Long live King Rafa

Masters 1000 title No.18 came his way on Sunday and it is clear that Rafael Nadal is back operating towards the peak of his powers.

There were those, myself among them, who feared for Nadal when he limped out of the Australian Open with yet another knee injury. It appeared that injury would rob the game of, in my opinion, the greatest player to pick up a racket.

But he has battled back and the way he did another job on Roger Federer in Madrid suggests that Slam No. 7 will be heading Nadal's way at the French Open.

He is a different beast away from the debilitating surface that is concrete and looks untouchable on clay. And if he manages his schedule in the manner he has since Melbourne then he will surely have a big summer on grass.

The US hard-court season will offer the likes of Federer and Andy Murray the chance to hit back. Nadal would be well advised to limit his play on concrete to the big events, sacrificing titles if needs be, as his longevity is vital for tennis. The game needs stars and Nadal is the brightest of all.