'Zero problem' for Nadal facing Uncle Toni and Auger-Aliassime in French Open clash / Photo: © AFP
'Zero problem' for Nadal facing Uncle Toni and Auger-Aliassime in French Open clash
Rafael Nadal insisted it will be "zero problem" for him to see his uncle Toni Nadal attempting to plot his downfall as coach of Felix Auger-Aliassime, the player he faces for a French Open quarter-final spot on Sunday.
Toni started working alongside Auger-Aliassime's main coach Frederic Fontang in April last year, four years after he and Rafael ended their 27-year, success-laden association in 2017.
"For me, it's very simple," said 13-time French Open champion Nadal after reaching the fourth round by cruising past Dutch 26th seed Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
"He is my uncle. He will not want me to lose. He wants the best for me and I want the best for him. But he's a professional and with another player now. Honestly, for me, it's zero problem."
Auger-Aliassime has only faced Nadal on one occasion with the Spaniard coming out on top in straight sets on clay in Madrid three years ago.
Into the last 16 in Paris for the first time, the 21-year-old Canadian also attempted to play down the influence of Toni in Sunday's clash.
"We knew it was a possibility that eventually I would play Rafa when I'm working with Toni. And actually now he's present here in this Grand Slam," said the Canadian who made his first Slam semi-final at the US Open in September under Nadal's guidance.
"I think Toni will watch from a neutral place and enjoy the match. From my part it's another match.
"Rafa's career and what he did with Toni is much bigger than the match on Sunday."
Nadal said that whatever the result on Sunday, his relationship with his 61-year-old uncle will not be damaged.
"He is old enough to make his own decisions," said Nadal, who won 16 of his record 21 majors with Toni at his side.
"I cannot thank him enough for all the things he has done for me over so many years.
"We are a family more than anything else. He is more than just my uncle."
Nadal will be the favourite on Sunday after taking his career record at the French Open to 108 wins against just three defeats.
He has reached at least the fourth round in 17 of 18 visits to Paris, with the exception of 2016 when he withdrew in the third round with a wrist injury.
Victory on Sunday would put him into a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic should the world number one and defending champion defeat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman in his last-16 clash.
N.Taylor--TNT
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