It has been a professional working relationship that has spanned well over a decade, but from now on, Rafael Nadal will no longer be coached by his uncle Toni.

Toni has been instrumental in his nephew's glittering career in professional tennis, which has seen Nadal win 75 career titles, 16 of which are Grand Slams.

However, it was announced earlier in the year that Toni would be leaving Nadal's backroom team to take up a new position coaching future players at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Mallorca, which opened its doors last October.

Carlos Moya, a fellow Mallorcan native and former World Number One, has been guiding Nadal through this season, which ended due to injury last month. 

And, Toni has penned a tribute to his nephew in a Spanish publication, as the working relationship comes to an end.

Writing in El Pais, Toni said: “The Masters Cup of this last week has been the finishing touch to my career as coach of my nephew Rafael.

“I conclude a happy stage of 27 years that began the day when the son of my brother Sebastian entered my tennis court with only three years. Today I leave yours but my path does not end here.

“I will continue to be linked to tennis because my enthusiasm and love for this sport, fortunately, remain intact.

“I must acknowledge and thank greatly, the person most responsible for my luck: my nephew Rafael. The relationship with him has always been uncharacteristically easy within the world in which we move.

“Thanks to their education, respect and passion I have been able to unfold my way of understanding this profession. Thanks to him I have lived experiences that have surpassed all my dreams as a coach. I have travelled by his side to incredible sites and I have met relevant and interesting people from many fields.

“Today I feel greatly valued and loved because his figure has magnified mine much more than I deserve.”