Rome Masters (Photo : Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal is hoping to stay in rhythm when he hits the clay-courts of Rome this week for an eighth Italian Open title.
Nadal's remarkable run in the clay-season has been halted following his semifinal loss in the hands of Andy Murray at the Madrid Open last week. Nadal, despite losing to the Scot 7-5 6-4 in his only loss in the past two weeks, is positive of continuing his momentum at the Foro Italico, his last lead-up tournament before heading to Paris for the French Open.
"You feel happy when you have less pressure. When you feel good you don't have so much pressure on you. We still have two tournaments in the clay-court season and I achieved more [Emirates ATP Rankings] points than last year on clay. So this is something that we've seen," Nadal said, reports the ATP's official website.
"In these tournaments, I have been able to win two, and one making it to the semi-finals, so the clay season is great. Let's try to continue this way and stay with the rhythm."
After a rough start to the season, the 29-year-old suddenly became relevant in the tennis scene, winning back-to-back titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Nadal flashed his vintage form that earned him the moniker "King of Clay," boosting the Mallrocan's confidence to once again play at a high level.
But while Nadal admitted there is not much pressure in competing at the ATP 1000 Masters event, a win would certainly be monumental for the Spaniard's confidence heading into the French Open later this month. Nadal has yet to win a major title since the 2014 edition of Roland Garros, and there is no better place to add another Grand Slam title than on the red-clay courts of Paris.
Meanwhile, Nadal enters the Italian Open as the fifth seed and will start his campaign against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round of the tournament. The 14-time Grand Slam winner has won all of their last four meetings, most recently in the semifinal round at the Barcelona Open, where Nadal capped off his impressive clay-season run.
If Nadal wins, he will face the winner between Canada's Milos Raonic and Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the third round of the tournament.
