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In-form Novak
Djokovic is not even competing at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters yet
Rafael Nadal can still sense the Serb lurking in the shadows as the
clay court season begins in stifling sunshine.

For a man who won
every clay tournament he entered last year and who at Monte Carlo is
bidding to be the first player in the open era to win the same event
seven times in a row, the Spanish world number one was remarkably
subdued on Monday.

Two straight final
defeats to Djokovic on the hard courts at Indian Wells and Miami have
left their mark despite the switch to clay and the Serb’s absence from
Monte Carlo to rest a knee injury.

“I feel very
beatable when I go on court. The last six years on clay, I could never
have imagined what I did. It’s almost impossible to repeat a season
like last year,” Nadal told reporters at the Country Club, perched
above the shimmering sea.

“It’s almost a year
since I’ve played on clay. As usual, I try to watch videos (of myself)
to remember what I have to do. Last year I started to play and felt
fantastic from the beginning. Every year is different. You need
matches.” World number two Djokovic, whose injury is expected to clear
up in the next few days, has won 24 straight matches in 2011 and
nine-times Grand Slam champion Nadal reckons that form can be
transferred onto clay despite the Serb skipping this week.

“I’m sure on clay he’s going to be good,” Nadal said, muscles bulging out of his shirt sleeves.

Advantages

“This year Novak
has a lot of advantages. He is in a perfect situation to be number one.
I’m sure he’ll be number one next month. He started the season playing
unbelievably. In my opinion he didn’t even play his top level in Indian
Wells and Miami.” Nadal, who fought to keep the glamorous but small
scale Monte Carlo tournament a Masters event, has such an attachment to
Monaco that he had a special audience with Prince Albert on Sunday.

“I played my best
tennis ever on clay I think here last year,” added Nadal, due to play
his first match on Wednesday. “This place is one of my favourites in
the world.”

World number three
Roger Federer was keen to point out he is no mug on clay as the build
up to next’s month’s French Open begins. “I feel very strong on the
surface. It’s the surface I grew up on. Everybody knows that by now. I
can make a huge step forward,” the Swiss said.

If Federer’s recent
form is patchy, Andy Murray’s has been downright dreadful since his
Australian Open final defeat to Djokovic and the Briton is no nearer to
finding a new coach.

“I’m not any closer. I’m trying to concentrate on playing,” the world number four said.

“I feel better this year, I just haven’t been playing well in the matches. I’m sure this week there will be a few upsets.”