Rafael Nadal targets good run at the Miami Open
Spain's Nadal out to win maiden title at Crandon Park
Friday 24 March 2017 12:32, UK
Rafael Nadal is hoping to finish with a flourish at the Miami Open before the start of the clay court season where he will be in his element.
The Spanish star is eager to add a first Miami crown to his 69 ATP World Tour titles and continue his strong start to 2017.
World No 7 Nadal is a four-time finalist at Crandon Park, but the Australian Open finalist is determined to win on the blue courts before the start of his favourite clay-court campaign.
"I've started the year well. I'm happy with the tournaments I've played so far. It's an important tournament for me here in Miami. I hope to be well prepared for this season and I'm ready to start," Nadal said.
"I didn't play tennis for almost six months in the second part of [last] season so it's important to play well here, and in Monte Carlo.
"Last year I won in Monte Carlo and Barcelona but then the injury happened.
"It will be great for me to finish with positive feelings here in Miami before the arrival of the clay court season."
Milos Raonic says he is fully fit after a hamstring injury which kept him out of the Indian Wells Masters.
"I got cleared to start practising about a week ago so before my first match it's going to be a total of 10 days to work on my physical status and work on my game," he said.
"Fortunately my leg has healed up and it's hopefully an injury I can put behind me and now it's really about trying to find my game as much as possible and try to play the best level I can for my first match up."
The Canadian, who was a Wimbledon runner-up last year, believes winning in Miami won't be easy, despite the absence of world No 1 Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, who won the title in five of the last six years.
"Obviously it's an opportunity [with Murray and Djokovic ruled out] but that's all it is. You have Roger [Federer] who has been playing fantastic this year and has been the standout player pretty much on his own for 2017. You have Rafa [Nadal] who is playing great as always when he's healthy.
"So you have guys out there who can make it difficult for you. But when you have that opportunity match by match, you try to squeeze out as much as you can from yourself to try and win as many matches as possible."
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