Carlos Moya makes Rafael Nadal prediction as he reveals reason for Doha return

Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya has backed the Spanish legend to “return to his level” and “be a candidate player for the tournaments he plays” if he avoids further injury setbacks.

Moya admitted missing the Australian Open through a hip injury was a “strong morale blow” for Nadal and also explained why the Mallorcan will make his return in Doha.

Nadal withdrew from the 2024 Australian Open due to a hip muscle injury that surfaced during his comeback at the Brisbane International earlier this month.

The 22-time major champion was beaten by world No 55 Jordan Thompson at the ATP 250 event in Brisbane in a three-set quarter-final contest.

Prior to Brisbane, Nadal had not played a singles match since losing to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open, where he sustained a hip injury. The Spaniard underwent arthroscopic surgery to treat the psoas muscle in his hip in June 2023.

The 37-year-old is set to make his return next month, having entered the hard-court ATP 250 tournament in Doha that will begin on February 19.

In an interview with Punto de Break, Moya gave his assessment of the former world No 1’s comeback in Brisbane.

“I have never been afraid of the level that Rafa can offer. On a physical or tennis level, I know him very well and I know how competitive and humble he is to row when he has to do it. He has a very great tactical intelligence and the different game plans that he has,” he said.

“In that aspect, what I saw does not surprise me because I have seen so many things about Rafa that it is no longer a surprise, but it is true that it could not have gone well and started with more doubts, but it reminded me of a bull that has been locked up for a year. You just drop it in the middle and it goes like a beast.

“After so many months of suffering, I saw him enjoying himself again, both in training and in the games in Brisbane. That was the version of Rafa that we all wanted to see.”

The 1998 French Open champion also addressed how Nadal is recovering from his injury setback and admitted that missing the Australian Open was difficult.

“Is improving. We are being cautious. Where we come from, we have to be careful. We are slowly starting to train again. It wasn’t serious, but it was serious enough to not play the Australian Open, which was one of the big goals he had,” Moya explained.

“You fill the glass and there is a drop that fills it. The injury itself is not serious, it can happen, but when you come from where you come from, with those hard months you have had and seeing yourself so close to returning to a very decent version, it is a shame. He really wanted to play the Australian Open.

“I knew it wasn’t the same, because he doesn’t react the same as last year. There he immediately saw that there was a very big limitation. In this case it was not the same. He was able to compete. A serious injury prevents you from doing what he was able to do against Thompson.

“Of course, you never know because we had already had problems in the past that seemed like it was going to be nothing and then it was a couple of months.

“A break at these levels is 3-4 weeks and in this case we have been lucky that it has not gone further. This happens in sport, but it is true that the morale blow has been strong because he seemed prepared and problems from the past come back to you again.”

Moya revealed that the hard-court tournament in Doha was chosen over clay-court events in South America for Nadal’s return to avoid frequently changing surfaces.

“Surface changes are not easy. While it is true that land should be better for your joints, going from fast (hard courts) to land (clay courts), to go back to the US [for Indian Wells and Miami] and then back to land, we thought it was a bit excessive,” the Spaniard said.

“That’s why we chose to make this calendar, without so much change of surface.”

The former world No 1 was also asked if Nadal could return to the level he produced in 2022 before he was derailed by injuries.

“I am optimistic, but also realistic. Rafa won Roland Garros a year and a half ago. If he has not had continuity it is because of injuries. Until the Wimbledon injury, he had a spectacular year,” Moya added.

“I don’t know if he is at that level, but if injuries don’t prevent him, I think he will be a candidate player for the tournaments he plays. He will need continuity, but if he achieves it, he will return to his level.”

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