Corretja is 'so impressed' with Nadal during this difficult period

Eurosport expert Alex Corretja believes Rafael Nadal is in his most difficult year yet as he is leading up to the US Open.

In certain parts of this season Nadal has struggled due to injury - his abdominal injury in particular stopped him from competing in a semi final against Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon.

However it hasn't been a disappointing season for the Spaniard with him winning both the French and Australian Open. Although he has had success the lack of time to prepare for the US Open could cause some difficulty in this Grand Slam.

Corretja started his interview by saying “If that would happen five, six years ago, maybe we could say okay, Rafa needs this kind of training before a Grand Slam, in order to be ready to play well, since he showed and he proved himself and everybody else that with little practice, and with little matches, he gets the rhythm he needs for the Grand Slams,”

“I don't think we should be concerned, of course, it would have been great for him to play maybe three matches before the US Open. And that would have been enough. But he could get that at the beginning of the tournament with some of the matches that he will play."

“I think probably one of the most difficult seasons of his career, from where he came from and for the things he had in the beginning and in the middle of the season as well. Coming from Indian Wells, he also felt that danger and then he missed some of the clay court tournaments. Then when he comes back he's got the foot problem and then he goes to Roland-Garros and then all of a sudden he won, so I'm so impressed again with what Rafa is doing."

Corretja was asked if this would be Nadal's best season if he won the US Open “It's difficult to pick when you are that good. And you have so many important tournaments in your career. How can you know what's your best season? I think we need to wait of course but it could be one of the most surprising ones because he's come a long way from before Melbourne."