Carlos Moya: The privilege of being with Rafael Nadal | ATP Tour

Nadal Retirement

Moya: The privilege of being with Rafa

Coach and pal displays on his time with Nadal

November 20, 2024

I first met Rafa when he was 11 years outdated, in Stuttgart. He was enjoying in a event on the Nike Junior Tour, within the under-12 class, and I used to be enjoying within the Masters 1000 in the identical metropolis. I feel that at the moment it was a part of the Tremendous 9 or Masters Collection class, I can’t keep in mind now. I used to be enjoying with Becker and Rafa got here to the follow the day earlier than with somebody from Nike, who launched him to me. They requested me to play 10 minutes with him, and we knocked up for a bit. That was the primary time we crossed paths. I believed he was a really shy and well-mannered boy, who barely spoke. Then on courtroom he was reworked and his depth was so excessive for somebody of his age.

Later, in 2016, it was such a pleasure to obtain the decision from the staff, however first I wished to have a dialog alone with him. He was coming off the again of two seasons the place issues had not gone effectively for him, he was 30 years outdated and didn’t know what to do going ahead. We sat down to speak at my home and he laid out his objectives for me. I did not hesitate within the slightest to just accept as a result of I may see he’d be capable of obtain them. I used to be vastly assured and once I noticed his need to attempt to get again to the place he deserved to be, which was on the prime and successful Grand Slam titles, I didn’t hesitate to affix the challenge.

With that need, I knew that he’d be completely able to reaching it.

Actually, I believed my new function can be tougher as a result of it was a giant change. We’d been mates for over 20 years, shared rather a lot collectively, each on and off the courtroom, and turning into his coach… I used to be uncertain about the way it may work. It’s true that Rafa could be very well-mannered and respectful, I’ve by no means heard him say a single phrase towards his staff or his household. That’s one thing I additionally valued and it helped me when it got here to working with him. I don’t just like the phrase ‘boss’, however typically you make selections or you have got conversations that aren’t simple and it’s arduous travelling and spending a lot time collectively. I used to be scared that that might erode the friendship facet of it, but it surely wasn’t the case.

Throughout that point, I’d say that nothing shocked me, however I admired a variety of issues. I wasn’t in any respect shocked as a result of my expectations had all the time been so excessive with him. However it’s true that you’re all the time amazed together with his capability to evolve and enhance.

Personally, I’m fascinated by the truth that he can play each level as if the earlier one didn’t occur, that’s so arduous to do in tennis. Rafa is ready to put something dangerous that occurs to 1 facet and overlook it. That’s one of many keys that permit him to struggle for each level, each set, each match; one of many keys which have allowed him to go to this point. The definition of resilience, a phrase that could be very trendy, is Rafa. He has fallen many instances, notably with accidents, and he has all the time received again up and are available again. All these expertise are unbelievable they usually’d shock me in anybody else I didn’t know, however I do know Rafa… It doesn’t shock me, but it surely makes me admire him rather a lot.

Now that all the pieces is over, I’ve many recollections of an unbelievable interval of my life that may by no means be matched. It’s one thing I’ll all the time carry with me. I’m grateful that he thought I may type a part of his staff for this journey. I’ve discovered a lot, I’ve had the possibility to spend eight years with one of many greats within the historical past of this sport and my recollections of it are great.

After all, there will likely be issues I’ll miss, however they’re issues I’m grateful for. Having loved all that point with a participant like him, with an individual like him, all of the experiences we’ve had along with the staff…

I’m positive there’ll be moments once I’ll look again and really feel nostalgia, however I all the time have a look at new beginnings as a constructive factor. Luckily, I’ve an exquisite household with whom I’ll have the opportunity to spend so much of time. I’m positive I’ll really feel nostalgia, however what I really feel above all is gratitude and appreciation.

*Carlos Moyà was Rafael Nadal’s coach from 2017 to 2024