Rafael Nadal (R) of Spain listens to his coach and uncle Toni Nadal (L) during a tennis practice session at the Olympic park in Rio de Janeiro on August 1, 2016, ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal's long time coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, will make 2017 his final season with the 14-time Grand Slam champion.

Toni Nadal, who has been with his nephew his entire tennis life, has decided to put his time into working with the next generation of Spanish tennis stars at his academy in Mallorca.

“Starting next year I will not follow Rafael on the circuit anymore. I will dedicate myself exclusively to our academy,” Toni Nadal told the Il Tennis Italiano website.

“The relationship with my nephew is always optimal, in all these years we have never had periods of crisis.

“The truth is that every year I decide less and less, to the point where I will not decide anything anymore.

“I have travelled with Rafa for a lot of years, and now I want to go back to training young people and our academy is the ideal place.”