Rafael Nadal dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision to his rival in Monte-Carlo on Saturday to fall further behind the world No. 1 in the rankings, but the Spaniard feels his game is ripening on the red clay nonetheless.

Monte-Carlo: Djokovic Wins Second Monte-Carlo Title

“For me is a very positive week the most positive week of the season, without any doubt,” Nadal said. “I think if I am able to keep doing that in the next tournament in Barcelona, that I have a tough draw, I will say that I am very well again. In general, from where I came one week ago, two weeks ago, after what happened in Miami, I go to the next tournament with the feeling that I make a big improvement in my game, in my mental part. I hope this tournament is a key moment for my season.”

Nadal once owned a 9-0 lifetime record against Djokovic on clay, but he has since split the last ten battles on the surface with the Serb. He owns a 23-20 edge over the world No. 1 in their career head-to-head.

“He's a fantastic player, no? He's phenomenal the way that he can move the ball to everywhere,” Nadal said. “If he take advantage from inside the court, you are dead.”

He added: “Novak was able to beat me in 2013 here in the final, too. He beat me in Rome last year, too. He's a fantastic player. He can beat me all the time. But I am confident that if I am able to keep playing at that level for more matches, I will have my chances in the next couple of weeks. I am going to try it.”

Nadal admitted that he became a little tired trying to match Djokovic’s level on Saturday, and he felt that most of his mistakes were due more to fatigue than a lack of feel for his shots.

“I had more mistakes, yes,” he said. “I had less winners than him, yes. But at the beginning of the match, I was having enough winners with my forehand. I was having enough times the control of the point. That's the way that I need to play. No, I think was more in terms of movements. The forehand, in particular, I am happy the way the forehand moves. I was able to play, again, with that high topspin, changing directions. Remain little bit more, but definitely I think the forehand is close to be back.”

The 14-time Grand Slam champion will head to Barcelona for the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell this week, where he faces a tough draw. He could face Nicolas Almagro in his first match after a bye before a third-round tussle with Fabio Fognini. Nadal has lost to both players on clay in the past year.

David Ferrer could be Nadal’s potential semifinal opponent.

In other news, Nadal moved up to fourth in the ATP rankings ahead of Kei Nishikori. Japan’s No. 1 is defending title points this week in Barcelona, and final points in Madrid. Nadal is defending quarterfinal points in Barcelona, a title in in Madrid and a final in Rome. Nishikori did not play Rome last year.