Modest Nadal marvels at clay court supremacy

Monday, April 20, 2009 at 9:17 PM Posted by Beijing News


Rafael Nadal said on Monday he is sometimes stunned by his clay-court success, a day after lifting a record-equalling fifth title in Monte Carlo.

But the Spanish dynamo refuses to pace himself as he hits his favourite season, playing four of the five weeks running up to the May 24 start at the French Open and aiming to create more record-shattering performances.

He is now aiming for five titles in a row at this week's Barcelona Open, where he tops the bill, and will look to build on a record of three titles from five attempts in Rome from next Monday.

He begins against Portugal's qualifier Federico Gil, who crushed Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan 6-2, 6-1.

A day after beating Novak Djokovic with a runaway third set to win in the principality, Nadal faced his home public at the venerable Real club in an upmarket neighbourhood as the sellout event began.

Nadal is ready to keep bearing down on his French Open preparation.

"I would have never dreamed to have accomplished all that I have. I'm just 22 but I've been on the Tour for seven years," said the world number one from Mallorca. "It was a dream to win again in Monte Carlo.

"Who would have thought that I could achieve this? My clay results have been unbelievable.

"It's great to be home at this club, where I'm a member. Playing here gives me even more motivation."

While Nadal soaked up the ambience and took time to relax after his title-winning week, the rest of the field moved into action, with byes for the top eight seeds.

Nadal leads the seedings on the red dirt ahead of Australian Open semi-finalist and compatriot Fernando Verdasco and number three seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Early Spanish results from the first of 14 home players to compete were mixed, with two wins and two losses.

Bespectacled Serb Janko Tipsarevic claimed the first Iberian victim as he defeated Albert Montanes 6-4, 7-6 7/1 while Santiago Ventura beat compatriot Marcel Granollers 7-6 7/3, 6-3.

Albert Martin of Spain put out Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-4.

Russian number 12 seed Igor Andreev was the first seed through to the second round as he beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Belgian Christophe Rochus defeated Nicolas Devilder of France 6-4, 6-4 and Italian Potito Starace produced the third straight first-round loss for Latvian Ernests Gulbis, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.







REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

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