Former Roland Garros winner Carlos Moya has made a shocking claim about reigning Australian Open champion Roger Federer and current World No. 2 Rafael Nadal.
Moya, who won the French Open in 1998, has backed Federer and Nadal to play in their 40s. According to Moya, who took over from Toni Nadal as Rafa’s coach, Swiss maestro Federer is phenomenal’ because he is still willing to put those extra hours in training, on the practice courts to improve his game so that he remains ahead of his rivals.
Praising his charge Rafa, Moya said the biggest reason behind the 16-time Major champ’s success was his never-ending appetite to get better on the court. The southpaw has consistently defied the odds and despite battling a series of injuries, he will return to the top of the men’s rankings on Monday.
“He (Nadal) is 31, he won everything, and yet he wants to improve,” Moya told Corriere della Sera.
“And he is open to new ideas.”
“Until Saturday, he (Federer) was the world No 1 at 36,” he continued.
“At my time, in the 90s, at his age, we were retired for six or seven years but Roger is phenomenal.
“Rafa as well, at the top of the rankings as a 31-year-old, it’s not bad!
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them still there in their 40s.”
Federer will lose his No. 1 ranking to Rafa after he was beaten by Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round of the Miami Masters last week.
Meanwhile, Rafa will make his much anticipated return to action in the Davis Cup quarterfinals against Germany in April. Nadal has been out of the game since the Australian Open in January because of a leg injury. After Davis Cup duty, the King of Clay will participate in the Monte Carlo Masters, where he is the defending champion. The tournament will get underway at the scenic Monte Carlo Country Club from April 14.
