"I felt like he was no longer in pain": Rafael Nadal 'no doubt' will win matches on return says Richard Gasquet

Rafael Nadal will no doubt win matches during his return to the court says Richard Gasquet after spending the last week training with him at his academy in Manacor.

There is no rest for Nadal as he goes full steam ahead towards his comeback. He returned from Kuwait where he trained with Arthur Fils and went from one end of a career to another as he jostled with a former sparring partner and rival in Gasquet who spoke in glowing terms about the legendary Spaniard.

Speaking after his stint in Manacor, he stated that Nadal isn't in pain and is taking in long stints of training on court in order to be ready and getting in as much practice as possible.

"Rafa told me that it took him a while to come back, but I felt like he was no longer in pain. He will be competitive and win games, there is no doubt about it! He does long 3 hour sessions. That's what you have to do, play as much as possible," he said (via Punto de Break, translated from Spanish).

He also spoke in glowing terms about the Academy with not only Nadal there off the ATP Tour but also Jan-Lennard Struff, the ATP Comeback Player of the Year and Jaume Munar, both getting ready also for the new season. "I was looking for some players for the month of December and I told him that I wanted to. I didn't really know the academy. I was here before, but about 10 years ago, at the end of 2014," he said. "There was only one indoor court, it's not the same anymore. It is magnificent, with many people on the slopes. It has everything you need in terms of infrastructure, with clay courts and a hotel. Struff is also here, this Tuesday I train with Munar, in addition to Rafa," he added.