Rafael Nadal's best playing days in the past, warns coach Brad Gilbert

Brad Gilbert, coach of the American tennis sensation Coco Gauff, believes that the former world number one Rafael Nadal will ‘never going to’ reach his best levels again. The 37-year-old is often regarded as one the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 22 Grand Slam titles.

Nadal has struggled with fitness concerns in the recent past. It was because of this reason the former world number one announced last year that the 2024 season would be his last at the highest level. Gilbert, often renowned as one of the best coaches currently in the circuit, was recently quoted in a report stating that Nadal will never be able to reach his best levels again.

He also highlighted how all players want to leave the game on their own terms and that Nadal is no different. "You know, he’s probably never going to reach his best level again,” he said. “But I think more than anything, all athletes want to be able to go out on their own terms. They want to decide what time [is right] for me to stop. He’s had so much injuries over the last two years that he probably hasn’t had a period where he’s really felt healthy.”

Nadal returned to the court earlier this year at the Brisbane International, where he once again suffered a niggle which kept him out of action for two months. He finally returned to the court before the start of the Barcelona Open but has not managed to live up to the hype and has failed to produce consistent results. The legendary tennis star is currently playing in the Bastad Open, where he booked his place in the quarterfinal after beating Britain’s Cameron Norrie in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4. He will now face Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the last-eight clash, who booked his spot in the quarterfinal after beating India’s Sumit Nagal with a score of 6-4, 6-2.