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By Alberto Amalfi | Friday, December 30, 2016

 
Rafael Nadal

"I believe that I can compete for important things in the next three years," said Rafael Nadal in Abu Dhabi.

Photo credit: Mubadala World Tennis Championship

Rafael Nadal made a major change hiring mentor Carlos Moya to join his coaching team.

Nadal believes he will be a major contender for the next three years.

Watch: Can Carlos Moya Coach Rafael Nadal To Another Grand Slam?

"My idea is to stay here for a few more years and I feel enough motivation to be here,” Nadal told The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi. “I believe that I can compete for important things in the next three years.”

The 14-time Grand Slam champion thrashed Tomas Berdych, 6-0, 6-4, in his Mubadala World Tennis Championship opener.

The exhibition event marks Nadal’s return to match play for the first time since he lost to Viktor Troicki, 6-3, 7-6 (3), at the Shanghai Rolex Masters in October.

The ninth-ranked Nadal, who was sidelined for 73 days during the summer due to a tendon injury in his left wrist, said time off from tennis has enabled him to recover his health.

"I feel healthy and that’s the most important thing,” Nadal said. “I feel that my knees are not suffering now and hopefully it will keep going like this."

The King of Clay will make his Brisbane debut next week. Nadal joins US Open champion Stan Wawrinka, Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, Roland Garros semifinalist Dominic Thiem and Kei Nishikori in the field for the Brisbane International.

New coach Moya will not be in Brisbane, but will join Nadal and head coach, Uncle Toni Nadal, at the Australian Open.

A year ago, Nadal fell in the first round of the Melbourne major to compatriot Fernando Verdasco.

Given the fact his creaky wrist forced Nadal to withdraw from Roland Garros after the second round and prevented him from playing Wimbledon, he’s defending only 280 ranking points combined from the four Grand Slams and could make a move at the Australian Open where he reached at least the quarterfinals in eight straight appearances prior to last year’s opening-round exit.


 

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