Rafael Nadal was troubled when he practiced on the Madrid courts for the first time. He described it as soft and slippery and criticized the placement of advertising boards at either end as being too low and the same color as the surface. A longtime critic of this event's organizers, Nadal is upset that the ATP allowed the change in the middle of the clay season. “My thoughts haven't changed on the concept and organization of this tournament,” Nadal said. “My criticism is not directed at the tournament but at the ATP, which should never have allowed such a change at a tournament of this scale.”

The ATP granted this permission for one year with the understanding that it will be reviewed following the event, of course taking into account feedback from players,” the ATP said in the statement. “We believe it is a good thing that our tournaments are trying to be innovative.”

Nadal hasn't been a huge fan of the tournament rescheduling, unhappy that the high altitude and thin air of spring in Madrid negates the strengths of his game and helps his rivals. “This is a clay-court event that is least like a clay-court event. There is always a chance of playing worse here,” Nadal said. “I only speak my mind for the good of the tour and the players, so that we have a clay tournament with few problems.”

Nadal managed beating Novak Djokovic in a championship match after seven straight losses, capturing his eighth Monte Carlo Masters title. “It's practically unrepeatable and impossible for what he did last year to happen again,” Nadal said of Djokovic. “It's been two positive weeks and things are on the right path. I'm happy with how I am playing.”