Rafael Nadal holds burning desire to compete at the top and his fighting spirit is as strong as ever and the legendary Spaniard’s coach Carlos Moya has had some update about the retirement of his friend and charge.
After the former World No. 1 was forced to pull out of the 2023 French Open because of a hip injury, he in May last year announced that 2024 could potentially be his final season on the tour.
“You never know how things will turn out, but my intention is that next year will be my last year,” the tennis great said during a press conference. However, the 22-time Grand Slam champion could opt to stay on the tour after the conclusion of 2024 tennis calendar with Moya declaring that the clay court maestro has earned the right to play as long as he wishes.
The 1998 French Open Singles Champion in an interview with Punto de Break was asked whether if there are any options if 2024 will not be the last year of Nadal’s career and he replied: “Yes, why not? He has also said it himself in other interviews.
“He has earned the right to decide how, where and when he wants to retire. Despite his situation, which has changed by having a child, he wants to continue competing in this way.”
After an injury-hit campaign in 2023, Nadal finally made his long-awaited comeback at the beginning of 2024 at Brisbane International. However, his comeback survived only two matches as he skipped the Australian Open because of fresh hip injury concerns.
His latest injury is not as serious as the hip flexor setback as per Moya and the coach is convinced about Mallorcan’s strong desire to compete on the tour with young guns.
“I’m surprised by the desire he has, his behavior on the court, always wanting more, his ambition to improve. It’s incredible. That’s what has made him who he is,” he said.
“To maintain that motivation for so many years, when the easiest thing to do would be to say ‘I quit’. You see how professional he is and how bad he has had it this past year, seeing how he came back after the operation and the day-to-day and you think what a credit he has to come back at a good level.”
Nadal brushed aside Dominic Thiem and Jason Kubler in straight sets in Brisbane before losing to Jordan Thompson in the quarter-final of Brisbane Open.
Moya has faith in Nadal’s ability to still compete with the top players however, the concerns remain about whether or not he can have consistency with his performances at the the top level.
“Yes, why not? He won the first two games well and almost beat a player who almost beat [Stefanos] Tsitsipas in Australia the following week,” the former world No 1 said.
“That is, of a high level. I think that, after one game, I have no doubts about the level that Rafa can offer.
“What is missing is knowing what would happen if one day he plays with a top, wins and plays with another tomorrow. He has not yet experienced that rhythm of competition and we are missing that. I said he would need about 10 games to get to that 100% level.”