Rafael Nadal is bound for a historical run at the Monte-Carlo Masters, which kicks off on Apr. 10-17 at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Monaco.
Nadal is in play to set and break records at the ATP 1000 Masters Monte-Carlo, where the Spaniard kick starts his clay-season campaign. Spanish media outlet AS outlined the records Nadal could possibly eclipse and tie in the clay-season, giving the Spaniard more reasons to be victorious.
The King of Clay, who currently has 47 titles, needs two wins more wins on clay to tie Argentina's Guillermo Vilas in most titles on clay-court. Nadal is scheduled to play at five tournaments in the clay-season, including the second Grand Slam event of the year, Roland Garros. That means the Mallorcan has plenty of chances to tie or exceed Vila's all-time clay titles record until May.
Nadal could also improve his record on clay by winning the Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open, where the 29-year-old has won eight titles at each event. If Nadal wins in Monaco and Barcelona, it would put him on an even greater heights as the only player who has nine titles in as many tournaments. Nadal had done it at the French Open, and he may as well do it in his next two tournaments.
Lastly, Nadal could equal career rival Roger Federer's record of most outdoor titles. The Swiss Maestro has recorded 66 outdoor titles, while Nadal has 65.
It would be interesting whether Nadal could do all of these feats, but the odds seem to be against the world No. 5, especially at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he plays against the likes of Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
Nadal has yet to find his form this season, although he was able to show a glimpse of his ability to play at a high level on some occasions, most recently in Indian Wells, where he went on an impressive run before getting defeated by Djokovic in the semifinals.
Nadal enters the Monte-Carlo Masters as the fifth seed and could either play Czech Lukas Rosol or Great Britain's Aljaz Bedene.