Nadal aims at Barcelona recovery

Rafael Nadal will quickly bury his sorrows after the end of his eight-year title streak in Monte Carlo, with the Spaniard quickly turning his focus to the Barcelona Open starting on Monday.

Nadal went down to defeat in Sunday's Monte Carlo final to Novak Djokovic 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) but is not mourning the end of a 46-match winning run at the prestige venue.

"With not much preparation, I was able to play in the finals, a few matches," said the knee injury victim who missed seven months but who has since played in five straight finals and won three trophies.

"This week is going to help me be fit for the next weeks." Nadal is the king of the home clay in Catalonia.

The 26-year-old has won seven of the past eight editions at the venerable Real Club de Tenis. His only miss came in 2010, when he did not play, compatriot Fernando Verdasco keeping the trophy firmly in Iberian hands.

AFP