Rafael Nadal Adds Rio Olympics Doubles Partner to His Coaching Team Ahead of 2022 Australian Open

Published 12/10/2021, 4:12 PM EST

Rafael Nadal has been practicing over the past few weeks in order to prepare for the Australian Open 2022. The Spaniard had to skip the US Open due to a foot injury, and was undergoing treatment for the same. After

Now, Nadal is adding a new member to his coaching staff ahead of the ATP tour next year. Marc Lopez, who won the gold medal alongside the Spaniard in 2016 Rio Olympics, will join Carlos Moya and Francis Roig in Rafa’s coaching staff.

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Rafael Nadal is all set to add another member to his coaching staff

Spanish sports website Marca reported the news. Moya, Roig, and Lopez, together have the responsibility to prepare Rafael Nadal for 2022. The former world no.1 is yet to make the news official.

Marc Lopez’s coaching experience involves compatriot Feliciano Lopez. The two announced their partnership before the start of ATP season last year. Both the players have known each other for a long time and have played a lot of matches together.

Coming to Nadal, he is all set to make an entry at the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi next week, where he plays an exhibition match against Dominic Thiem.

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It’ll be an opportunity for both Nadal and Thiem to asses their fitness before the start of the 2022 season.

Nadal signed up to play warm-up events in Melbourne ahead of 2022 Australian Open

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Nadal has also signed up for the warm-up tournaments in Melbourne before the ‘Happy Slam’ starts. Through this, the Spaniard is hoping to get more practice and get used to the conditions. Last year, Nadal was ousted in the quarter-finals by Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set thriller.

The Spaniard enjoyed a successful European clay-court run this year as he won titles at Barcelona and Rome before the start of the French Open. But, world no.1 Novak Djokovic ended Nadal’s hopes of winning Roland Garros for a record 14th time.

The Serbian star went on to clinch his 19th Grand Slam title in Paris by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. If all goes well, fans might get to watch Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic lock horns once again at the 2022 Australian Open.

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Sagar Ashtakoula is a Tennis author at EssentiallySports. He has been following the sport since 2007. Sagar has completed his graduation in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Rafael Nadal Adds Rio Olympics Doubles Partner to His Coaching Team Ahead of 2022 Australian Open

Rafael Nadal is all set to add another member to his coaching staff

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Nadal signed up to play warm-up events in Melbourne ahead of 2022 Australian Open