Rafael Nadal said on Monday he wanted to use his new-found attacking style for the rest of the claycourt season and in the defence of his French Open title next month.

The 20-year-old extended his record of consecutive wins on clay to 67 with his victory over world number one Roger Federer in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.

Against Federer, Nadal showed more desire to step up the court and volleyed well when he had the chance, making the Swiss kick the dirt in frustration.

"Last week, I tried to play more forward in the court, more aggressive," Nadal told reporters at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, the venue for this week's Barcelona Open, where he has dropped just one set in the last two years.

"I also have been working to improve my backhand. The only thing I was not really happy with over the whole week was my serve."

Nadal, the twice defending French Open champion, has won the Masters Series events in Monte Carlo and Rome in the last two years in the buildup to Roland Garros.

This year, though, he said he also expected to play in the Hamburg Masters Series event in the week after Rome, an event he has played in only once, in 2003.

"If I am physically well, then I will play Rome, Hamburg and Roland Garros," Nadal said.

"Being able to play on Wednesday in Hamburg (if he reaches the final in Rome the week before) is very important and makes it much easier to play both."

After a relatively poor start to the season, with defeat in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, Nadal said he felt he was hitting top form at the right time.

"I started to play well in Dubai and then very well in Indian Wells, where I won, and then in Miami and again last week. I hope to keep it at this level."

Nadal, the top seed this week, begins his campaign on Wednesday against either Belgian Kristof Vliegen or Davide Sanguinetti of Italy.

(China Daily via Reuters April 24, 2007)