Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal has named the Spaniard’s loss to Novak Djokovic in the 2012 Australian Open final the “worst defeat” of his career. 

The legendary coach revealed he has never re-watched the contest as his nephew’s defeat left him “devastated.”

Nadal fell 7-5, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 5-7 to Djokovic in an epic 2012 Australian Open championship match lasting five hours and 53 minutes.

The staggering battle remains the longest Grand Slam final in history and it is widely considered one of the greatest tennis matches ever played.

The Spanish legend led 4-2, 40-15 on his serve in the fifth set, but his Serbian rival staged a late comeback. Nadal has played 30 Grand Slam finals in his astonishing career, and this was the only one he lost after winning the first set.

Rafael Nadal News

Rafael Nadal’s uncle Toni reveals when tennis great told family he will announce his retirement

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Nadal announced last week that he will call time on his 23-year professional career after competing for Spain at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Nadal, who turned 38 in June, shared the news of his decision on his social media accounts.

“Hello everyone, I’m here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion.

“The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two years especially. I don’t think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make.

“But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end. And I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined.”

In an interview with Marca following Nadal’s announcement, Toni Nadal reflected on the most difficult defeat of his nephew’s career.

“The worst defeat was the Australian final against Djokovic in 2012. I have not seen that match again because I left devastated,” he divulged.

The Mallorcan also spoke about his famously tough approach to training Nadal.

“Toughness is not an end, it was a means. I was tough because Rafael had very high expectations and he was capable of withstanding that hardness,” he explained.

“I was tough because of the appreciation I had for him. In the long run I think he appreciated that toughness. There is a phrase: ‘What someone who loves you says will make you cry’.”

Toni Nadal coached his nephew from his childhood until 2017, helping him win 16 of his 22 Grand Slam titles. He is the director of the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca.

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