ROME - Rafael Nadal will start his bid for a fifth Rome Masters title this week, secure in the knowledge that he is back to his best and already dreaming of reclaiming his French Open crown.

A week ago Nadal won an historic sixth straight Monte Carlo Masters crown, ending an almost year-long wait for a trophy since triumphing in Rome 12 months ago.

It is perhaps a surprising claim for a 23-year-old who already has 37 tour titles to his name but Nadal really was in a rut.