Rafael Nadal: World No 1 makes HUGE Monte Carlo Masters claim ahead of injury return
RAFAEL NADAL has revealed that events like the Monte Carlo Masters drive him on to succeed as he prepares to compete for an 11th success at tournament.
Rafael Nadal is raring to go at the Monte Carlo Masters
The most successful player in Monte Carlo history, the world No 1 looks for a third successive triumph at the tournament - with the first round getting underway today.
Nadal does not enter until the second round, which begins on Tuesday, with the ten-time Monte Carlo winner drawn to face either Aljaz Bedene or a qualifier.
A tricky draw could see Nadal face rival Roger Federer’s Miami Open conqueror Thanasi Kokkinakis in the third round, with Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem and Borna Coric in his pool of quarter-final opponents.
And Nadal - who has only ever lost four matches in Monte Carlo, two to Djokovic - says the historic tournament, which first started in 1897, is among his favourites to compete.
“I always feel good when I am here, it is one of my favourite tournaments,” revealed the Spaniard, who has an incredible 53 career clay-court titles.
Rafael Nadal is a force on clay courts
Rafael Nadal is a 10-time winner in Monte Carlo
I always feel good when I am here, it is one of my favourite tournaments. It’s been a love story between me and this event.
“It’s been a love story between me and this event, the people who run the tournament.
“I saw this tournament on the TV before I started playing here and always wanted to do well.
“These sorts of tournaments help me to wake up in the morning and to train and compete with a lot of passion.
"I have won the Monte Carlo Masters 10 times, that's a good number. But one more victory, why not?"
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The 31-year-old has not played since the Australian Open in January due to injury issues, though featured at the Davis Cup earlier this month. Nadal beat both Philipp Kohlschreiber and Alexander Zverev as Spain overcame Germany.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion only has a 100-point lead over Federer in the ATP rankings and cannot afford any slip-ups to remain above his long-time rival.