Carlos Moya on Rafael Nadal: “It was the most complicated moment I had with him”

On the eve of the long-awaited return of the Spanish coach Carlos Moya He detailed in an interview with the ATP about the overall recovery in his left iliopsoas muscle Rafael Nadal (668 degrees), which kept him out of the ring for almost the entire season.

“The productive life of elite players has an expiration date. You never know when that moment arrives, you always keep trying. I believe in that aspect We all had our doubts If I can get to Australia. I had a feeling it might be the end, even without me having the option to play again. It was the most complicated moment I’ve ever had with him“said the former player, who knew how to top the rankings for two weeks in 1999 and has been preparing for Manacori since 2018, when he replaced Toni Nadal.

Thus, the holder of 20 titles at the highest level gave further specifications about the process: “Sometimes it was necessary to push a little, and other times to step back. Depending on the situation we saw on a daily basis, especially his mental state and his motivations. It was about finding a balance.” Between tightening and loosening. We knew we had to be careful. It wasn’t a bed of roses, far from it, but A somewhat twisty and winding road with many curves“.

But the three-time Buenos Aires champion left a good impression in Kuwait, where the left-handed player participated in training with French youth player Arthur Fils (36): “The truth these days is that things have gone very well, much better than he expected.. Rafa arrived thinking he would never be competitive or equal, but left convinced he might be. “I think we’re making the right progress.”

“My biggest fear is absorbing the burdens of the partyIt is impossible to have the same conditions in a training session as in a match. That’s the doubt I have now, especially at the Grand Slams. But we have time, if the Australian Open starts tomorrow it will be a real fear. “There’s still a month to go, the Brisbane Championship and tough training sessions.”