10 Aug 2009

Nadal not expecting too much in Montreal

10:38 am on 10 August 2009

The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal doesn't expect a swift return to winning ways as he defends his Montreal Masters title in Canada this week.

The 23 is back in action at the Montreal event after a lengthy lay-off with knee problems.

Nadal says his only goal is to train hard and play well but he knows it will be almost impossible to win.

Nadal has been dogged by tendinitis.

The world number two has been away from the tour since being beaten by Robin Soderling in the French Open fourth round in May - his first-ever defeat at Roland Garros for the four-time champion.

The Rogers Cup, part of the ATP's Masters 1000 series, is a key tournament in the hard-court build-up to the US Open at the end of the month.