- Rafael Nadal added his 16th Major title at the US Open, beating Kevin Anderson
- After two injury-plagued years Nadal has risen to world No 1 status again
- His victory at Flushing Meadows added to his success at the French Open in June
Rafael Nadal can compete at the top level for years to come if he manages to stay healthy, his coach Carlos Moya has said after the Spaniard won two Grand Slams titles this year.
Former world No 1 Moya joined Nadal’s coaching team to work alongside his uncle Toni Nadal in December last year and has helped revitalise the 31-year-old Spaniard’s career.
Plagued by injuries and a loss of form in the past two years, Nadal has risen to No 1 in the rankings and won his 10th French Open title and third US Open this year.
Rafael Nadal parades his US Open trophy in front of New York’s Empire State Building
The Spaniard has risen to world No 1 after two injury-plagued years in the game
He lost to his great rival Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.
‘If he can stay as healthy as he is now, without injury, motivated, looking after himself the way he is, we will be talking about Rafa for years to come,’ Moya told the ATP Tour website.
‘He is a player who broke records as a teenager and who is now breaking them as a veteran as well. This is something we haven’t see much in the history of tennis.
Nadal added a US Open triumph on Sunday to his French Open victory from June
‘When I joined the team I knew that there was much more to come for Rafa, that if he stayed injury free and continued training with the same motivation, desire and confidence, that the tennis would come.’
Moya, who shares a close friendship with Nadal, said nothing about his compatriot would surprise him anymore.
‘He always gives the best of himself. We are talking about one of the greatest players in history and, as such, my faith in him is rock solid.’
Former world No 1 Moya joined Nadal’s coaching team in December last year