By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, December 16, 2022

Rafael Nadal will start the New Year without a familiar accomplice at his side.

Long-time coach Francisco Roig has left Nadal's coaching team, the second-ranked Spaniard announced today.

Os quería comunicar que Francis Roig deja el equipo. Francis ha sido una persona importante en mi carrera y le estoy muy agradecido por todos estos años de trabajo y amistad. Cuando empezamos a trabajar juntos yo era un niño y junto a mi tío Toni, empezábamos en el circuito. pic.twitter.com/qeW0wFQTpa

— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) December 16, 2022

"I wanted to inform you that Francis Roig is leaving the team," Nadal posted on social media. "Francis has been an important person in my career and I am very grateful to him for all these years of work and friendship.

"When we started working together I was a child and together with my uncle Toni, we started on the circuit."



Former world No. 1 Carlos Moya remains Nadal's primary coach. Marc Lopez, who partnered Nadal to the Olympic doubles gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, also remains a part of the 22-time Grand Slam king's coaching team.



It's been a season of change for Nadal, who became a first-time father and partnered rival Roger Federer for a tearful Fedal doubles farewell at Laver Cup in London last September.

Next month, Nadal will launch defense of his Australian Open title without Roig in his box.

Photo credit: Getty