Toni Nadal vows he will not provide Felix Auger-Aliassime a blueprint on how to beat Rafael Nadal. Toni taught his nephew for three decades, during which time he won 16 of his 21 Grand Slam titles. Toni joined Auger-Aliassime in 2021, working alongside the Canadian’s full-time coach Fred Fontana after their professional relationship terminated in 2017. When asked on Saturday if he would reveal the secret to Auger-Aliassime on how to become only the third man to overcome Nadal at Roland Garros, the 61-year-old coach was emphatic.

“Of course not. I told Felix that my ethics do not allow me to give him advice on beating my nephew. It’s as if I were telling someone how to defeat my own son,” said Toni ahead of his first meeting with Rafael since their split.

“When Felix came to the (Nadal) academy to ask me to work with him, I told him: ‘If we play against Rafa, of course, I’m not going to do this when you score a point,” he added, showing a fist pump.

“And if Rafael had said no, I wouldn’t have taken the job.”

Toni also stated that he will not be sitting in Auger-player Aliassime’s box on Sunday at Court Philippe Chatrier, instead choosing to sit in a “neutral” seat.

Since his title-winning debut in 2005, Nadal has won the French Open 13 times and has only lost three times. He insists there are “zero difficulties” with his uncle working with Auger-Aliassime.

“For me, it’s quite simple,” Nadal said after strolling past Biotic van de Zandschulp in the third round to reach the fourth round

“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 problems.”

Into the last 16 in Paris for the first time, the 21-year-old Auger-Aliassime also attempted to play down the influence of Toni Nadal.

“I don’t think I need him to explain how Rafa plays because we all know what he does well,” said the Canadian, who reached the US Open semi-final under Toni Nadal’s tutelage last year.

“I’m not sure Toni will teach me anything new about Rafa’s game.”

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He said, ” “We knew there was a chance I’d play Rafa at some point while working with Toni. It’s another match from my perspective. Rafa’s career and what he accomplished with Toni are far more important than the game on Sunday.”