Moya: 'Once Rafael Nadal steps on the court, he becomes...'

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

Carlos Moya decided to pursue his coaching career alongside Rafael Nadal in late 2016, when the former World number 1 was experiencing one of the most difficult moments of his entire career. The two have racked up five Grand Slam titles in three seasons, as well as briskly approaching Roger Federer's all-time record.

Traditionally, Spanish players have always shone on clay, while very few have been able to win even on the grass. In his sensational palmarés, the Spaniard champion also won two Wimbledon titles, dated respectively 2008 and 2010.

After remedying some premature and unexpected eliminations from the Championships, Rafa has returned to shine in the last two years on Church Road, surrendering in both circumstances one step away from the final at the hands of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

“I think you are born like that,” Moya said on Eurosport’s Tennis Legends podcast. “I mean, you can learn a lot of things for sure. He learned that and improved in many ways, but you have to have it. Also his background is very good, he has a family that was to professional sport before, so for sure that helps.

I mean, if you can teach that, we will have many Rafas and we don’t have that at all. It’s amazing that a guy from Mallorca to win 19 Grand Slams, 12 French Opens. For me it was a big surprise that he won Wimbledon as well.

But I think for sure you improve things but you are born like that and I have no doubt about that" - he added. “Mallorca is a calm island. We are called the ‘calm guys from the island’ and with the atmosphere we have here we take things very easy – you know, we are pretty relaxed, we like to chill.

You know, I think in that sense, Rafa is like that. But then once he steps on the court, he becomes a beast. You know, he’s more than a hundred percent – I would say he never gives up. He’s always fighting. I think even if he loses, you know – as a coach, or Carlos as an agent – that he’s going to give his best" - Charly concluded.