Nadal begins defence
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ByEurosport
Published 18/04/2006 at 06:40 GMT
Rafael Nadal starts the defence of his title at Monte Carlo on Tuesday hoping it proves to be the catalyst for success at the upcoming French Open. And if recent years' experience is anything to go by, it could well turn out that way for the world number
TENNIS 2006 MIAMI MASTERS Rafa Nadal
Image credit: Imago
Over the past five years, winners at the Monte Carlo Country Club have invariably gone on to do well six weeks later at Roland Garros in Paris.
Nadal himself warmed up for the Open last year with victory on the south coast, putting himself in the right physical form and frame of mind for coming out on top on the clay in Paris.
Gustavo Kuerten, in 2001, and Juan Carlos Ferrero, in 2003, are two other players who found winning in Monaco the perfect preparation for success at Roland Garros.
Ferrero had nearly done it before, in 2002, when he narrowly missed out on the double, making it all the way to the final in Paris before falling at the final hurdle, a fate that also met Guillermo Coria back in 2004.
NADAL - SO HOT RIGHT NOW
Nadal goes into this year's tournament not only with those black and white statistics in his favour, but also the fact that he is without doubt the form player on the tour at the moment.
Last year, the young Spaniard won 50 of his 52 clay court matches on his way to taking home eight trophies, of which the Monte Carlo Masters was one.
Nadal opens his defence on Tuesday against Arnaud Clement of France, and the powerful 19-year-old will be confident of matching the winning feats of rivals Roger Federer and David Nalbandian's on Monday.
Securing safe passage through to the second round will present Nadal with a tie against another Frenchman, Jean-René Lisnard or another bright young talent, albeit not yet quite in the same class as Nadal, Andrew Murray.
Follow all the action, right here LIVE on eurosport.com, from 10:00 cet on Tuesday!
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