Injury-hit ace Nadal eyes eighth straight Monte Carlo Masters

• The Spaniard takes to the European clay for the first time this year after a fortnight of trying to heal his latest knee problems

Monte Carlo
Rafael Nadal begins his bid for an unprecedented eighth straight Monte Carlo Masters title plagued by new fears over his physical condition.

The Spaniard takes to the European clay for the first time this year having spent the past fortnight trying to heal his latest knee problems after failing to front up for his Miami hardcourt semi-final against Britain’s Andy Murray.

Nadal will be seeded second in the field at the picturesque Monte Carlo Country Club, with number one Novak Djokovic keen to make his return to the Mediterranean venue after skipping last year to rest.

The Serb number one starts after a bye against a qualifier or Italian Andreas Seppi.

Undergone more therapy

Six-time French Open champion Nadal truly owns this tournament, which starts today, having lost a mere six sets in total since starting his unbroken title run in 2005.

Over the past five years, he has dropped just two sets at the elite club.

The Spaniard will start in the second round after a bye against the winner from Finn Jarkko Nieminen and Czech Radek Stepanek

Spanish media reported that Nadal has undergone more therapy at a Spanish clinic, treatment comprising injections of plasma enriched with growth factors to accelerate recovery, healing and tissue regeneration.

Nadal also underwent the same treatment in 2009.

“It is painful and I have to stand it for a week but it works. I know I have to in order to recover faster,” he said, adding that his knee tendons were “better than before” when compared to his 2009 condition.

In the absence of Roger Federer, Murray will be seeded third as he tries to lift his spirits after going down to Djokovic in the Miami Masters final. (AFP)