Retired Argentine tennis player Paola Suarez says Rafa Nadal is struggling because the Spanish ace lacks ‘motivation’

Former Argentine tennis player turned commentator 39-year-old Paola Suarez believes that the slump in Rafael Nadal’s career is due to the Spanish tennis star’s lack of motivation. Suarez said that it isn’t a matter of having to change coaches. It is about finding that motivation to get back into his top winning performance.

“He (Nadal) already has his style of play,” Suarez said on the topic whether or not the former World No. 1 should change coach via Tennis World USA . “I think it’s more a question of motivation.”

Suarez, an eight-time grand slam doubles champion, said that Nadal needs to feel good about himself and from there, great results in his tennis are guaranteed to come. She suggested that it would help if the 14-time grand slam champion competes in tournaments with a close companion. The report said that Nadal had been having practice sessions with Carlos Moya amidst talks about a possible change in his coaching team.

Nadal is reeling from a series of meager performances in his tournaments this season, one of the worst seasons in his career. His two titles were won only in Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour 250 events.

In the first grand slam in Melbourne in January, Nadal bowed to Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open quarterfinals 6-2 6-0 7-6(5). Then, he failed to defend his title at the Roland Garros, ending his 39-match winning streak, when he lost to Novak Djokovic also in the quarterfinals 7-5 6-3 6-1. At the Wimbledon Championships, the 29-year-old Mallorca native suffered a shocking elimination to German Dustin Brown in the second round 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-4.

Currently, Nadal is taking part in the clay court event Bet-at-Home Open in Hamburg, Germany. He survived the first round after losing the first set to fellow compatriot Fernando Verdasco 3-6 6-1 6-1. Nadal is hoping to salvage his disappointing season before he begins his preparations for the last major tournament at the US Open.

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