PHOTOS/VIDEO: Rafael Nadal ready for Monte Carlo return

Almost two months after his quarter-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal shared his confidence ahead of his return to action at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

The 11-time champion will be competing in just his second event of the year after recovering from a recent back injury, but despite his lack of match practice, Nadal is entering the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event with a positive outlook on his game.

“I am good. Honestly, I am confident. I am playing well,” said Nadal. “I [have been] practising well [during the past] couple of days here in Monte-Carlo before the tournament starts. I feel ready.

“It’s true that I didn’t play much. At the same time, [it] is true that I had good success in the past without playing much. My mindset is the same as always. I just try to be ready… Going day by day. Tomorrow, [I have] another practice. I [am] just trying to be ready for the first match.”

Nadal will be aiming to compile another memorable run of results during this year’s European clay swing. The 34-year-old owns a 71-5 record in Monte-Carlo and is bidding to capture a 12th title at a single tour-level event for the second time. Nadal owns an all-time record 13 titles at Roland Garros.

“I love to play on clay, but I love to be here, [and at] Barcelona, Madrid, Rome [and] Roland Garros,” said Nadal. “I love these events… I will have the chance to play in places that I know very well, places that I have a great story with [at] every single event. For me, that’s important. [I am] just happy to enjoy another experience, another opportunity for me to compete in these historic places of our sport.”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion is not the only Nadal making his return to the ATP Tour this week. Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni Nadal, has travelled to the Principality this week as part of #NextGenATP Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime’s coaching team.

“Toni has a lot of experience,” said Nadal. “He knows a lot about this sport. He has all the knowledge that somebody needs. I am sure that [is] going to be an important help for Felix.”

Ahead of the 2021 ATP Tour season, Auger-Aliassime spent more than a week training at the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar in Mallorca. Nadal believes his uncle’s presence in Monte-Carlo this week will benefit not only help the Canadian, but also himself. Toni Nadal ended his role as coach of his nephew at the conclusion of the 2017 ATP Tour season.

“I am happy for Felix. [It] is going to be a good support, [to] have a great coach like Toni next to him. [I am] happy for myself, too. I am happy to see my uncle here, see him here, spend time with him here on the Tour again. That’s a positive thing.”

Nadal may get to spend more time with his uncle off the court this week, but he will be fully focussed on the task ahead. At one of the most successful events of his career, the five-time year-end World No. 1 will be keen to make his mark in his opening clay-court event of the year. Nadal will begin his 17th campaign in the Principality against Adrian Mannarino or a qualifier.

“[I] arrive [at] an important part of the season for me. I think I did the right work to be ready. So let’s see,” said Nadal. “[I still have] a couple of days of practice here, but [I am] happy [with] the way that I am playing.

“For the moment, my body is in good shape. I am excited about playing here in Monaco again, Monte-Carlo. As everybody knows, [this] is one of my favourite tournaments without a doubt. I love being here.”

Source: montecarlotennismasters.com

Photos: PanoramiC, ABACA, Corinne Dubreuil

Q. You haven't played since Melbourne. First of all, how are you? We know how much you love this place. How does it feel to be back here in Monte-Carlo, in this beautiful club, even though it's a bit different this year?

RAFAEL NADAL: Good. I am feeling good. Thank you. Yeah, I taked a while after Australia. Going to be my second tournament. Is true that the situation we are facing not helps to play that often.

But, yeah, arrive an important part of the season for me. I think I did the right work to be ready. So let's see. Remain a couple of days of practice here. But, yeah, happy the way that I am playing. Yeah, for the moment my body is in good shape. Yeah, I am excited about playing here in Monaco again, Monte-Carlo. As everybody knows, is one of my favorite tournaments without a doubt. I love being here.

Of course, we're going to miss the crowd, yeah, the normal tournament. But we are happy. Well, I am happy that we are still able to play. Be here is always a good news for me. Excited, happy, hope to be ready to give my best.

I hope to be able to come back next year with a different story, with a normal situation again.

Q. We have all seen the news of Toni working with Felix. I was wondering what are your thoughts on that? How do you think Toni can contribute to Felix's game, obviously since you worked with your uncle for such a long time?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I mean, I am happy for him, happy for at the same time academy have somebody with such a great player like Felix is a positive thing.

At the same time, well, Toni has a lot of experience. He knows a lot about this sport. He has all the knowledge that somebody needs. I am sure that going to be an important help for Felix.

