Rafael Nadal At Home To Rest And Then Prepare For The Clay Season

Written by: Resendiz on 19th March 2013

Rafael Nadal At Home To Rest And Then Prepare For The Clay Season

epa03629921 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in the men's final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 17 March 2013. Nadal defeated Del Potro to win the match and the tournament. EPA/PAUL BUCK |

While the tennis focus shifts across the United States from Indian Wells to Miami for the Sony Open, Rafael Nadal has set his sights on the familiar terracotta shade of the European clay courts as he rests his knees for a few weeks before beginning another campaign he hopes will again underline his dominance of the surface.

But Nadal, now back home in Majorca after his BNP Paribas Open triumph on Sunday is taking nothing for granted. “For me clay doesn’t mean victory,” insisted the record- breaking seven times winner of the French Open.

“Clay means this is the surface that I love to play and I had a great success in the past, but every year is a different year. Every year I have to improve.”

Nadal has already added another two clay court titles to his collection this year with victories at the Brasil Open in Sao Paolo and Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco. He now plans to play four European events in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome, before the action starts at Roland Garros on May 26.

“My schedule is, the four obligatories and Barcelona,” said the 26 year-old who moved back up the ATP World Tour rankings this week by overtaking fellow Spaniard David Ferrer for fourth position.

“I go week by week since I came back. For example, I cannot go to Miami. I’m very sorry for the organization and for the fans, but we never thought we’d be able to play all the matches possible since I came back.

“The doctors recommend that I should go home for a few weeks and rest and keep practicing the right way. I need more power on the left leg quadriceps, so I need to keep working hard. The competition is hard for the body.”

During the BNP Paribas Open, Nadal was an actual house guest of tournament owner Larry Ellison, the chief executive of Oracle, and the world’s fifth richest man.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Indian Wells Tennis News, Miami Open tennis news, Rafael Nadal, Sony Open tennis news, Spanish tennis news, United States tennis news