Rafael Nadal and long-time coach Francisco Roig split after 18 years together – ‘Very grateful’

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has confirmed that long-time coach Francisco Roig has decided to leave his team ahead of the 2023 Australian Open.

Roig joined Nadal’s team in 2005 and has been part of each of Nadal’s 22 Grand Slams during an illustrious career.

Speaking on social Nadal, confirmed the split and paid tribute to Roig for his work.

“I want to inform you that Francisco Roig leaves the team and starts a new personal project as coach.

“After 18 seasons with me, he started by joining the team and worked with us alongside my uncle Toni and subsequently alongside Carlos Moya and recently Marc Lopez.

“Francisco has been an important person in my career and I am so grateful to him for all these years of work and friendship.

“When we started working together, I was a kid and along with my uncle Toni, we started at the track. Francisco is a great technician who knows tennis very well and has helped me a lot to get better and better. I have only words of thanks and wish him all the luck in the world in his new project!”

The world no.2 still has a strong backroom team behind him and still has Carlos Moya part of his team, after linking up with Nadal five years ago.

Marc Lopez also joined his coaching staff a year ago and the Spaniard is still in a strong position heading into the 2023 season.

Nadal heads into the next month’s Australian Open as defending champion following a five-set win in the final over Daniil Medvedev.

He faces stiff competition for the title from Novak Djokovic, who will be among the big names competing for the title in Melbourne after his three-year ban from Australia was overturned.

Nadal leads the way with an astonishing 22 Grand Slams, but ended the year on a disappointing note as his wait for a first ATP Finals title continues.

He has now failed to progress out of the group stage in each of his last four appearances at the tournament following losses to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime in November.

The 36-year-old will have his doubters, but he often recovers when the chips are down, claiming the Grand Slam down under when few tipped him for success.

He missed more of the second half of the 2021 season, but went onto secure victory at the Rod Laver Arena.

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