
After Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to win the AO title in four sets and make history as the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, he was asked if he had extra motivation to win his first AO title following his breakup with Ferrero.
“So I don’t think about the people who doubt it. I’m just here for myself, to play for my team,” Alcaraz said. “We all know how hard I work in pre-season to get ready for this game and, you know, I have so much to think about during this game. Focusing on my style of play, focusing on myself, being passionate, that’s all I’m thinking about going into this game.
But, you know, once I figured it out, I was happy to prove everyone wrong. “
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Although Toni Nadal was disappointed that Alcaraz ignored Ferrero in his victory speech, he praised the reigning Roland Garros, US Open and Australian Open champion as the most complete player in the sport.
Toni Nadal believes Alcaraz will now aim to complete the Grand Slams on the calendar and make history by becoming the first man since Rocket Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Grand Slam titles in the same season.
Looking at the ATP field, Toni Nadal believes that only Wimbledon champion Janik Sinner, who lost to Djokovic in the AO semifinals, and Alexander Zverev, who worked with Toni Nadal last year and lost to the faltering Alcaraz in the semifinals, are the real opponents of Alcaraz.
“In my opinion, it would be very difficult for Djokovic to beat Carlos in five sets,” Toni Nadal said. “The question now is, where can it go? And the only thing Carlos has made clear to us is that he wants to be the youngest tennis player to win four Grand Slams in one year.
“You can go where your ability is and your opponent limits you. His ability is very high because he has it all and he has a big advantage, which is that I hardly see any opponent that can make him too worried, Just Sinner and Zverev. Young people are always a concern, just like Federer and Nadal, Nadal and Djokovic. “
