Rafael Nadal said on Monday he wanted to use his new-found
attacking style for the rest of the claycourt season and in the
defence of his French Open title next month.
The 20-year-old extended his record of consecutive wins on clay
to 67 with his victory over world number one Roger Federer in the
final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.
Against Federer, Nadal showed more desire to step up the court
and volleyed well when he had the chance, making the Swiss kick the
dirt in frustration.
"Last week, I tried to play more forward in the court, more
aggressive," Nadal told reporters at the Real Club de Tenis
Barcelona, the venue for this week's Barcelona Open, where he has
dropped just one set in the last two years.
"I also have been working to improve my backhand. The only thing
I was not really happy with over the whole week was my serve."
Nadal, the twice defending French Open champion, has won the
Masters Series events in Monte Carlo and Rome in the last two years
in the buildup to Roland Garros.
This year, though, he said he also expected to play in the
Hamburg Masters Series event in the week after Rome, an event he
has played in only once, in 2003.
"If I am physically well, then I will play Rome, Hamburg and
Roland Garros," Nadal said.
"Being able to play on Wednesday in Hamburg (if he reaches the
final in Rome the week before) is very important and makes it much
easier to play both."
After a relatively poor start to the season, with defeat in the
quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Nadal said he felt he was
hitting top form at the right time.
"I started to play well in Dubai and then very well in Indian
Wells, where I won, and then in Miami and again last week. I hope
to keep it at this level."
Nadal, the top seed this week, begins his campaign on Wednesday
against either Belgian Kristof Vliegen or Davide Sanguinetti of
Italy.
(China Daily via Reuters April 24, 2007)