Rafael Nadal insists he can secure the French Open crown, despite the fact he could be seeded as low as seventh for the second Grand Slam of the year.
The Spanish star and defending champion has dropped down to number seven in the world rankings after over 10 years in the top five following his loss to Andy Murray in last week’s Madrid Masters final.
Nadal’s quarter-final defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Rome Masters means he will not be amongst the top four seeds in Paris and could be as low as seventh, the nine-time champion’s lowest ever ranking in the French Open.
The ‘King of Clay’ could come up against the likes of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray as early as the quarter finals in the French capital, but he remains bullish on his chances of taking a sixth successive French Open title.
“I’m going to be ranked lower than ever [at the French Open],” he said. “So that will mean the chance to play against very tough opponents.”
He added: “The goal is Paris is always the same one. I’m playing well.
I’m confident that if I can play without nerves.”
Nadal has managed one clay-court title this season, in Buenos Aires, and could yet move up the seedings if Milos Raonic opts to miss the tournament following foot surgery.
Nadal is 3.50 to win the French Open outright while world number one Djokovic is the 1.80 favourite to claim the title he needs to complete a career Grand Slam.
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