Nadal is fit, ready to fire

MELBOURNE: Spanish tyro Rafael Nadal has dispelled any concerns about his leg injury and believes he is ready to claim his maiden Australian Open crown. The world No.2, with a disappointing Melbourne Park best of the fourth round two years ago, raised fears about his fitness when he pulled out with a leg twinge in the opening set of his first match in last week’s Sydney tune-up event.

The week before he lost in the semifinals in Chennai to Belgian Xavier Malisse but the 20-year-old, still awaiting his first Grand Slam success away from the Roland Garros clay, insists he is ready to take his first Melbourne Park title.

“I am practising here 100 per cent,” said Nadal, who missed the 2006 event with a foot injury. “I feel one hundred per cent perfect.”

Nadal’s two tilts at the year’s opening Grand Slam have both ended in defeat to Lleyton Hewitt, in three sets in 2004 and five epic sets two years ago. But his tireless attitude and undeniable physical durability seem ideal for the rigours of a successful Melbourne Park campaign, where the mercury often tips 40 degrees Celsius and where the fittest can often survive the longest.

“I always play my best tennis here, very nice matches on centre court, two times against Lleyton and one time against (Mikhail) Youzhny (in 2005 second round). So I feel good here. I want to play good here.” Nadal admitted he had made changes to his game in the close season, most notably on his serve, but felt the form that had given him win-loss figures of 138-22 in the last two seasons was in good shape.

“I have (made) some changes on my serve. The rest of my game? I need to play the same like the last two years no? Because I was playing well. Just trying to improve little bit my forehand winner and a little bit the volley. But the rest I need to continue with the same game.” Nadal is scheduled to open his 2007 campaign on Tuesday against Robert Kendrick, the American who took him to five sets in the second round at Wimbledon last year.