Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal has opened up on the role that his friend and coach Carlos Moya has played in helping him retrench his place among the elite in men’s tennis.

The 1998 French Open champion has been one of the top names in Nadal’s coaching contingent since 2016.

Rafael Nadal says he has known Carlos Moya since he was 14 years old

In a video shot for Telefonica, Spain’s telecom major which has an endorsement deal with the 20-time Grand Slam champion, Nadal said he has known Moya, a former World No.1, from his teen years.

“I’ve known him since I was 14 years old, he was one of the best players in the world,” the Spaniard said, adding that Moya had become the top-ranked player in singles while he was still finding his feet in the sport.

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He recalled the years he played Davis Cup with Moya, saying that the friendship that blossomed during that time has continued into his current coaching stint with him.

“Today, he is my coach and a very good friend but (back) in his day, he was a Davis Cup teammate, a teammate with dozens of experiences on circuits of all kinds,” said the Spaniard who lifted an unprecedented 13th French Open title this year.

Rafael Nadal says he has never shied away from turning to coach Carlos Moya for advice

Nadal added that from the time the former No.1 started working with him as his coach in 2017, he has never shied away from turning to him for his opinion and advice.

“He has always been a person who, in some way, has been there as a good reference for me,” the Spaniard said, adding that being around his former senior-pro and bouncing ideas off him has boosted his game no end.

He added that he tries to feed off the vast experience of the professional circuit that Moya garnered during his playing years.

Nadal said his coach’s diverse Tour experiences have also given him the right perspective on suits his pupil the best.

“The fact that he has not only lived those experiences but has shared them with me as a player, I think, gives him adequate perspective of what he thinks can suit me at all times,” the Spaniard said.

Read More: WATCH: Rafael Nadal Takes a Tour of His Under-Construction Rafal Nadal Academy

The 34-year-old is eyeing a successful title-defense at Roland-Garros this year.