Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya revealed that the 22-time Grand Slam champion still desires to play in the French Open in 2025. The former world No. 1 insists that “the moment has not come” for Nadal.
Nadal recently suffered his first-ever first-round defeat at the French Open. The King of Clay was eliminated by world No. 4 Alexander Zverev in straight sets but declined a farewell ceremony from the tournament, hoping to return to Roland Garros.
Moya comments on Nadal's desire to return to Roland Garros
His coach revealed that Rafa had considered retirement several times during his comeback and couldn’t play more than two sets when he returned to action at the recent Barcelona Open. However, Nadal showed significant physical improvement at Roland Garros, inspiring the Spaniard: “There’s a big percentage I won’t be back here, but I can’t say 100 per cent,” Nadal said after his loss to Zverev.
“He said it himself,” Moya stated. “It is not easy, but he has a small hope. He does not know what is going to happen with his body, his level. But today, he does not want to close the door.”
“I don't think it's a positive idea right now,” Moya said, but he insisted: “We have not yet spoken about it. For me, Rafa, if he had reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, he would have remained a big favourite.
“That is what makes him different from the others. He would have won four consecutive matches, built up confidence, and he would have tested himself physically. A player’s ultimate progression comes from competition,” the coach said.
Rafael Nadal holds the all-time record for a single Grand Slam with 112-4 and 14 titles.
“I cannot say that it was not a defeat,” Moya acknowledged. “But his match here was the best since his return this season on the clay. But we knew that that could happen, we accept it, and we can say that, at times, we saw the Rafa that everyone remembers. The atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was good.
We knew that he could lose to Zverev and the normal thing was to lose the match. But there are ways of losing. And in this defeat, Rafa showed himself to be competitive, he showed himself capable of playing at a good level, even if he did not take his chances.
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“This match allowed him to see that with consistent play, without injuries, he could still play at a good level. To see that there are no longer physical limitations also means we can work better. There were days where we could do almost nothing. At Manacor, there were very short training sessions.”
“We decided to play the tournament to get back on tour but we said to him: ‘Please, don’t play a match of more than two hours’. That was the key for us. He had to win matches in two sets.
“The aim was Roland Garros and an injury at Barcelona would have put an end to everything. We knew that if he played more than two hours, there was a big risk that he would injure himself permanently.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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