AFP/Rio de Janeiro
After a quick foot shuffle at the city’s carnival, Rafael Nadal will get down to the serious stuff from tomorrow as he seeks to kickstart his year on his favourite clay by defending his title at the ATP 500 event in Rio.
Nadal was joining Brazilian legend and former world number one Gustavo Kuerten first off Sunday night to sample the atmosphere of the samba parades before a 70,000 crowd as the elite schools showed off their moves.
But after a succession of injuries last year hampered his start to 2015, which brought an early exit in Qatar and then in the quarters of the Australian Open, Nadal will be out to show off some moves of his own as he takes on Brazilian world number 63 Thomaz Bellucci at the exclusive Jockey Club.
David Ferrer, ranked nine on the ATP computer, is the second seed this week and can only meet fellow Spaniard Nadal in next Sunday’s final.
Having had to overcome a wrist problem and an appendectomy in recent months, 14-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, 28, is hoping some of the carnival sheen may rub off on his game.
“I don’t think the carnival will affect my game—it’s an event which is great fun,” he said after arriving in Rio.
One of the key factors for Nadal and his rivals will be the intense heat which in recent days has been bordering on 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in a sultry Southern Hemisphere summer which has Rio in a stifling grip.
“If the temperature doesn’t drop by Tuesday I’ll have to fight to stay alive,” the world number three said.
“I don’t know if I am ready to win it. I’m working hard to get back to the level I was at before I got injured,” added the Mallorcan, who will target a tenth Roland Garros crown come the end of May.
Ferrer, who last year shocked Nadal at the Monte Carlo Masters, meanwhile said the sultry conditions were a challenge for everyone.
“It’s been tough to train these past few days, especially during the daytime. I am trying to adapt and get prepared.”
Other names to look out for should Nadal and Ferrer both slip up include another Spaniard in Tommy Robredo, Italian world number 26 Fabio Fognini, Argentine Leonardo Mayer, ranked 30, Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas (32) and Slovak world number 38 Martin Klizan.
Last year, Nadal came here with a back problem but still triumphed over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov afer the latter first ousted Ferrer.
