I wouldn't be in Monte Carlo if I wasn't confident enough: Rafael Nadal
To say that Rafael Nadal is having a lacklustre 2015 would be an overestimation of the disastrous start that he has had to the season. With a 15-5 win-loss record and just a solitary title to his name this year, the 14-time Grand Slam champion will probably admit that the task that he has ahead is, by any sober standard of measurement, a colossal one.
But Nadal has fought back from poor starts on a number of occasions and with the European clay-court season all set to begin, the gritty Spaniard might regain not just his lost form, but his confidence as well. His indifferent form this season has seen Nadal’s ranking drop to five and heading into the Monte Carlo Masters, an event that he has won a stunning eight times, improving his standing on the ATP rankings will be foremost on his mind.
After his victory at the Argentina Open on clay, Nadal struggled at Indian Wells and Miami, two events that were conducted on hard courts. But Nadal is buoyant and in an optimistic mood since the Monte Carlo Masters marks the beginning of his favourite season. ''This tournament marks the start of my favorite part of the season,'' Nadal said.
''I know that I have to play better than what I did. I'm working to be playing well again as soon as possible. If I did not believe in my chances, I would not be here. I would be doing other stuff, because I already achieved all the things I needed to do in my career. I still have the passion and motivation to keep playing tennis”, added Nadal.
In the aftermath of his loss to Fernando Verdasco in the Miami Open, Nadal returned to Spain to practice, and to make small adjustments to his game. Adjustments, which Nadal reckons will yield rich dividends on the court, since he believes that will boost his confidence.
''For me, the most important is the mental part, because I don't think I forgot how to play tennis. From playing bad to playing well, there is not a very big difference. It's just small things that make big changes. If I'm well mentally, if I can play with a little bit more confidence, it will be easier to hit better shots”, said Nadal.
To win at Monte Carlo Masters is Nadal’s immediate aim and the defence of the Roland Garros, which at the moment looms a fair distance away, is not gnawing at his mind. The French Open “is not in my mind at the moment”, Nadal pointed out.
A win at Monte Carlo will have to be hard earned since Nadal faces a prospective quarter-final match-up against David Ferrer and could be meeting Djokovic as early as the semi-final. And the Serb, meanwhile, believes that Nadal’s struggles with his form will not impinge on his ability to successfully defend the French Open.
Nadal is an ultimate challenge: Djokovic
''Whenever the clay court season comes around, he is the first player to be mentioned as the favorite in any tournament,'' said Djokovic. Heaping praise on Nadal and his peerless domination on clay, Djokovic pointed towards Nadal’s awe-inspiring record at the Roland Garros, where the Spaniard has lost just the one match to settle any questions on Nadal’s ability to dominate the clay -court season.
''He is called the `King of Clay' and he deserves that crown, He has lost only one match in Roland Garros, and he is an ultimate challenge. Even though he has struggled with injuries and lack of matches, it's Nadal and this is his surface”, added Djokovic.
On the other hand, Djokovic, who became the first player to win the Miami Open on three occasions, admitted that he was tired following the immensely successful season that he has had thus far.
It's a positive consequence that I have to pay because of the results that I've made, so I can't complain. 'Next to 2011 this is definitely the best start I ever had. Hopefully I can follow up because now it's clay-court season. It's completely different from hard court”, said Djokovic, who needs to win the French Open to accomplish the ‘Career Grand Slam’.
Incidentally, when Nadal was quizzed about his preparations for the clay season following his defeat to Fernando Verdasco at the Miami Open, had said that he looked to all tournaments as opportunities to improve his game.