TENNISRafa Nadal's third-round defeat last week in Madrid has meant he has been overtaken in the world rankings by tournament winner Roger Federer, with Novak Djokovic still top of the pile. However, the Spaniard says his chances of winning an Open era record seventh French Open title next month will not be affected by his fall to number three.

“Being number two or number three isn’t going to change my goal,” said Nadal at the Foro Italico, the home of the Rome Masters, which began on Sunday. “My goal will be the same, number two, three or number 10. To win you have to beat the best players in the world. The only change is in the semi-finals, but it doesn’t make any difference.”

Nadal could regain second spot from Federer this week, but said he was more concerned with the way he is playing.

“I will try my best to play my best and if I am able to do that I will have my chances to have a good result,” he said. “I will just try to play the same way I did in Monte Carlo and Barcelona (where he won the title). The feeling is there and I am happy with how I am playing.”