Nadal slams ATP over crazy calendar

Spain's Rafael Nadal serves to Russia's Mikhail Youzhny during their final match at the Chennai Open tennis tournament January 6, 2008. Nadal hit out at the ATP over a ''crazy calendar'' on Sunday. The Spaniard said men's tennis's ruling body was not taking the players' interests into account by scheduling three Masters Series events within four weeks.

MONTE CARLO (Reuters) - World number two and claycourt master Rafael Nadal hit out at the ATP over a "crazy calendar" on Sunday.

The Spaniard said men's tennis's ruling body was not taking the players' interests into account by scheduling three Masters Series events within four weeks.

"I said it a lot of times, the calendar is completely crazy. I think this is not fair for the European players and for the clay players, too. Three Masters in four weeks, it is too much," Nadal told reporters at the Monte Carlo Masters Series.

The prestigious Monte Carlo tournament started on Sunday and by May 18, the players will also have played the Rome and Hamburg Masters Series.

"I think the board, everything has to change. A lot of things have to change at the ATP because right now the players no longer have confidence in the ATP," he said.

"The ATP are always doing what they want. They have to inform the players on what is going on."

"I think we have to try to change everything because right now we have no influence on the ATP."

The three times French Open champion believes the governing body is more sensitive to U.S. interests.

"They say this is an Olympic year, that is very nice, but the truth is that they put Indian Wells and Miami one week back because they have the college (basketball)," he said.

"Well, I understand in the United States that is very important. For us, we have the world tour calendar. We can't do the calendar thinking about the college (sports) of the United States. That's my feeling."

The Miami Masters Series was brought forward one week to March 27 with the NCAA basketball finals starting in San Antonio, Texas, on April 8.

Nadal, who won in Monte Carlo, Rome and Barcelona and reached the Hamburg final en route to his third successive French Open title last season, goes into the claycourt season with 2,650 ranking points to defend.

Despite the hectic schedule, the Mallorcan said he would try and play all these tournaments.

"You never know, I am going to try my best to play the four," he said.

Nadal, who was awarded a bye in the first round at Monte Carlo, will meet either a qualifier or wild card Mario Ancic in the second round.

(Editing by Rex Gowar)