WATCH: Rafael Nadal faces future coach Carlos Moya for the first time in 2003

Take a look back at match in 2003 in Hamburg where a 16-year-old Rafael Nadal was up against former French Open champion and Spanish number 1 player Carlos Moya who became his coach in 2016 until his retirement on 19th November 2024. The strange plans the world makes for the legends is amazing indeed.

The day in Tennis has come where we finally say goodbye to one of the biggest legends in the game as we see King of Clay Rafael Nadal retire from the game after 23-years. The day 19th of Novemeber 2024 was the last time we got to see the Spanish legend on the court during the Davis Cup quarter finals in Malaga. It is time we look back at the old memories of this amazing player.

Also watch: WATCH: Throwback to Rafael Nadal's Davis Cup painting accident

Rafael Nadal and coach Carlos Moya battle it out on the court in 2003

It was 2001 when Nadal made his debut as a professional and the year 2003 was the day he faced Carlos Moya who at the time one of the top ranked players in the game during the Hamburg Open. This was one of the first time the two were facing each other and it is safe to say that Carlos had seen how talented he was when the 16-year-old Nadal got the better of him in the match beating him in straight sets by scores of 7-5 and 6-4. This was not the only time they faced each other since they shared the court for a total of 8 games and it makes sense why Moya eventually became his coach in 2016 as well.

Watch the video below-

The birth of a legend 🧡

When 16-year-old @RafaelNadal faced World No. 4 and future coach Carlos Moyá in 2003... pic.twitter.com/rEZKNvLPZW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 21, 2024

This shows that god always has plans for the legends and with Nadal Moya also had some successful stints as well where he won 8 Grand Slams and 8 ATP 1000 titles while coaching Rafael Nadal. It turns out that this day in 2003 is where he knew the boy was going to be a King going forward.