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Rafael Nadal’s reign at No.1 is still young and the Spaniard heads into the Madrid Masters expecting a fight to hold on to the prestigious title.
Nadal and Roger Federer both arrive in the Spanish capital refreshed from a three-week break that followed Davis Cup victories for Spain and Switzerland.
Federer also arrives with extra purpose after appearing to finally rebound from a below-par season brought on by a bout of monoclueosis.
The second-ranked Swiss comes in on the heels of a US Open victory last month and doubles Olympic gold.
“My goal right now is the same as before, to try my best everyday,” Nadal said today from the Madrid Arena, where he accepted the trophy for his No.1 achievement to the delight of a roaring home audience.
“For sure the goal for the end of this season is to try and finish with the No.1 ranking.”
Nadal’s excellent season has come at the expense of Federer.
The 22-year-old Mallorca native rolled over Federer for a fourth straight French Open trophy, denied his main rival a sixth straight Wimbledon title and then snapped Federer’s record 237 weeks in the top spot.
Federer will be highly motivated on the Spaniard’s home turf, although Nadal dampened enthusiasm for the Nadal-Federer final that fans expect with every tournament.
“I don’t get tired about (the rivalry). (But) neither him nor I are thinking about this I think,” said Nadal, who can clinch the season-ending No.1 ranking by reaching the quarter-finals.
The Tour’s top-32 players make up the field and Nadal’s route looks likely to include France’s Richard Gasquet and countryman David Ferrer as potential opponents to reach the semi-finals, where third-ranked Novak Djokovic would loom before any meeting with Federer.
“Never do I think about winning titles before I start. It’s a lot easier to lose here than to win,” said Nadal, who won here in 2005 and is looking for his fourth Masters Series title of the season.
Federer has a tougher-looking task.
Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga awaits in the third round before a potential quarter-final matchup against either David Nalbandian or Juan Del Potro. Nalbandian won the Stockholm Open on Sunday and could be heating up at the right time just as he did here last year, when the Argentine beat Djokovic, Nadal and then rallied to beat Federer for the title.
Federer, the 2006 winner who is 14-3 lifetime in Madrid, is still looking for his first Masters Series win of the season. Not since 2001 has Federer not taken at least one of the eight special tournaments that culminate with the Masters Cup, to be played in Shanghai next month.
Surprises could be expected with Madrid’s high altitude making the indoor surface play quicker than most tournaments.
Djokovic faces a relatively tough task to meet Nadal in the semis with No.5 Nikolay Davydenko, Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic, wildcard Marat Safin and James Blake in his side of the draw.
Fourth-ranked Andrew Murray also returns for his first Tour appearance since losing to Federer at Flushing Meadows, with American player Andy Roddick, No.12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile and local player Fernando Verdasco in his quarter of the bracket. Murray and Federer could meet in the semis.
It will be the last Madrid Masters played on hard indoor court as it turns into a mixed field event to be played on clay from next May, when the venue will move to the new “Caja Magica” (Magic Box).
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