Nadal turns focus to Rome

RAFAEL Nadal said on Sunday he has already put his Madrid Masters defeat behind him as he targets an eighth Italian Open title in Rome before his French Open title defence

The 1-year-old Spaniard suffered his first claycourt defeat in almost a year in a shock 7-5, - loss to Austrias Dominic Thiem in the Madrid Masters Tuarterfinals.

The defeat means Nadal ± who came into the tournament having won both Monte Carlo and Barcelona for an 11th time ± will lose his world No 1 ranking to Roger Federer.

I repeat the same always. When I win, I don t talk much when I m in the ne[t events about the previous weeks, Nadal, who has a first round bye, said ahead of the claycourt Italian Open.

Okay, what happened last week was - forget it. And that s it.

I should have been playing better than I did. I know what I did wrong, and I m gonna try to change that for this week.

I m very happy about my comeback after the leg injury. And winning two tournaments, now Tuarterfinals and here is another opportunity to play well. So that s what I m looking for.

Nadal defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets last year to win the French Open for a record 10th time.

Swiss star Wawrinka struggled on his return after almost three months on the sidelines, falling to a -4, -4 first round defeat on Sunday to 55th-ranked American Steve -ohnson.

Nadal insisted that his Madrid defeat would have absolutely no impact on how he plays at Roland Garros.

Of course, it would be much better to have the full pressure because I won all the matches.

But, you know, after 14 years being in the position that I have been fighting for, important things, I can lose, I can win.

Of course, the loss of last week doesn t help me for Roland Garros. And, of course, the defeat of last week will not go against my possibilities in Roland Garros.

I never consider no one event, Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, like an approach for Roland Garros.

(very tournament is very important for itself. And for me, even more. Because I have a great story on all these events. I won here seven times. And, for me, it s very special always to play here in this tournament.