World No. 2 Rafael Nadal is chasing his eighth Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters title this time and he has an awe-inspiring 39-1 record, here in this picturesque city.

While interacting with press, the Spaniard asserted, "It is a pleasure to be back at one of the best clubs in the world." The World No. 2 further added that "It is a tournament with a lot of history for me. It is a place where I have had the most success and I am very happy and excited to play here. I think I have done well here, perhaps because of luck, but also because of the conditions. I believe I always play my best tennis here."

When asked about his dominance, Nadal accepted that it takes time for him to get used to playing on red-soil "I need time, hours on court.  I need to play matches and practise to be comfortable on court. I cannot walk straight onto clay and be okay. I started playing four days ago. I just need to be patient and be ready for Wednesday.

"I haven't won a title but how many finals have I played? Win or lose, it depends. Over the past three years, I have decided to play the big tournaments, against the best players, so the challenge is greater if you want to win those titles."

Besides bidding for his eighth title here, Nadal is also chasing a record 20th ATP World Tour Masters title this week. He will start his Monte-Carlo campaign against Jarkko Nieminen.