“It was the most difficult time I’ve had with him” – coach Moya on Nadal’s latest comeback

Carlos Moya, the coach of 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, has been working with the Spaniard since 2016. As Nadal prepares for his latest comeback in January in Australia, Moya described Nadal’s recovery form his latest injury as the ‘most difficult time I’ve had with him’.

Nadal has not played since the 2023 Australian Open in January after undergoing an operation on his psoas muscle and a lingering hip issue. The Spaniard will return at the ATP Brisbane International in the first week of the new season as he readies for what many think will be the final act of his legendary career.

“There have been other difficult situations, but now you can tell the batteries are running low,” Moya told the ATP Tour website. “A sportsman has an expiry date, and he is getting closer to it every day. You’re never aware of when that time is, very rarely. You just keep trying. And I think in that regard we’ve all had our doubts that it could come in Australia, he more so than anyone. I had them for a certain part of the process, during certain stages. I had the feeling that it could be the end, that he’d have no chance to play again. It was the most difficult time I’ve had with him.”

Little by little, we were able to progress, the issues were gradually solved and now he’s practically ready to go to Australia and give it a go.

Carlos Moya on Rafael Nadal

Moya: “It was a slow progression”

Moya also gave some insight on the recovery process for Nadal, revealing that the team had to gradually increase the workload for the Spaniard as he prepared for his return.

“After the operation… it was a month and a half of practically not seeing him, because he went on holiday. He was doing rehab as much as he could, given that he was on the boat in Greece. Then, at the end of August, we started to train, but very lightly. We would do two days a week, 20 minutes. It was a very slow progression. Sometimes we would take a step back, then go again… We were always very careful.

“The start was very tough, of course. There were times when it looked difficult because he wasn’t getting better. We always had peace of mind because of the constant contact with the doctor, with tests, to reassure ourselves that the rate of progress was completely normal. We gradually increased the load and the intensity, always with a very careful plan that we followed. Sometimes we would have to take a step back, rest a little, slow down.

“But it’s the entire process that comes with an injury of this severity, and you’re at the point of your career when you’re no longer 20 years old. Little by little, we were able to progress, the issues were gradually solved and now he’s practically ready to go to Australia and give it a go.”

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