Rafa Nadal back at hunting ground

World number five Nadal seeks a ninth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters title this week and has arrived in good shape for his European campaign leading up to next month8217;s French Open.

8220;I played four fantastic weeks in Latin America and Indian Wells. After seven months,playing that much is never easy so I tried to recover well and do the right things to be here,8221; Nadal told reporters on Tuesday.

8220;I don8217;t feel the pressure that I8217;ve felt in the past,8221; he said.

The 11-times grand slam singles champion spent his month off since his Indian Wells triumph by strengthening his left leg on the advice of his doctors.

He would,however,much rather talk about tennis than his knee. 8220;There has been a lot of talk about the knee for the last year. It8217;s not good to talk about it anymore for me because I8217;m here,I8217;m competing so I prefer to be focused on the tennis,8221; he said.

Despite his eight Monte Carlo titles,and with world number one Novak Djokovic doubtful with an ankle sprain and Swiss Roger Federer having opted against participating in the event,Nadal does not believe a ninth crown is inevitable. 8220;I don8217;t feel like I am the biggest favourite to win this tournament this year. I think I8217;m a candidate,8221; Nadal said.

8220;It8217;s probably not easy to understand after eight years,but I don8217;t have to lose the perspective; it8217;s not possible to win every year,and someday that8217;s going to stop.

8220;I will try my best not to make that happen easily but that8217;s the sport,nothing lasts forever and you have to accept that, he said.

Asked who might take his title from him,the Mallorcan replied: 8220;You don8217;t need to know who are my favourites because you8217;d say the same as me. If you follow tennis,everybody knows who are the favourites.8221;

Djokovic uncertain

World number one Novak Djokovic admitted that he cannot guarantee he8217;ll start the Monte Carlo Masters as he battles the after effects of an ankle injury.

8220;I can8217;t guarantee 100 percent that I8217;ll be on court. I have to be realistic and cautious,8221; said the world number one who rolled his right ankle badly a week ago during Serbia8217;s Davis Cup win in the United States.

8220;I8217;ve had three days of practice and I8217;ve been increasing the level each day.If I have discomfort over the next two days that would be an indication if I should or should not play, he said.

Djokovic,who is based in Monte Carlo and feels a responsibility to compete if possible in his 8220;home8221; event,said that he will make a final decision by Tuesday. He and the other top eight seeds all received byes into the second round. 8220;This is a strong event and there is no room for compromise,8221; added the Australian Open champion.

8220;This is the start of a new season on a new surface. To compete at a high level I must be 100 percent fit. I8217;ve been taping the ankle and doing all I can to be ready on the court. I know there is a lot of expectation for me to play 8211; no one wants me to be out there more than I do. 8220;I8217;m really encouraged by the progress over the last few days,it8217;s more than I would have expected it to be,8221; he said.

Djokovic,who won his third consecutive Australian Open title in January,said the injury would not prevent him from playing in the next claycourt events. A six-times grand slam champion,the 25-year-old Djokovic is bidding to complete his collection with a French Open title,the only major trophy he has not won. 8220;I8217;m more than sure that there8217;s not any danger for what8217;s coming up next 8211; Madrid,Rome and Roland Garros,8221; he said.

Meanwhile,Bernard Tomic8217;s European claycourt season got off to the worst possible start as the Australian went down 6-2,6-4 to Alexandr Dolgopolov in the first round on Sunday.