Intro:

Top seed Rafael Nadal looks ahead to this week's Hamburg Open where he will play his first match since crashing out at Wimbledon earlier this month.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English): Rafael Nadal, top seed:

"I haven't been here for a long time, since 2008, but it's a great tournament. It's one of the most important tournaments in the history of our sport on clay, so I'm happy to be back in this beautiful city and just looking forward to try to be ready for the action."

SOUNDBITE (English): Rafael Nadal, top seed:

"I needed to recover my solid game so I have been trying to focus on my mental part and my shots from the baseline, I am just trying to be ready for it."

SOUNDBITE (English): Rafael Nadal, top seed:

"I go day by day, I know I am not having the best season possible, but that's part of the sport and I am working hard to try to be great for the things that are coming later, and just wait for my moment."

Q. In terms of your fitness, are you feeling fit at the moment?

"Yes, I don't have any problem, I don't have injuries, and that's a positive thing for me."

Q. A tough first game for you against (Fernando) Verdasco, what are you expecting from that match?

"Well he's a very tough player, he beat me already this year in Miami, so it will be a tough one. I am going to try to be ready for playing well and try to have chances to be through, I am going to try."