Now that's what we like to hear,no?

“I am feeling great. I was fast, I was aggressive, I was moving very good in Indian Wells. I was very happy how I played. I was playing at my best level during the tournament.”

“I play because in these tournaments these are very long tournaments, and you have day off almost after every match you win; the doubles is like a practice for me,” he said. I don't practise, I play doubles. So I still in competition and you have to play every day, change the situation. But having the day off is easier, and I play with a friend and I enjoy. [Doubles] improves the volley. I improve the aggressive return, so I do a lot of things."

more after the jump



Rafael Nadal is ready to make a hard charge at the Sony Ericsson Open title after saying that he passed his comeback test in Indian Wells with flying colours. Before stepping out at the BNP Paribas Open, Nadal had not played since the Australian Open, where he retired in the third set of his quarter-final with Andy Murray. But after a semi-final run in Indian Wells and claiming the doubles title with fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez, Nadal said that he is full of confidence heading into the Sony Ericsson Open.

“I am feeling great. I was fast, I was aggressive, I was moving very good in Indian Wells. I was very happy how I played. I was playing at my best level during the tournament.”

Oddly enough, Nadal said the only part of his body giving him trouble at the moment was his wisdom teeth. “ I have to take out all, but not now,” Nadal said. “I didn't practise for a few days. I started to practise yesterday afternoon. I’m hoping it be better today and tomorrow.”

Nadal is a two-time finalist at the Sony Ericsson Open and has reached the quarter-finals or better three consecutive years. In 2004 he announced his potential to the world with a shock straight-sets win over Roger Federer in the third round. Federer had his revenge in a gripping five-set final the following year and in 2008 Nadal lost to Nikolay Davydenko in the final.

At a media conference yesterday Nadal revealed that he enjoys playing doubles and says that it benefits his singles game.

“I play because in these tournaments these are very long tournaments, and you have day off almost after every match you win; the doubles is like a practice for me,” he said. I don't practice, I play doubles. So I still in competition and you have to play every day, change the situation. But having the day off is easier, and I play with a friend and I enjoy. [Doubles] improves the volley. I improve the aggressive return, so I do a lot of things."

Seeded No. 4 at this event, Nadal will open his campaign against the winner of German qualifier Rainer Schuettler and big-serving American Taylor Dent. The Spaniard is seeded to meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

ATP