PARIS // Rafael Nadal sauntered through a hotel lobby in the centre of town, a bounce in his step and a black watch worth more than US$400,000 (Dh1.47million) strapped to his left wrist. The gait was noteworthy because Nadal's much-scrutinised knees are doing quite well - they "are in a very good moment", is the way he put it. The timepiece, crafted by luxury watchmaker Richard Mille with Nadal's input, is noteworthy because he plans to wear it while playing at the French Open.
Paris in the springtime is usually Nadal's time to shine; he won the title each of the first four years he entered the clay-court event. In 2009, though, a busy schedule and battered knees took their toll and he lost at Roland Garros for the only time in 32 matches there. Now Nadal aims to start a new winning streak at the French Open, which begins tomorrow. "I wanted a lot to be here, and I [am]. It's a personal satisfaction for me because I worked a lot to win another time," Nadal said on Thursday, shortly after flying to France from his home in Spain.
All the signs indicate that he is ready to do just that. After going 11 months without a tournament title, he has won three in a row. After dealing with his leg and abdominal injuries last year, he is healthy. He is 15-0 on clay this year, and became the first man to win at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid in the same season. * AP