Tennis: Carlos Moya Expresses Uncertainty About Rafael Nadal’s Ability to Handle Grand Slam Pressures in His Comeback

Rafael Nadal has been making strides in training after recovering from a hip injury, yet his coach, Carlos Moya, remains concerned about Nadal’s physical resilience in the demanding environment of Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal, 37, experienced a muscle issue at Melbourne Park in January, leading to a hiatus in his season. He plans to return to competitive tennis at Brisbane this month and participate in the Australian Open from January 14 to 28, a tournament where he previously clinched two of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

Following surgery in June, the Spanish tennis star, who has hinted at 2024 possibly being his last year on tour, has intensified his training efforts to make a successful comeback and end his career on his terms. Moya, in an ATP Tour interview, acknowledged Nadal’s strong training performance but voiced concerns about transitioning from training to the high-intensity match environment, particularly in the best-of-five-set format of Grand Slam events. Moya’s current apprehension revolves around Nadal’s ability to withstand this level of competition, especially with the Australian Open approaching.

Nadal recently fell out of the top 100 for the first time in two decades, now ranked 668th. However, he qualifies for a protected ranking due to his prolonged injury absence. Moya noted that Nadal would face tough opponents in the early rounds and would benefit from favorable draws to regain his competitive rhythm. Moya remarked that although Nadal usually doesn’t need rhythm due to his exceptional skill, the current situation is different, indicating a new challenge in Nadal’s illustrious career.