Rafael Nadal tipped to become a coach and form partnership with Carlos Alcaraz

Rafael Nadal could be set for a coaching role, with Mats Willander backing him to form a partnership with Carlos Alcaraz.

Former World No. 1 Mats Willander has suggested that Rafael Nadal, who retired from tennis this year, could make a great coach for rising star Carlos Alcaraz.

He drew parallels to Andy Murray's new coaching role with Novak Djokovic. Willander believes that Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, would have much to offer Alcaraz, who is often seen as Nadal's successor and has already won Wimbledon twice, the French Open, and the U.S. Open.

In an interview with Eurosport, Willander said: "It's very possible that Rafa Nadal comes back as a coach. Obviously, because of the Novak Djokovic-Andy Murray story that has just cracked open.

I can even imagine Rafael Nadal coaching Carlos Alcaraz, for example. A player like Carlos Alcaraz, the one thing that they are missing is to keep the same intensity level, from the first point till the last point.

"Rafael Nadal was the master in keeping the same focus from the first point to the last point. Carlos Alcaraz, at this particular moment, he's not able to do that in every match.

"Rafael Nadal was able to, so I can see that the value that Nadal would bring to any player, whether it's a kid back home at the Nadal Tennis Academy in Manacor on Mallorca, or if it's a professional, or how about being the Davis Cup captain after David Ferrer is done?