Nadal helping hand in doubles falls short for Mallorcan mate

By Bill Scott Feb 9, 2009, 17:28 GMT

Rotterdam, Netherlands - Rafael Nadal got back to work on court eight days after his historic Australian Open title, adjusting to indoor conditions during a doubles loss on Monday at the ABN-AMRO World Tennis.

The Spanish world number one teamed with fellow Mallorcan Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets but the wild card pair lost to experienced Frenchman Michael Llodra - last year's singles champion - and compatriot Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal said that his brief participation the team event was mainly for fun and to get accustomed to what are speedier conditions at the Ahoy arena for this edition of the first-ever 500 series event on the re-organised ATP 2009 calendar.

He was also trying to help his 21-year-old friend and fellow Mallorcan Ignacio Coll-Ruidavets, with whom he frequently trains.

'I also want to help a young player from Mallorca,' said Nadal, whose Australian Open crown over Roger Federer marked his sixth Grand Slam and first on hardcourt.

'I trained all of December with him, he helped me prepare for Australia. I was trying to help him here.'

Nadal will begin the serious business of translating his singles game to the indoors on Wednesday night when he opens against Simone Bolelli of Italy.

The Spanish world number one will also be trying to make amends for his second-round defeat a year ago.

But no matter how far he climbs in the game, the modest Mallorcan cannot shake his respect for Federer, whom he's now beaten in their last five meetings dating to autumn, 2007 in Shanghai.

'When someone has 13 Grand Slams and 14 Masters titles, there is no discussion about who is the best. I'm a bit tired of this question.'

As a match loser, Nadal was one of five players who had to queue up for drug testing, creating a backup which left second seed Andy Murray uncomfortably prevented by testers from going to the toilet for at least 90 minutes after his own doubles loss until he could be tested in turn.

That kind of regulation is what has the Scot seething at the new regime which requires that Top 50 players report each day to international anti-corruption officials where and when they will be available for possible testing for one hour for every day on the calendar.

'This is the third time I've been tested over the past 16 or 17 days ... I don't understand why we have to do it during tournament weeks when we're being tested anyway,' Murray said.

'So many things could be done better. We're humans.

'We have ten-and-a-half months of tennis and we're getting tested at least 25 times.

'Why is is that only the Top 50 have to do this whereabouts thing. What about number 51?'

On court on opening day, three of nine French players in the 32-man field suffered mixed results.

Julien Benneteau got a win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, but Russian Dmitry Tursunov out out qualifier Clement 6-0, 6-3 while Mikhail Youzhny of Russia beat Laurent Recouderc 6-4, 6-4.