Rafa Nadal set for grass season and Wimbledon after dismal opening to 2015
Wednesday 10 June 2015 18:02, UK
Rafa Nadal says he is looking forward to the grass season despite suffering an early French Open exit and dropping down the latest world rankings.
The Spaniard has dropped down to 10th in the latest ATP world rankings after losing to world No 1 Novak Djokovic in the French Open quarter-finals.
Last June Nadal was the top-ranked player after winning a record ninth title at Roland Garros, but he's been moving down the Top 10 ever since.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion finished last year third in the world, but is now 10th, which is his worst ranking since April 2010.
Despite his profligacy on court, Nadal says he is looking forward to his grass-court campaign which has been extended by a week this year with Wimbledon starting on Monday 29 June.
"My goal has always been the same," Nadal told Sky Sports. "I try to win as many matches as possible in every tournament that I play and the first tournament on grass is always very tough and very difficult.
"You need to adapt and the grass deserves to have one more week. For players it is a little bit better to have three weeks before Wimbledon.
"I need time on court. I need to spend hours on court to feel comfortable on grass. The movement and the way that I hit shots."
Top seed Nadal starts his grass campaign in Stuttgart on Thursday with a second-round match against Marco Baghdatis.
I need time on court. I need to spend hours on court to feel comfortable on grass. The movement and the way that I hit shots.
