Rafael Nadal 'doesn't care' if he plays against uncle Toni in Felix Auger-Aliassime clash

Rafael Nadal has admitted he "doesn't care" if his former coach and uncle Toni sits in new charge Felix Auger-Aliassime's box when the pair face off in the French Open fourth round. It will be a second meeting between the world No 5 and the 21-year-old but the first since Auger-Aliassime started working with Nadal's uncle.

Nadal and Auger-Aliassime have set up a popcorn round-of-16 clash, which will also be a battle of the Nadal family as nephew takes on uncle, with Nadal's uncle and former coach now mentoring the Canadian. While the ninth seed has already confirmed his coach will be watching from a "neutral place", Nadal has admitted he wouldn't care if he saw Toni in his opponent's box.

The 13-time French Open had already spoken with his uncle following his and Auger-Aliassime's respective third round victories on Friday but shut down any idea that the match would be awkward. "No, I already talked with Toni after my match. I know you are going to ask, or you guys, gonna ask the question, but for me it's very simple. He's my uncle. I don't think he will be able to want me to lose, without a doubt, but he's a professional and he's with another player," he said.

While the 35-year-old didn't know what his uncle Toni was planning to do for the match, he said he "didn't care" and would compete as normal, continuing: "I don't know what's gonna happen, if he's gonna stay in the box or not, but I don't care. I have zero problem with that. So it's not a story at all for me. I know what's the feelings that we have between each other. I know he wants the best for me. Now he's helping another player. But honestly, for me, it's zero problem, and I know he wants the best for me."

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