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Daniela Hantuchova caught up with “Uncle Toni” Nadal in the latest episode of Credentialed: Roland Garros to discuss nephew Rafael’s astonishing 13 titles in Paris.

“I always thought that since Rafael was a little boy, that he could become a wonderful player, but I never believed he could win 13 times here,” he said.

Long before the tournament erected a statue in his honor, Nadal made his debut at Roland Garros in 2005 as a teenager. One to watch after a successful clay-court swing, his uncle and then-coach fondly remembers his first practice on the terre battue alongside fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya.

“For Rafael, this was a special moment.”

He would go on to win the event for the first time that year, and remains in hot pursuit of a 14th title this week, reaching the quarterfinals on Monday.

Check out the full interview, in which Nadal compares the challenges of facing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on clay, right here!

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