Rafael Nadal’s uncle lays into Stefanos Tsitsipas with Roger Federer claim

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Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni slammed the behaviour of Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open, suggesting greats like Roger Federer would not act in such a way. On Friday, 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz – dubbed ‘the next Nadal’ – remarkably defeated world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller at Flushing Meadows.

In doing so, Alcaraz became the youngest Spaniard to reach the fourth round of the US Open since Nadal himself did so in 2006.

The teenager played exceptional tennis and won the match despite losing the fourth set without winning a game – after Tsitsipas had taken another controversial bathroom break.

The Greek star has been embroiled in a toilet-break feud ever since his first-round win over Andy Murray. 

Tsitsipas spent approximately seven minutes in the bathroom after losing the third set to the Brit which made fans and his opponent particularly angry.

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In a recent article for El Pais, Toni Nadal criticised Tsitsipas for the frequency of his ill-timed breaks – and suggested no player should take any kind of shortcut to win.

“I think that no follower of our sport can imagine Roger Federer or Rafael, I don’t see why not say it, looking for extra-sporting shortcuts to achieve victory,” wrote Toni.

“The way he [Tsitsipas] acted was not fair. Rafa or Federer would never do that. Stricter rules should be implemented for the bathroom breaks.”

For Toni, the comparison to Nadal and Federer highlights the difference between the great tennis players and the rest.

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Fans cannot imagine the duo employing such mischievous tactics and it is part of the reason why they are such icons of the sport.

However, even though he took shots at Tsitsipas regarding his recent, very public controversy, Toni made an effort to highlight the Greek star’s phenomenal talent.

Rafael Nadal’s uncle insisted the world number three does not need to pursue such antics in order to achieve success.

“Tsitsipas is undoubtedly a brilliant player and as such we expect him to win without the need for any ruse that he can profit from,” the Spaniard continued.

“Obviously you don’t need them. A great champion, and he is on the way to achieve it, not only because of his victories but because of how he achieves them.”

Toni, the current coach of 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, has been credited with keeping Nadal in contention for major titles.

However, the great Spaniard’s uncle played down his role.

“I was a good coach because I was with Rafael Nadal,” claimed Toni. “Each coach depends on his player. Rafael had this mentality of progressing all the time

“That’s what I try to instill in Felix [Auger-Aliassime]. I can go with him, but not do it for him”.

After defeating Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz will now face Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk in the fourth round of the US Open.

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