Protecting the health of Rafael Nadal will be the ultimate factor when it comes to deciding which tournaments he will play in later this year, according to his coach.
Carlos Moya has said he is yet to speak with the 19-time Grand Slam champion about his intentions for when the Tour resumes in August. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all tournaments have been either suspended or cancelled since March. Resulting in what is set to be a packed seven-week calendar on the men’s tour between September and October. Within that period three Master 1000 events, as well as both the US Open and French Open will take place. On top of that, players will also have to factor in adapting from hard to clay court tennis within a small period of time.
“To be honest, we have not yet spoken with Rafa to find out what the definitive schedule will be for when tennis returns. It is true that there are about five very compressed tournaments that are very important and that Nadal would like to play them, but now He is not 20 years old and the situation is no longer the same as before,” Moya told reporters in Palma de Mallorca.
Nadal has a huge amount of points to defend within this period. As the reigning champion at both of the major events, there will be a total of 2000 points at stake for him. On top of that, he also has points to defend from winning the Italian Open last year as well as his run to the semi-finals at the Madrid Open.
Whilst a final decision is still to be made, Moya believes it is possible that the Spaniard could play in all tournaments. Seemingly dismissing one idea that he might miss the US Open to focus on the European clay. This year’s New York tournament is taking place behind closed doors for the first time in history with stern restrictions in place due to COVID-19.
“I am totally sure that Rafa thinks he can play everything and he probably will, but we have to know how to adapt,” Moya commented.
“We all have to sit down in these coming weeks and analyse it accordingly. We have to ask very well what the road map will be, guaranteeing Nadal’s health which is the first thing.”
Nadal’s former coach, Toni Nadal, has previously criticised the ATP over their scheduling of tournaments in such close proximity. Saying it places veteran players such as Nadal and Novak Djokovic at a disadvantage. Meanwhile, former world No.1 Andy Murray has voiced his concerns over the safety of the calendar. Fearing players on the Tour could be a higher than usual risk of injury.
“It is not possible and it’s not safe, in my opinion, to play the final or even the semi-finals or quarter-finals in New York and then you are playing on Tuesday in Madrid at altitude on a clay court when players haven’t played in a long time,” Murray said on Saturday.
Moya has insisted that the bottom line regarding Nadal’s schedule will be his physical and mental health. During the final quarter of the 2019 season the 34-year-old suffered from hand and abdominal injuries.
“We have always prioritized Rafa’s well-being within which he must have some results to more or less choose which tournaments he can play and which ones not on the calendar. As I said before, his physical and mental state is the most important thing at the moment. We are not going to force any kind of situation.” He concluded.
Nadal started the 2020 season by winning 13 out of 16 matches played. In February he won his 85th ATP title after triumphing at the Mexican Open.
