World number two Novak Djokovic, enjoying a 24-0 winning record this season, said Monday he was confident he can pass the supreme claycourt test by beating Rafael Nadal on the Spaniard’s favourite surface. “Nadal is the best in the world, he is dominant on clay, but this year I am playing against him with much more self-confidence,” said Djokovic where he is top seed at the Belgrade tournament this week.
Djokovic has beaten Nadal twice this year, on the hardcourts of Indian Wells and Miami, but is stepping onto clay for the first time this season in his hometown.
Nadal “does impossible things because he improves his performance on the clay every year, although many believe that is not possible,” Djokovic said. “By such approach he is forcing all other tennis players to improve. He motivates me, (Roger) Federer and all the others to be better,” he added. Djokovic, who earlier this month was forced to pull out of the Monte Carlo Masters blaming a knee injury, said he was not burdened by a record-start of the season. However, the number two said he had an ambition to win at least one more Grand Slam this year and get himself involved in fight for the number one position.
‘NADAL NOT UNBEATABLE’: Two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling won’t let a late start on serious claycourt play dent his confidence, with the top seed at the Estoril Open convinced he has the game to beat Rafael Nadal again on the surface. “He’s a great player, especially on clay,” the world number five Swede said Monday as he prepared for a second-round start in his debut at the Portuguese event. “But you have to go to the court thinking that you have a chance. “Otherwise, what’s the point? Nadal is he best on clay ever but he can be beaten, You just have to play your best tennis and have some luck.” .
Soderling famously beat Nadal in the fourth round of the French Open in 2009, paving the way for a final between Roger Federer and Soderling which the Swiss won. Since that breakthrough, Soderling had become a regular member of the ranking Top five. He then lost to Nadal in the French Open final a year ago. Soderling will be playing this week after missing Monte Carlo to let Achilles tendon and knee injuries clear. His start last week in Barcelona was a dud as he lost in the second round to eventual semi-finalist Ivan Dodig of Croatia. But the Swede does not feel he’s in a race against time with the Madrid and Rome Masters 1000 tournament looming before the May 22 start of the grand slam in Paris.
“I wanted to play in Monte Carlo but I was not ready. But the clay season is long and now I’m injury-free. I feel ready to play well. This will be a tough tournament with a lot of guys who can win. “But I’m feeling good with my game and I’ve had two and a half week of practice on the clay. I have to be counted among the favourites,” said the Swede. The 26-year-old backed world number three Roger Federer to do damage on the clay – “He is always among the guys who can win events” – as well as number two Novak Djokovic, an undefeated 24-0 this season who is stepping onto clay for the first time this season at home in Belgrade.
“It’s very even at the top of the game, Djokovic has beaten Rafa twice this year (hardcourt) but clay is totally different. Nadal is good on everything, but on clay he’s even better.” Soderling heads a field with Spain’s Fernando Verdasco standing second ahead of debutant Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France and compatriot Gilles Simon, a 2009 quarter-finalist as fourth seed. The joint ATP-WTA event got underway with women’s taking centre stage.
