Nadal: Pain-free was a long time ago

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Nadal: Pain-free was a long time ago

Rafael Nadal is set to take the court for his 12th Australian Open, and whether he wins the tournament or loses in the first week, he’s excited that he’s fit enough to go after the goals he has set for 2017.

More: Stepanek Oldest AO Qualifier Since '77

Does that mean that the 14-time major and 2009 Australian Open champion is pain-free? Hardly. Asked that question during his pre-tournament press conference, Nadal made it clear that those days are long, long ago.

Rafa, clarifying the difference between pain-free and good to go... pic.twitter.com/8uGrr92N8G
— Chris Oddo (@TheFanChild) January 15, 2017

Nadal will face Germany’s Florian Mayer on Tuesday in the first round at Melbourne, and when he does he will have a familiar face in his coaching box: longtime friend and mentor Carlos Moya.

Nadal says that Moya is the perfect fit for his team, as the chemistry is already there between the two.

“I know he wants the best for me,” Nadal said. “He knows my personality, he knows my game, too. Could be a good help for me and at the same time for the team, for the rest of the team, have somebody like him on the team is always something that I am very happy with because is good to have good people in your team. He's a person who loves this sport. He's a person who knows my tennis very well.”

Moya was the coach of Milos Raonic last season, but the pair parted ways. Raonic is now working with Dutchman Richard Krajicek.

Nadal once again reiterated the sentiment that he expressed earlier in the week about his motivation, saying that he’s “in it to win it.”

“As I said a couple of days ago, if I don't see myself, and if I don't believe that I can be competitive, and when I mean 'competitive', is fighting for the things that I fighted during the last 10 years, I will be probably playing golf or fishing at home,” he said. “I am being honest with this.”

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