Rafael Nadal under control of physical and emotional issues as he gears up for favourite surface

Rafael Nadal said the physical and emotional emotions that robbed him of a winning campaign last season are now under control ahead of his competition at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Nadal will attempt to realign his season form when he plays on the dirt at the ATP 1000 Masters Monte Carlo, which starts this week. The King of Clay, who has won 47 of his 67 titles on clay-court tournaments, admitted he no longer feels the anxiety that caused him on-court problems last year as he gears up for his next tournament of the 2016 season.

“Last year I was competing against myself and this year I am competing against rivals," Nadal said, reports The National. “I could not get over the anxiety.”

“I love what I do. I will train while I am happy. I do not feel anxious while playing. I do not have last year’s issues."

Nadal was showing some potential in getting back to his old form in Indian Wells, where he was stopped by career rival Novak Djokovic in the semifinal round. The Mallorcan was hoping to continue his momentum at the Miami Open, but a dizzy spell has forced Nadal out of the tournament.

At the Monte Carlo Masters, Nadal will not only have the chance to assess his playing-form heading into the clay-season, but also the odds of winning an unprecedented 10 th French Open title. Nadal last won a major title at Roland Garros back in 2014 before heading into a slump that saw him winning only three titles the next year.

Winning the French Open would be massive for Nadal’s confidence and would certainly prove many doubters wrong about the 14-time Grand Slam winner already at the cusp of a career decline.

Nadal could open the Monte Carlo Masters against the winner between Czech Lukas Rosol and Great Britain’s Aljaz Bedene.