Rafael Nadal made a miserable start to the first season he has ever begun as world number one, losing in the Qatar Open quarter-finals to Gael Monfils in less than an hour and a half.
It was a bad day for Spain. Carlos Moya lost in the Chennai Open to Indian rookie Somdev Devvarman and compatriot Rafael Nadal made a miserable start to the first season he has ever begun as world number one, losing in the Qatar Open quarter-finals to Gael Monfils in less than an hour and a half.
But although the Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion was not at his best, Nadal certainly did enough to have survived against most other players apart from the superbly in-form Monfils.
The 22-year-old French player reminded everyone during his 6-4, 6-4 win that he was tipped as a future world number one himself.
It did though raise questions as to whether or not Nadal who was also beaten by Andy Murray in an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi on Sunday might have had his off-season preparation affected by the troublesome knee injuries which caused him to miss the last two events of 2008.
But he insisted that he had no worries over his form.
"There's no damage to my confidence," said Nadal.
"I knew before the match that the beginning of the season was not going to be easy because, although I have had more rest than other players, I have also had more time outside of competition than others. So it is a little bit more difficult to come back fast to my rhythm. I have five matches altogether, so I leave with positive feelings when I go to Australia."
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