MADRID -Rafael Nadal said yesterday that he was in the right physical and mental shape going into this week's Madrid Masters.
MADRID -Rafael Nadal said yesterday that he was in the right physical and mental shape going into this week's Madrid Masters.
The third-ranked Spaniard said he was "fresh" and "calm" as he prepared to compete in Madrid, where he lost last year's final to Roger Federer.
"I'm fine. I'm very happy with how I'm doing his year. I'm playing well in almost all the tournaments," Nadal said.
Nadal enters this year's tournament having won two other clay-court titles, in Monte Carlo and Rome, and said those wins had given him a psychological boost.
"This has given me the extra calm I needed," Nadal said. "And it has also given me two Masters 1000 titles, and personally they are very special." However, he warned it would be a difficult week due to Madrid's altitude and the quality of the field.
Nadal has a bye into the second round.
A Nadal-Federer final is possible as the pair are on opposite sides of the draw. - Sapa-AP
Nadal in fine fettle in likely Federer final
MADRID -Rafael Nadal said yesterday that he was in the right physical and mental shape going into this week's Madrid Masters.
MADRID -Rafael Nadal said yesterday that he was in the right physical and mental shape going into this week's Madrid Masters.
The third-ranked Spaniard said he was "fresh" and "calm" as he prepared to compete in Madrid, where he lost last year's final to Roger Federer.
"I'm fine. I'm very happy with how I'm doing his year. I'm playing well in almost all the tournaments," Nadal said.
Nadal enters this year's tournament having won two other clay-court titles, in Monte Carlo and Rome, and said those wins had given him a psychological boost.
"This has given me the extra calm I needed," Nadal said. "And it has also given me two Masters 1000 titles, and personally they are very special." However, he warned it would be a difficult week due to Madrid's altitude and the quality of the field.
Nadal has a bye into the second round.
A Nadal-Federer final is possible as the pair are on opposite sides of the draw. - Sapa-AP