Q. It has to be weird not having played any tournament since Australia, starting the clay season when we all know how much it's important to you? What are the expectations? How are you dealing with the situation?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am good. Honestly, no, I am confident. I am playing well I think. I'm practicing well these couple of days here in Monaco, in Monte-Carlo, before the tournament start. So I feel ready.

It's true that I didn't play much. At the same time is true that I had good success in the past without playing match. My mindset is the same as always, no? Just try to be ready for Wednesday. Going day by day. Tomorrow another practice. Just try to be ready for the first match, and let's see.

I'm just going step by step, as I always did. I hope to be ready to stay healthy, that's the main thing. If I am able to stay healthy for the next month and a half, I hope to have my chances to compete at the right level.

Q. Another question about Toni coaching Felix. Did Toni ask you what you thought about the idea of him coaching Felix? Also, what do you think you will feel like if you are playing Felix in a match? Will Toni be helping him then?

RAFAEL NADAL: Is something that I didn't tell to him, no. I don't have any problem, no. I always said the same: I want the best for Toni.

First of all, he doesn't have to ask me anything, no. He's my uncle. I am very grateful for all the things that he did for me. I am happy that he's on the tour a couple of weeks, no?

At the same time I am happy for Felix. I mean, is going to be a good support, have a great coach like Toni next to him. Happy for me, too. I am happy to see my uncle here, see him here, spend time with him here on the tour again. That's a positive thing.

Q. I'd like to know if you watched the tournament in Miami, with Jannik Sinner doing so well? He said it's the best experience he had so far was to practice with you. Since in this draw Sinner could possibly play with Djokovic, which could be the first match of Djokovic, like you playing the first match after Melbourne, I wonder what is the disadvantage to have not played for two months since Melbourne, almost three, and finding yourself already with a strong opponent?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, let's see, no? I am happy for Jannik. He is a great guy, having a great season. I honestly didn't see much of Miami. Sorry. I can't have a clear opinion.

But at the same time, I mean, I saw the draw. Jannik has a tough first round against Albert Ramos. He know how to play very well on clay. He play a very good week last week in Marbella.

For Jannik, I'm sure he's focused on winning the first match. If he plays against Novak, is of course a tough match for Jannik, probably a tough match for Novak, too, no?

But Novak came here after winning another slam. Even if he doesn't play for a while, I am sure that he was able to practice on clay more than never. He will be ready, no?

But let's see. I don't know. I can't have a clear opinion on that. Of course, going to be a tough battle if that happens.

Q. We haven't seen you since Melbourne. In the meantime Novak broke the record of weeks at No. 1. As someone who has been at the top of the game for so long, how hard it is to be 300 or more weeks at No. 1? How big is that record in regard to tennis history?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, honestly during this period of time, for the last years, have been a lot of records breaking, no? Three players did a lot of important things in the history of our sport. Now that's another great achievement for Novak. So well done for him. Just congratulate him.

I don't know what means for the history of tennis. Just another record breaking. That's it. Well done for him.

Q. Obviously it's a bit strange that the clay season is happening again so soon after it happened last year, even though it was just Rome and Paris. For you, does it feel strange that the most important part of the season for you is back again so soon after it ended?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, last year was only two tournaments of clay court season for me, no? That's the real thing. Was not a long clay court season.

No, I am excited. More than for the clay court season - of course, I love to play on clay, too - but I love to be here, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, Paris. I love these events. Of course, will not be the same without the typical atmosphere.

At the same time I play I will have the chance to play in a places that I know very well, places that I have a great story with every single event, yeah. For me, that's important, no?

Just happy to enjoy another experience, yeah, another opportunity for me to compete in these historic places of our sport.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

• Tribute to Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy

On this day of the first matches of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters’ main draw, H.S.H. Prince Albert II wished to be present at the Monte-Carlo Country Club to pay tribute to Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy.

A ceremony was held to unveil a plaque in memory of the one who was an exceptional President and who will remain in the legend of Monegasque tennis. Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy worked tirelessly to develop and promote the M.C.C.C., the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and the Monegasque Tennis Federation, until her passing on June 10th 2020.

This plaque, which will be installed at a later date on the main alley of the Club, was unveiled in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, of the Baroness's daughter Miss Melanie-Antoinette de Massy, the new President, as well as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, emblematic figures of the tennis world, who were deeply attached to Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, like many others players.

For Rafael Nadal, who respectfully called her "La Madame", "she was an exceptional lady, elegant, fantastic attitude, someone with clear ideas and better ways, always remarkable." She is sorely missed by the entire tennis family.

Source: mccc.mc