Nadal focused on grand slam glory

Spain's Rafael Nadal serves the ball. Source: MARWAN NAAMANI / AFP

RAFAEL Nadal has dismissed the spectre of rankings pressure as the world No.1 chases grand slam history at next week's Australian Open.

The reigning French Open and US Open champion will attempt to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win each of the four majors at least twice

The Spaniard owns a record eight French crowns, two Wimbledon trophies, two US Open titles and the 2010 Melbourne Park prize and will arrive in Australia tonight to bid for a second.

Buoyed by his 61st career title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 margin over France's Gael Monfils, Nadal quickly set his sights on Melbourne.

Nadal made his briskest start ever to a new season by prevailing in Doha, notching his 11th title from his past 15 tournaments after resuming in February from knee surgery. It was his first win

since pocketing the US Open at Flushing Meadows in September.

Ominously for Australian Open rivals, Nadal overcame several difficult moments in Doha to prevail despite being buried in a heavy training block.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball. Source: AFP

Winner of 13 grand slam titles, Nadal insists there is no rankings points pressure.

"People are so focused on defending points and these kind of things, and for me really the pressure of defending points is zero, because the only pressure for me is try to keep playing well," he said.

"I try to keep having chances to win.

"Doesn't matter if you defend or you're not defending, because if you're defending points it is because last year you played well and you are in a higher position of the ranking..

"If you don't have to defend, it is because you are in a lower position on the ranking and because you played bad.

"So doesn't matter at the end. When I start the season I see a season like everybody start from zero, and for me the ranking is just the race.

"We will see how many points I can make it in Australia. But the pressure is to play well there and to try to have chances."

The Mallorcan's success catapulted the southpaw to eighth overall on the all-time ATP Tour title winners list behind Jimmy Connors (109), Ivan Lendl (94), Roger Federer and John McEnroe (77), Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras (64) and Guillermo Vilas (62).

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