Rafael Nadal - ATP update 2016 (Photo : Getty Images)
David Ferrer didn't mince words in saying momentum has now shifted to Rafael Nadal with roughly a month left before the 2016 French Open championships begin.
Ferrer, who battled Nadal in so many matches (including the final of the 2013 French Open), believes the King of the Clay is back in his old form after putting up virtuoso performances at the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open.
The 34-year old Spaniard stressed his pick would have been world's no.1 Novak Djokovic had not Nadal shown resurgence over the last three to four weeks.
"Until three or four weeks ago I would have said that the favorite (for this event) was Djokovic, but considering how Rafa is playing, his results and confidence is having, especially on clay, make him favourite, Ferrer said of Nadal during a pre-tournament press conference via Tennis World.
After winning the Australian Open championship along with Indian Wells and Miami Masters titles, the Serb entered the European clay-court season as the overwhelming favorite to win every tournament slated in the European clay-court season. However, a shocking second round exit at Monte Carlo has somewhat halted his momentum, and as what Roger Federer said, given everybody an opportunity to prove that he's not unbeatable all along.
Without Djokovic standing on his way, Nadal suddenly played vintage tennis as he dismantled rising star Dominic Thiem, Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Murray and Gael Monfils on his way to capturing a record 9th title in Monte Carlo. The Spaniard's hot run continued in Barcelona, where he breezed through a 6-4, 7-5 win over two-time defending champ Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Ferrer, who's having a tough year with injuries and inconsistencies, will still be one of the players to watch at the 2016 Madrid Masters. This year's tourney is loaded with talents, especially that all members of the fabled Big Four (Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray) will be competing in the Masters 1000 event.
