Rafael Nadal can still return to top-form at this stage of his career despite the struggle with injuries the past few years, according to former tennis pro and compatriot Alex Corretja. The 41-year-old former World No. 2 player believes that a healthy and confident Nadal is still one of the elite players in the ATP tour and still could keep up with the top players in the sport.

"It's been said Rafa's not had a good year, but it hasn't been said that despite his problems this year, he is still ranked No. 6. It means once he's healthy and gets back to winning matches, the confidence will return,” Corretja, who coached Nadal in the Spanish Davis Cup team in 2012 and 2013, shared in an interview with Times of India.

“When you don't play for a while, you are bound to lose rhythm and you have some doubts. But when he's healthy, he's still perhaps the strongest guy on the tour. I understand Novak is playing at an amazing level at the moment. But the toughest opponent Novak [Djokovic] can have is a Rafa in good condition. And I believe he is going to be ready to win Slams again in 2016."

Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam titles so far in his career, has struggled with various injuries the past two ATP seasons that caused him to drop to his lowest world rankings in recent years. The Spaniard also admitted that he has struggled in the mental aspect of the game but is working his way back to gaining full confidence again in his game.

Meanwhile, Djokovic remains the top player in the sport holding the World No. 1 spot since June of 2014.

From 2005 to 2014, Nadal has been ranked among the tour’s elite group that includes Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. However, because of injuries, other players like Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych has taken over Nadal in the world rankings.

Nadal is currently ranked at World No. 6 and has qualified for the season-ending 2015 ATP World Tour Finals in London, where the Spaniard has a chance to show that he can once again keep up with the elite players in the game.

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