Rafael Nadal has managed to win a remarkable 14 Grand Slam titles despite an injury-stricken career and he is only going to come back stronger from his latest setback, feels fellow countryman and former world number one Carlos Moya.
Nadal is back to practice following his injury to remove appendix and a stem cell treatment for his ailing back.
"He (Nadal) is starting to practice now. I have been in constant touch with him. He has been very unlucky with the injuries. Having said that, every time he has had an injury he has come back stronger than before. There is no reason to think it is going to be any different," Moya, who is here for the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL), told PTI.
"For sure, he will be back at the top soon. For the past 10 years he has been winning with all the injuries," he added.
Nadal was unable to defend his US Open crown this season due to a wrist injury before being sidelined for the rest of the season in October.
The 28-year-old, who won the French Open for the record ninth straight time this season, is eyeing a competitive return to the Australian Open.
Nadal was supposed to play the IPTL but his injury made way for another great Roger Federer.
"He was very excited to be part of the IPTL but had to pull out. Now he is looking forward to 2015. The feeling that I get is that he is very motivated for the next season," Moya, who won the French Open in 1998 before becoming the world number one in 1999, said.
Although Moya has played in India earlier, he is excited about his role in the IPTL, where he is representing Manila Mavericks as a player-cum-coach. He is also looking forward to meet Federer and Pete Sampras, who are part of the Indian Aces.
