Coach Carlos Moya has revealed that he won’t be accompanying world No. 2 Rafael Nadal at this year’s Australian Open. Moya was targeting to arrive to Australia for the beginning of the Australian Open but that plan fell apart as the Australian government is not authorizing separate travels.
« After speaking with Rafa we have decided that I won’t travel to Australia with the team. My intention was to be with the team from the beginning of the Australian Open as usual, but the Australian government is not authorizing separate traveling and have me arrive 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. All the best of lucks to the team traveling, » Moya said.
Nadal lost to Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open in 2020
Last year, record 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal made the Australian Open quarterfinal, before falling short against Austrian tennis star Thiem.
Thiem, who won his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open last year, acknowledged that bearing the Big Three and winning the Grand Slams is his ultimate goal. « A Grand Slam victory is a Grand Slam victory,” Thiem said.
“Otherwise one would have to say that all titles before the Big Three (Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) are worthless. But of course I still want to win a title where I can beat one or maybe two of them. »
Nadal has had success at Melbourne Park as he has made five finals at the Australian Open throughout his career. In five finals played, Nadal claimed only victory as he beat fellow 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the 2009 Australian Open final.
« It’s true that I have faced many injury problems in my career, » Nadal recently acknowledged. « But well, it is also true that the way to solve them has always been found. Some have counted for more, others for less, but the solution has always been found.
And not only the medical solution has always been found but also the tennis solution. « When you accumulate problems, it is also not only the momentary issue but what remains inside your head and how it disappoints you to see what to do when you get injured. But, you have to return. »
