Rafael Nadal faces the conquest of his thirteenth Roland Garros In an “irregular” season in which he has not been able to have the usual preparation and, after overcoming a first mental bump, he now has games to regain his maximum level, according to his coach, former tennis player Carlos Moyá.
“It hasn't been easy. It's been seven months, and the first two without playing at all. Then starting very little by little, playing for an hour. It is a situation that no one had ever experienced and for an elite athlete it is very complicated, “said the coach in statements to the ATP website in Spanish.
Moyá acknowledged that after the long confinement caused by the pandemic, the first thing that had to be recovered was the champion's mind, which “was not prepared for the situation that existed beyond tennis.” “We gave total priority to his head, to play when he felt comfortable. There were days when we played five minutes, others one hour, others nothing. (…) When we were clear about the calendar, we pressed, “he said.
The coach pointed out that it was Rafa himself who chose the Rome tournament to return and that, although he is now well, he lacks the rhythm of the competition. “He's ready, but he still has games to go. A player can reach 85% or 90% in training, but the rest is given by victories. And this is where we are now. He needs to have the continuity to play several games, “he said.
Focused on giving one hundred percent during Roland Garros, his favorite tournament, Moyá acknowledged that the Mallorcan will have to take the pulse during the tournament, devoid of the long season on clay that was organized in other years. “If you look at his resume, it's clear that Roland Garros has a very special place on his calendar (…) This year the margin of error is much smaller, “he assured.