Rafael Nadal adds Gustavo Marcaccio to 2023 coaching team after departure of Francisco Roig

Marcaccio is a coach at the Rafa Nadal Academy, located on Nadal’s home island of Mallorca.

After long-time coach Roig departed, there were two remaining members in the coaching team, Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez, and the promotion of Marcaccio brings Nadal back up to three coaches to call upon in the 2023 season.

Nadal wrote on his Twitter account: “Hello everyone. I want to inform you of the joining of Gustavo Marcaccio to the technical team

“Gustavo has been working at the @rafanadalacademy since April 2021 and I understand he is a good addition to the team. It sure will help us a lot to stay on the road. Welcome Gustavo!”

Roig was seen as the head coach for Nadal, but there is no direct replacement after this latest move behind the scenes.

Nadal is preparing for the 2023 season with his biggest challenge on the horizon being his attempt to defend the Australian Open, which starts on January 16.

He will also hope to retain the French Open, his 22nd Grand Slam title, after a successful year despite more injuries.

A torn abdominal muscle meant he had to withdraw from Wimbledon after the quarter-finals, and he suffered the same injury before the final Grand Slam event of the season, the US Open, though he still featured in New York, as well as competing in the Cincinnati Masters, the Paris Masters and the season-ending ATP Finals.

Nadal has already suggested he will no longer compete in Mexico as he curtails the number of tournaments he takes part in.

Nadal will perhaps face a tougher season in 2023 as he continues to battle injuries at the age of 36, and the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz sees another, younger competitor who will be hoping to cement his No.1 ranking with more titles.

Novak Djokovic will also complicate Nadal’s chances of winning again in Australia, with Covid-19 rules now permitting the Serbian to come to the tournament after he missed out this year.