"I'm hoping it will better today and tomorrow," said the Spaniard. He said that he will eventually have to have the problem tooth removed but put the timetable at "not now." 


"I had the problems for the last eight months," said the 23-year-old. "It's not easy, but when I can play a few weeks, a few months in a row, everything is easier.

"That's the important thing right now. I'm very happy how I started the season playing, so I just want to continue like this."

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Hope the tooth fairy won't be visiting our Rafa in Miami...

Nadal tooth troubles could prey on Miami title bid

Miami - Rafael Nadal was hoping Wednesday that pain from an inflamed wisdom tooth will subside before his opening action at the Miami Masters.

Fourth seed Nadal, fresh from the semi-finals last week at Indian Wells, has been seen by a dentist after the tooth trouble which left him unable to train for two days prior to Tuesday when he resumed.

"I'm hoping it will better today and tomorrow," said the Spaniard. He said that he will eventually have to have the problem tooth removed but put the timetable at "not now."

After missing months with knee problems during 2009 and this season, Nadal is hoping for a clear run of form with the clay season start following the end of Miami in ten days.

As usual, the four-time Roland Garros champion has a full schedule and little time to recover from dental surgery.

Nadal will playing the second round after a bye versus either American Taylor Dent or German qualifier Rainer Schuettler.

As he said last week in California, he is trying to put his knee worries into the past.

"I had the problems for the last eight months," said the 23-year-old. "It's not easy, but when I can play a few weeks, a few months in a row, everything is easier.

"That's the important thing right now. I'm very happy how I started the season playing, so I just want to continue like this."

The 2005 and 2008 finalist lost in the quarter-finals last year to Juan Del Potro, missing from this edition with a continuing wrist problem.

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