Tired Toni poised to wrap up Rafa role

Rafa Nadal's career-long coaching relationship with his uncle Toni Nadal will end this year, the latter confirmed on Tuesday.

"The decision has been mine," said Toni, who added he will remain in his role for the rest of this year.

The 55-year-old cited fatigue and the demands of traveling on tour as the reason for the change.

He will oversee coaching at Rafa's tennis academy on their home island of Mallorca.

"My new role will be in the academy," Toni said. "At my age, I have traveled around the world and for a while now it has been hard to travel.

"I have three children, and the academy gives me another reason to be happy in Mallorca."

Former world No 1 Carlos Moya, who joined Nadal's team in December, will take over as his coach in 2018.

Nadal reached the Australian Open final in January, losing an epic five-set thriller to old rival Roger Federer, in his first Grand Slam since bringing Moya on board alongside long-time coaches Toni and Francis Roig.

"What has been important to me all my life is that things go well for my nephew," said Toni.

"Things have gone sufficiently well at the start of the year and the incorporation of Carlos has been a great success.

"I understand that Rafael is well looked after with Francis and Carlos."

The Nadals have enjoyed one of the longest and most successful coaching relationships in tennis history.

Nadal has won 14 majors under the tutelage of his uncle, tying American Pete Sampras for the second most in men's singles history, behind Swiss great Federer's 18.

And Toni admitted his decision initially caught his nephew by surprise.

"He was a little bit surprised at the start, but we have explained it to him well.

"I have told him he is well looked after. Rafael has always taken things well, he is not the problematic type."

The hiring of Moya in the off-season after Nadal had endured another injury-blighted year in 2016 was seen as a change of tack after previously refusing to embrace the idea of fresh blood in his coaching staff.

Tennis legend John McEnroe was one of the most outspoken critics of Nadal's stubbornness, telling the 30-year-old to "get a new damn coach", after his shocking second-round exit at Wimbledon to qualifier Dustin Brown in 2015.