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Video: Nadal Says He's Motivated, But Not Favorite in Monte Carlo


Rafael Nadal has won a record eight Monte-Carlo Masters championships and returns to the red-clay Masters this week in search of confidence—and insisting he feels less pressure than prior years.

“I don’t have pressure this year,” Nadal told the media in Monte Carlo. “I’m not the favorite for anything. I have been playing worse than the rest of the rivals of mine. The pressure is not for me… I am arriving here with the motivation to do something better than what I am doing.”

More: Federer Says Missing Miami Was Good For Him

The nine-time French Open champion will open against wild card Lucas Pouille on Wednesday. Pouille defeated Dominic Thiem, 6-4, 6-4, today.

After failing to convert three match points against Milos Raonic in the Indian Wells' quarterfinals and falling to Fernando Verdasco in Miami, Nadal said regaining his confidence is his priority in Monte Carlo.

"The most important thing for me is to feel well on court again, feel confident, feel I am improving,” Nadal said. “I was improving every week before Miami, and in Miami I played bad… If I’m able to find the confidence, to find the tennis here on clay, then it makes everything a little less difficult."


The 28-year-old Spaniard could face world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo semifinals, but Nadal isn't looking too far ahead.

"Every year I come here with the same motivation and same passion for playing here. I hope to be ready this year to play at the right level of tennis to be competitive against everybody," Nadal said. "We'll see. It's difficult to make predictions before the tournament starts. Wednesday I'm going to start and we'll see."

Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
 

 

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