Fit-again Nadal to tempt fate with full-on 2010 clay schedule

By Bill Scott Mar 12, 2010, 23:08 GMT

Indian Wells, California - Rafael Nadal will tempt fate as he prepares to return to tennis after six weeks out injured, with the Spaniard confirming Friday at the Indian Wells Masters that his crowded spring clay schedule will remain the same as always.

'My schedule is the same like every year: Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid and Roland Garros,' said Nadal, as he prepares to defend his title in the Californian desert from this weekend.

The four-time French Open winner, now ranked third in the world after months of injury interruptions, has been warned by doctors and coaches that his extraordinary athletic and aggressive style is taking a toll on his 23-year-old body.

But the King of Clay, who lost his first-ever career match at Roland Garros last spring after four consecutive titles, just cannot give up the events that he loves.

'We will see what happens. I really don't want to change if it's possible. I like to play in Barcelona. It's (an) important tournament for me. I love Monte Carlo, I love Rome, and I love Roland Garros.

'I want to come back here (on hardcourt). I don't want to wait until clay court season. I'm focussed on this tournament and focussed on every tournament.'

Nadal said that after rest and rehab at home in Mallorca following his mid-match, quarter-final pullout against Andy Murray at the Australian Open, he now feels fit.

'When you come back you are always a little bit scared, but I'm feeling okay. I practised hard in Mallorca, and I did here too for the last three, four days. I think I'm ready.'

Nadal had to miss the February Rotterdam indoor tournament as Spain's Davis Cup tie last weekend, which the four-time champion won over Switzerland, a side missing Roger Federer.

The six-time Grand Slam winner named his current goals as 'be healthy and play well.'

'If I do both things, I'm gonna have good chances to have good tournaments and to have good results. The level is there, it's now much better than the last six, seven, eight months,' said Nadal, whose last title came in May in Rome.

Nadal will open his Indian Wells title defence against German veteran Rainer Schuettler.

In the men's first round - seeds all have byes - Dudi Sela of Israel beat American Jesse Levine 6-2, 6-2; Taiwan's Lu Yen Hsun defeated Spain's Oscar Hernandez 6-1, 6-2; and Croatian-Australian Marinko Matosevic won the first ATP-level match of his career, beating Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-3, 6-0.

Two women's seeds reached the third round on the WTA side.

Second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki, at 19 the only teenager in the top 10, was forced into a comeback to stop American Vania King 5- 7, 6-2.

Polish number five Agnieskwa Radwanska advanced when Russian Anna Chakvetadze quit injured trailing 6-2, 5-3.

The event was to be highlighted in the evening by Hit for Haiti 2, an exhibition doubles showcase featuring Federer, Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi on the men's side and Justine Henin, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Lindsay Davenport.

The effort expands on an initiative that Federer organized on the day before the start of the Australian Open.

The Indian Wells event, now owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, expects to raise at least one million dollars for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.