‘Everything is positive’ with Rafael Nadal and his injury right now, says coach

Coach Marc Lopez says ‘everything is positive’ with Rafael Nadal at the moment, including his response to foot treatment.

Nadal has been suffering from a degenerative condition that has caused him pain in his foot for years, with it flaring up considerably over the last 18 months.

That hasn’t stopped him winning both majors so far this year, although he did need painkilling injections to get him through Roland Garros.

He heads to Wimbledon on the back of radiofrequency treatment designed to provide a more lasting solution and Lopez, who won an Olympic gold medal doubles with Rafael Nadal before joining his coaching team, is optimistic for what the tournament has in store.

“There are good days and bad days,” Lopez told EFE. “This surface (grass) is very unforgiving, everything happens very quickly. We are training with people who serve very well.

“At the moment, everything is positive. The foot issue, which was always the most worrying thing, is OK.

“We have to finish adjusting training, the other day he played very well in the exhibition [at the Hurlingham Club against Wawrinka] and now we need to be ready for Tuesday’s match [at Wimbledon].

“From everything you can draw conclusions, but in the end this is still training.

“What you have to do every day is feel more comfortable on this surface, which you hardly play on for the whole year.

“Rafa has not played here in three years. All the training sessions add up, even those in which you don’t feel good, because they help you correct things for the next one.”

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