Rafael Nadal: I'm no longer favourite on clay

Nadal, 28, has won 325 games on the surface, losing only 25.

The Spaniard prepares to open his season at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday against Dominic Thiem or Lucas Pouille, where he is bidding for a ninth title.

Nine-times Roland Garros champion Nadal told ATP wordtour: "I don’t have pressure this year.

"I’m not the favourite for anything. I have been playing worse than the rest of the rivals of mine. The pressure is not for me - I am arriving here with the motivation to do something better than what I am doing.”

“The most important thing for me is to feel well on court again, feel confident, feel I am improving.

“I was improving every week before Miami, and in Miami I played bad - If I’m able to find the confidence, to find the tennis here on clay, then it makes everything a little less difficult.

“I am working to be playing well as soon as possible, and if I didn't believe that I could, I would not be here... If I am here it’s because I have the motivation, the passion, the emotion to keep playing tennis.”