Eight-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal said in an interview published on Tuesday that he is not setting his sights on Roger Federer’s record of 17 grand slam titles, despite claiming his 12th at Roland Garros last weekend.
A comfortable three-set victory over compatriot David Ferrer moved Nadal into joint third on the all-time list of grand slam winners alongside Australian Roy Emerson.
That came after he only recently returned from seven months out with a knee injury.
But Nadal claimed he was happy just to be on the court again.
“It is something that right now I see as light years away, it is not something I am planning,” he said of Federer’s record in an interview with Spanish sports daily Marca.
Nadal’s form since returning to the tour in February has been remarkable.
He has reached nine consecutive finals, winning seven tournaments in the process and said he was delighted with how his knee has reacted to such a heavy workload throughout the clay court season.
“Three months ago I was limp. At the start I was very sore but with the competition the feelings didn’t get worse but better and this is great news,” he added.
“In the next few days I will have the knee checked after many consecutive weeks without doing so. I hope that the results are satisfactory because it has held up very well.”
Having retained his French Open title, the 27-year-old’s attention now turns to trying to win a third title on the grass at Wimbledon.
The Spaniard will miss a planned warm-up event at Halle, Germany, to ensure he is well-rested on his arrival in southwest London, but admitted that could make him susceptible to an upset in the early rounds.
Nadal suffered the shock of the tournament last year when he was ousted by the then world No.100 Lukas Rosol in five sets in the second round and he was hoping to avoid a powerful hitter like the Czech in the opening rounds.
“To start with it will (be more difficult not having played a warm-up event on grass). Afterwards you never know. We will see if I can have good training sessions there and manage to get through the first few rounds,” he went on.
“What I want are players that give you rhythm and that help you to be able to win. Not those that end the point with one stroke.”
Frankie Hughes
Guest
When everyone say 'Djokovic isn't playing up to his standard' what the hell does that mean? Djokovic's 2011 was more a fluke than anything else. Only Federer has won 3 slams in a calendar year more that once(2004, 2006 and 2007) and Federer won 2 slams in a calendar year in 2005 and 2009. Djokovic has only ever had one year where he won multiple majors. 2011 was a combination of Federer and Nadal having injuries and personal problems. Djokovic's standard level has been what we've seen in 2012 and so far in 2013.
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Roar Guru
No, I don't think Hewitt will do well at Wimbledon this year, despite this being one of his favourite Grand Slam tournaments. Berdych and Tsonga can spring surprises, as you said, as evidenced by their victories over Roger Federer in 2010 and 2011 respectively. But I feel this year's Wimbledon title will be won by one of the Big Four, they are unstoppable at the moment but neither (apart from Rafa) is dominating in their own right so far. There hasn't been a surprise finalist since Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 and I expect this to stay the same.
Mark
Guest
Maybe this year someone like a Berdych or Tsonga can run hot and go all the way. Or even Lleyton Hewitt! Would love to see the courts lightning fast instead of a speed that enables a Nadal or Djokovic (i.e. baseliners) to do so well.
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Roar Guru
I think this year's Wimbledon men's draw will be very open. Novak Djokovic hasn't been playing up to his standards as he has in recent years, despite winning the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters in the first third of the year. His successes are starting to catch up to him. Andy Murray has been out injured and there will be the pressure for him to once again reach the final at SW19. The fact that he did win Olympic Gold at Wimbledon last year will also spur him on to go one better at Wimbledon this year. Roger Federer hasn't been enjoying a good season by his standards, his title-less start to the year his worst start to any season since 2003. Maybe the grass courts could provide a return to form for the ageing Swiss. And finally, Rafael Nadal is in very scintillating form at the moment and he will be hard to beat for the remainder of the year. If he keeps playing the way he is at the moment, then who knows, he could finish the year as World No. 1. To me I feel Nadal should be the favourite for Wimbledon this year.