Rafael Nadal set to carry momentum after winning 11th Monte Carlo Masters title
"It's the moment to stay focused and to keep holding that good momentum after winning seven matches in a row on clay now this year"
Monday 23 April 2018 15:35, UK
Rafael Nadal says he is looking to carry the momentum from his 11th Monte Carlo Masters title into the rest of the clay-court season.
The world No 1 showed no signs of rustiness as he raced through his first ATP tournament since January without coming close to dropping a set.
The 31-year-old became the first man in the Open era to win the same title 11 times and moved one ahead of rival Novak Djokovic for career Masters titles as he recorded a 6-3 6-2 victory over Kei Nishikori on Sunday.
Nadal will now turn his attention to upcoming bids for 11th titles in Barcelona and at the French Open.
"It's important for my confidence. It's true that the longest match here was one hour 30 (minutes). That's great news," said Nadal.
"Today is a day to enjoy this because winning a tournament like this one doesn't happen every day.
"But tomorrow I need to start being focused on the next week. It's not the moment to stop and disconnect your mind.
"It's the moment to stay focused and to keep holding that good momentum after winning seven matches in a row on clay now this year."
Nadal only returned from a hip injury in Spain's Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany earlier this month, where he won both of his singles matches in straight sets.
The Spaniard had retired from his Australian Open last-eight clash with Marin Cilic in January, but showed no signs of fitness problems in Monte Carlo.
My goal is always the same thing - to be healthy, because if I am not healthy, I cannot have any goals.
"There remains a lot of the clay-court season, hopefully, hopefully, a lot of matches," he said.
"I hope to have the chance to be healthy for the whole clay-court season. That's it, yeah, it's an important beginning.
"My goal is always the same thing - to be healthy, because if I am not healthy, I cannot have any goals."
The 16-time Grand Slam champion has now won 36 consecutive sets and said that he's just trying to enjoy every moment of the latter part of his career.
"My true feeling is that these kind of things are not going to happen forever, so I just try to enjoy and to play with full passion and with full energy and concentration, full love for the sport for as long as I can," he added.
"I know the day to say goodbye is closer than 10 years ago.
"It's something that I am not worried about, but it's a real thing. So I'm just enjoying every day and trying to play with the best attitude possible, to keep being happy playing tennis."
Coverage of the ATP Barcelona Open will be shown on Sky Sports Arena throughout this week as Rafael Nadal looks to land an 11th title in Catalonia.
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