Rafael Nadal suffers Australian Open setback as his coach Carlos Moya opts not to travel Down Under

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya talking tactics

Rafael Nadal will have to do without the services of Carlos Moya during the 2021 Australian Open after his coach decided not to travel with him Down Under due to the coronavirus restrictions.

The state of Victoria has imposed “the strongest, the strictest rules” for tennis players not only for the two-week quarantine period, but also for the duration of the warm-up tournaments and the season-opening Grand Slam.

Players, support staff and officials will arrive by chartered flights over the next few days after which they will quarantine for 14 days before being allowed to take part in events.

Moya, who has been part of 20-time Grand Slam winner Nadal’s coaching set-up since 2016, has opted not to travel to Australia.

“After speaking with Rafa, we have decided that I won’t travel to Australia with the team,” he revealed.

“My intention was to be with the team from the beginning of the Australian Open as usual but the Australian government is not authorising separate travelling and arriving at the beginning of the tournament.

“I will follow the tournament from home and will stay with my family, parents and kids due to the delicate situation that Spain is living with the virus. Best of luck to the teams travelling.”

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