Nadal ready for 2010 despite short preparation

The world number two, who was plagued by knee and stomach  injuries during 2009, helped Spain to a crushing victory over  Czech Republic in this month’s Davis Cup final and has had only  three weeks to train ahead of his first tour event in Qatar  beginning on Jan. 4.

“My preparation has been short but good and three weeks  later I am ready to start again,” Nadal said in an interview  published in Wednesday’s As sports daily.

“I believe that this year (season) I’ll arrive a little bit  less prepared than for the start of last season.”

Nadal completed his preparations for 2010 on Tuesday with a  two-hour training session and a set against Mallorcan compatriot  Carlos Moya, which he won 7-5, and flew to Abu Dhabi where he  will take part in an exhibition event.

After competing in the Qatar Open at the beginning of next  month, he will seek to defend his Australian Open title in  Melbourne.

He said he was especially looking forward to the challenge  of recapturing his French Open title in June after his four-year  reign as champion was ended in last year’s fourth round by Swede  Robin Soderling.

“The results will be what they are but right now my hope is  to win everything,” he told As.

“Because that’s impossible you have to try to do what is  possible in each tournament.

“If you have reached the semi-finals of almost every  tournament without playing well, which is what happened to me  (last season), when you are feeling better and maintaining a  rhythm sooner or later your luck will change.”