"He's pretty much ready to go to Australia and give it a go." A few words, those of coach Carlos Moya, are enough to make it clear that Rafa Nadal's return will not be an "extra" but a real return to the big leagues.
A year after the first injury that kept him away from the courts for a year, the Spaniard will play an official tournament, in Brisbane, at the end of the month.
A period of stop so long that many - also given the 37 of the 22-time Grand Slam champion - had already branded it as his definitive retirement. And yet in recent months, the Mallorcan has worked hard in the gym and with the racket. The details were revealed by Moya himself to the ATP. "Little by little, we were able to progress, the problems were gradually solved," said the Spaniard who, at the end of a good career as a tennis player (in 1999 he reached the top of the ATP rankings), began his career as a coach with particular attention to the psychological side. "Rafa always knew he wanted to come back - says Moya who has been following the tennis player since 2017 - After the operation we didn't see each other for a month and a half because he went on holiday to detox. Then, at the end of August, we started training, but very lightly." The two spent the last few days in Kuwait, where they trained with Arthur Fils, just to prepare for the tour in Australia. Although many are ready to bet that there are only two real goals: Rolland Garros and the Paris 2024 Games, both on clay where Nadal has become a legend. The start was very tough and there was also a moment when "we all had our doubts that he couldn't come to Australia, him more than anyone else". "It was the hardest time I had with him," Moya says. "An athlete - concludes the coach - has an expiration date, and we are approaching it every day. You are never aware of when that moment will come, very rarely do you have this certainty. You just have to keep trying."
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