MELBOURNE, January 15, 2017

The start of the 2017 Autralian Open is only hours away and the top players met the media for pre-tournament press conferences. Rafael Nadal has returned to Melbourne Park after he had suffered his first opening-round exit at the Australian Open at the hands of Fernando Verdasco in a dramatic five-set contest last year.

Throughout the year 2016, the 30-year-old experienced the highs and lows of life on the tennis tour. He won an Olympic Gold medal in Rio, an ATP Masters 1000 title but also had to cope with injuries.

“I feel good. I had good practice sessions in Mallorca and a good start into the season in Abu Dhabi and Brisbane,” Nadal is happy to be back down under. Ahead of the start of the new season, he announced that he had joined forces with former World No. 1 Carlos Moya.

“Carlos is more than a good friend of mine. In December, he stopped working with Milos and my uncle and I talked to him. He is a very good option for me because I know him very well and he also knows my personality and my game. He will be good help for me as well as for the rest of the team.”

Nadal is seeded ninth and will open his Melbourne campaign against a tricky opponent, facing German veteran Florian Mayer. The head-to-head record between the two is tied at 1-1.

Watch Rafa’s Press Conference: