• French Open

I am not favourite - Nadal

Rafael Nadal won the French Open four years in a row from 2005 to 2008 © Getty Images

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Six-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal insists he is not the favourite for the upcoming French Open at Roland Garros.

The world No. 2 heads to Paris on the back of becoming the first player to win all three ATP Masters clay-court titles in the same year after adding the Madrid Masters title to his successes in Monte Carlo and Rome by beating Roger Federer in straight sets.

The win also extended the Mallorcan left-hander's astonishing record on clay to 168 victories in 174 matches since 2005. Despite this, the 23-year-old, who won the French Open four years in a row from 2005 to 2008, believes it is wrong to talk him up as the tournaments hot favourite.

"I was the favourite before (at the French Open) and I've lost, and then other times I've won," Nadal said."This is what you have to write in your articles and you are free to say whatever you believe. I won't say it because I don't like this tag and I don't think I am either.

"Who knows what will happen in a week and a half or two weeks, there is more than one contender, there are many contenders.

"I am very happy with what has happened up to now. I've got back to my best level and that's the important thing."

Federer, who won his first French Open title last year having been runner-up the previous three years, struggled to contain the Spaniard's all action game in the Madrid final but insists the French Open will be the real marker of the success of his and Nadal's clay-court season.

"Rafa's and my claycourt seasons are decided at the French Open, and not before, "Federer said. "It's unfortunately - or fortunately - like that. If we win all the tournaments like Rafa now and then go out in the first round of the French, everything will be questioned. It's just how it is, so we'll see what happens in three weeks."

Nadal, however, disagrees with his rival's assertion."That's an opinion that I don't share," Nadal said. "Not because I've won the three leading up to it, which some might think, but because I think it is unfair to think the whole clay season is decided by one tournament.

"Of course Paris is a Grand Slam so it has a higher level of importance, but it's much easier to win in Paris than to win three successive tournaments like I have.

"For me it's a real dream to have won the three tournaments before Roland Garros and we will see what happens in a few weeks' time."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.