Rumours are flying that his Uncle Toni, lifelong mentor and coach, could step aside to allow the fallen idol to bring in a new coach.

AFP spoke to the 54-year-old Toni Nadal, who openly admitted for the first time that the 14-times Grand Slam champion might consider hiring a new 'supercoach' if things don't go his way again soon.

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"I think you need to ask Rafael," he said when asked if Nadal should consider a new coach.

"It's true that this year he's going a little down but I am sure the comeback of Rafael is coming soon.

"Maybe if next year Rafael is playing not too good, then I think he can think about some changes in his game or in his team."

Bringing in a legend of the game is a tactic that has worked superbly for several top players in recent years. Ivan Lendl helped Andy Murray to finally win a Grand Slam tournament after a string of defeats in finals; Novak Djokovic got back to the very top of the sport this year thanks in large part to help from Boris Becker; and even Roger Federer, who has spent most of his career without a permanent coach, hired Stefan Edberg at the end of 2013 and has since been playing some of his best tennis for years.

With Nadal not having been past the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam since the 2014 French Open, speculation has been rife that the Spaniard could follow suit.

And Uncle Toni's words are the strongest indication so far that something could be in the pipeline, even if he went on to add that he'll continue as part of Team Nadal come what may.

"We have a group and I'm the coach of Rafael for ever, since Rafael was three years old... and things were always good for us," said Toni Nadal.

Rafael Nadal with Toni Nadal - Australian Open 2015 Image credit: AFP

Nadal himself refused to be drawn on the matter, saying last week that he did not need anyone else to help him - despite the likes of John McEnroe suggesting recently that the time has come for a change.

And Uncle Toni has received backing from one major figure in the game, however: world number one Novak Djokovic, who was asked about it after Wimbledon.

"I don't see a big reason for this to happen," the Serb said, perhaps missing the irony that Nadal's poor 2015 has coincided with Djokovic's best-ever season.

"From what I've seen, he's saying it's not necessary... He has won 14 Grand Slam titles. He's one of the best players in the game with his uncle Toni who has been with him for his entire career."

OUR VIEW

Uncle Toni is absolutely right - now is not the time to make a change, but 2016 might be. This season turned into a write-off for Nadal, but the player himself has admitted that not all was right physically: "Especially during the first six months I was feeling very tired - every time I was playing and practising," he said. Until Rafa has had a fair crack at next season, he is probably right not to change things. If, however, he endures a poor Australian Open in Melbourne and then starts the clay season as badly as he did in 2015, then it's time to call someone in - and quickly.

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