Rafael Nadal insisted Wednesday that capturing a 10th French Open was not a personal obsession but the tournament where he has only lost twice since 2005 remains a personal favourite.

The 29-year-old Nadal is a nine-time champion at Roland Garros where he has a 70-2 record but his grip on the title was loosened in 2015 in the quarter-finals by world number one Novak Djokovic in the midst of his worst season in a decade.

"It's a special tournament for me and is always a highlight on the calendar but without obsession," the world number five told Cadena Ser radio.

"The important thing is that I enjoy the tournament. I'm happy when I play, I feel competitive against everybody and that's what makes me happy."

World number five Nadal will not be favourite for this year's French Open which gets underway on Sunday but he remains a danger having won the clay-court titles at Monte Carlo and Barcelona this year.

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