I Need To Play Better, Says Nadal

Rafael Nadal intends to profit from the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, the most talked about men's tennis player to emerge in over a decade, and bring over some winning momentum to the French Open, which starts on May 22.

ROME

His fellow Spaniard is not in Rome, having opted to rest ahead of what will be his first tilt at a Grand Slam as a serious contender.

That has given Nadal the chance to win the last big clay event before Roland Garros.

The record 21-time Major winner eased into the last 16 of the Italian Open yesterday with an easy 6-3, 6-1 win over American John Isner.

Yet it has been anything but straightforward for Nadal, whose season was heavily disrupted by a cracked rib, which he suffered during his run to the Indian Wells final in March.