Coach Moya: 'Nadal only fears injuries'

Coach Carlos Moya is optimistic that his pupil Rafael Nadal will regain his former level at the Qatar Open next month, provided he is in full health.

"Until his injury at Wimbledon 2022, Nadal had a spectacular year," coach Moya said in an interview on January 30. "If not for injuries, Nadal would be a top contender for the title in any tournament he participates in. He first needs to play consistently."

Nadal, currently outside the ATP top 600, will enter the tournament under the ranking protection rule as world number 9, but will lose his seeding status in the tournaments he participates in. Photo: ATP

Nadal returned earlier this season, playing three matches at the Brisbane International, before withdrawing from the Australian Open due to a muscle tear. According to Moya, Nadal was genuinely disappointed to miss the opportunity to play in Melbourne, even though the injury wasn't serious. "After three weeks, the injury has healed, thankfully without any further complications," Moya revealed.

Nadal will compete in the ATP 250 Qatar Open on February 19th. He decided to skip the Rio Open on his favorite clay court to continue testing his skills on hard courts. According to coach Moya, playing in Doha will help Nadal avoid having to change surfaces frequently in a short period of time. He also plans to play at Indian Wells, a Masters 1000 hard court tournament in the US, in March.

"I know Nadal well and I've never worried about him losing his ability," added coach Moya. "I know Nadal can compete because he's intelligent and has different game plans in his head. Like a cow that's been locked up for a year, it will charge like a wild animal when released into the middle of the ring."

According to coach Moya, Nadal's coaching team has high expectations but also adheres to the reality that the "King of Clay's" body is no longer at its peak. Nadal's training regimen and tournament schedule have been constantly adjusted in recent years to help him adapt to his condition.

"Of course, the clay season is Nadal's focus," Moya affirmed. "It's the best surface for his body right now. We're prioritizing Grand Slams and the Olympics, and we can't think any further than that yet."

Vy Anh

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