What did Rafael Nadal's coach Moya say just before Spaniard's Rome withdrawal?

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

Coach Carlos Moya said "the goal was still to be at Roland Garros" just before Rafael Nadal also withdrew from the Rome Masters. Nadal, who was hoping to return to action at the start of the clay season, missed Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid before also withdrawing from Rome on Friday.

In his message on Friday, Nadal revealed he is noticing an improvement in his recovery from a psoas injury but noted he is just not ready to return to action. Just before Nadal pulled out of Rome, Moya said no doubt "we will see a great Nadal once his health problems are gone." "The goal is still to be at Roland-Garros.

Rafa has had injuries but once these problems are gone, I'm sure we'll see a great Rafa Nadal again," Moya told L'Equipe, per We Are Tennis.

"The goal is still to be at Roland-Garros. (...) Rafa has had injuries but once these problems are gone, I'm sure we'll see a great Rafa Nadal again."

Carlos Moya

(via @lequipe) pic.twitter.com/3Aq0uj0FXc — We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) May 5, 2023

Nadal announced his Rome withdrawal on Friday afternoon

In recent days, there were reports suggesting that Nadal would be able to play in Rome.

But then, Nadal announced what tennis fans did not want to hear. "Hello everyone! I am very sorry to announce that I will not be able to be in Rome. You all know how much it hurts me to miss another one of the tournaments that have marked my professional and personal career for all the love and support of the Italians.

Despite having noticed an improvement in recent days, there have been many months without having been able to train at a high level and the readaptation process has its times and I have no choice but to accept them and continue working.

A hug to all," Nadal announced on Friday. Now that Nadal is also out of Rome, the fears of him potentially missing the French Open will only intensify. It remains to be seen if Nadal will at least be able to compete at Roland Garros.