Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya revealed the Spaniard reached the retirement’s decision after struggling with multiple injuries in the last two years. Nadal could only play sporadically due to injury woes and recently decided to call it a day on his glorious career.
The Spaniard will retire after playing in the Davis Cup finals for his country in Malaga, from November 19 to 24. Moya revealed Nadal wanted to keep playing but he was not happy as he could not bring his best to the court because of his fitness.
Moya said on Radioestadio Noche appearance, “In part it may be a relief after these last two years that have been hard for him.”
Nadal struggled with hip injury and could not return to his best level.
“We’ve always been behind a bit. He gets injured, misses the Australian Open, tries to play Indian Wells and gets injured again,” Moya recalled.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion also had a tough draw at the French Open as he lost to Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the opening round.
“And then the clay court season starts, for which he had prepared with few hours of training and with limitations due to injuries,” Moya continued. “I think that if he had had a more pleasant draw at Roland-Garros (French Open) we would have seen a necessary change of trend. That didn’t happen.”
After the French Open, Nadal was knocked out of the Paris Olympics in the second round by his arch-rival Novak Djokovic.
“The final point is the Olympic Games, he has a problem the days before and plays against Djokovic in the second round. I think that was his last great hope and that’s why he decided that it will be his last,” Carlos Moya said.
Moya admitted it has been a tough and difficult year for Nadal due to injury problems.
“It has been a tough and difficult year, first for him because he has put a lot into making it a great year but unfortunately his body has not let him do so,” coach Carlos Moya said during the aforementioned appearance.
“After the Olympics, he takes a few weeks off and I think that’s when he realizes that this is going to be his last year,” he said.
Before the Davis Cup, Nadal will play at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh.
