Rafael Nadal may have finally found his vintage form after coming up victorious in the past two tournaments he joined, but there are concerns whether the Spaniard could sustain playing at a high level when he competes in Madrid.
Nadal seems to be in good spirits after winning back-to-back titles this season, putting him back to a feat he has not achieved since winning the Cincinnati Masters and US Open in 2013. After a masterful win at the Monte Carlo Masters, the 29-year-old followed up another victory at the Barcelona Open, which could be a major boost in Nadal's campaign to getting back into his old form.
"I am so happy. This week has been very important for me, apart the fact of winning another title, it's another week where I played at a very good level and where I did not lose any set," Nadal said, reports Tennis World USA.
"I won against one of the best players in the World, these were two fantastic weeks. After Monte Carlo I had said that Barcelona was an important tournament for me. I will enjoy the victory and then I will think about Madrid."
However, amid Nadal's slightly convincing comeback at the tennis scene, there are concerns whether the King of Clay could sustain his winning formula at the Madrid Open, especially against career rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, who are both projected to make an appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Following his convincing win against Gael Monfils at the Monte Carlo Masters, Henri Leconte, former French pro tennis player, believes Nadal has returned to the tennis scene, but insisted doubts about the Mallorcan's ability to play his game in a five-setter.
"Is he back? You have to be calm, but yes, it's Rafa's comeback. He impressed me in the final against Gael. Rafa is like before, but can he keep this rhythm for five sets?" Leconte told Tennis Actu as translated by Tennis World USA.
Nadal, a four-time Madrid Open winner, heads into his next tournament with renewed confidence and momentum, but in a competition where top-ranked players are present, the Spaniard faces an uphill battle to make it three-titles in a row and gain the much-needed boost for the French Open next month.
"There are no better clay courts in the world", says @RafaelNadal. #MMOPEN https://t.co/ZfeDOMcRvy pic.twitter.com/pzJX3yUc7j
— Mutua Madrid Open (@MutuaMadridOpen) April 25, 2016