'Back to the clay is a challenge'

The Nadal Rafael Nadal, world number three after the Swiss Roger Federer and Serb Novak Djokovic, hopes to develop his "best tennis on the clay court season that starts next week in Monte Carlo, and has said back to the surface ideal is "challenging."

Nadal, who has traveled to Monte Carlo today to contest the first Master 1000 on clay with his girlfriend Xisca Perelló, was optimistic in statements made to the media at the airport in Palma when he flew to the capital Monaco.

"My objective is to have a good season (on clay), playing good tennis and I do not plan far exceed the classification of Federer and Djokovic," he explained.

"It's not a goal, I support more points than everyone else, especially to Roland Garros," Nadal said of his approach to leading positions. "After Paris, if I'm good results, yes I have that wee bit of room but so far I have to defend title in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Madrid final, and that's 3,500 points in a month and a half," he added.

"I have never worried (retrieve the number one) and I'm not going to worry now," said Nadal.

"Face this tournament like any other land. It is a very important tournament for me is a challenge to return to play on clay," he said of Monte Carlo, "is something that I have not the Davis Cup final (against the Republic Czech Barcelona), he added.

Nadal, who fell in the quarterfinals (semifinals) (thanks JBA) at the hard courts of Indian Wells and Miami, has exercised these days in a clay court in his hometown of Manacor.

The Balearic tennis defend titles in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome, Madrid and the final round at Roland Garros.
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