"The amazing streak is going to come to an end" - Andre Agassi's former coach raises concerns over Rafael Nadal's 18-year-long Top-10 run

Rafael Nadal's incredible Top-10 run is nearing its end in the coming weeks, feels leading tennis coach and commentator Brad Gilbert. The Spanish great is currently enjoying his 907th consecutive week in the Top-10 of the ATP rankings, having not dropped out of the Top-10 even once since he first entered it in April 2005.

But Gilbert feels the Spaniard's staggering run will come to an end after the Indian Wells Masters next month and that could in turn make things trickier for him going forward as he will be seeded outside the Top-10 at big tournaments.

Nadal dropped to No. 6 in the rankings after exiting the 2023 Australian Open in the second round as the defending champion. Due to his injury layoff, he is set to drop 500 points earned by winning the Acapulco title last year. The Spaniard had announced his participation in the 2023 Dubai Open, another ATP 500 event to be held in the same week as Acapulco later this month, but he will now miss the Dubai Open. Additionally, with his Indian Wells participation also in serious doubt, he could drop another 600 points there from last year's run to the final.

In light of the same, Gilbert raised serious concerns about Nadal's 18-year-long Top-10 streak.

"If my brain calculations are right, the amazing streak that he's had of Top-10 consecutive weeks, which is 18 consecutive years, believe it or not, is going to come to an end," Brad Gilbert said on a recent episode of the Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe podcast.

Gilbert went on to stress that Nadal would find himself in difficult sections of draws at the biggest events by falling outside the Top-10. However, he believes that if the 22-time Grand Slam champion can overcome yet another injury and be healthy again, he will hit a fine run of form sooner rather than later. Gilbert's biggest wish for Nadal is to see him healthy and fit again.

"He's going to be in a different position in the draw," Gilbert continued. "But first and foremost, you just want to see him healthy.

"If he's going to be healthy and he's going to be seeded 11th or 12th in these tournaments, that's going to be a tough draw for somebody. That's all I hope for. If he's healthy, he's going to win matches and be right," he added.

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Rafael Nadal needs to regain his "lost equity," says Brad Gilbert

Rafael Nadal in action at the 2023 Australian Open

Brad Gilbert further suggested that Rafael Nadal has a big challenge ahead of himself in his bid to win big tournaments again as the 36-year-old recovers from another major injury problem. The fact that the Spaniard has suffered injuries to different body parts over the last year makes the recovery even more difficult, according to Gilbert, who also raised concerns that Nadal might feel "mentally drained" by regular fitness issues.

The former singles World No. 4 also highlighted that even if the Spaniard, who currently has a hip injury, regains full fitness, his challenges will not end there. He will then have to get back to winning back ways and earn back "lost equity" after last year's French Open.

"He keeps getting nicked up and it's not the same one, which is most difficult," Gilbert explained. "When you get older, it's mentally draining to go through all of these different rehabs.

"You build up equity when you win matches... Since the French (Open) of last year, he hasn't won anything. He's been hurt and then a few Americans have beaten him, so he's lost that equity, he has to regain that," he added.

The 14-time French Open winner's realistic comeback target seems to be the Miami Open in late March, before he enters the claycourt season with a big goal of winning yet another French Open on his mind.