MONTE CARLO: Rafael Nadal was not taking his fifth Monte Carlo Masters title as a guarantee of success at the French Open even though he has followed up his previous wins in the principality with victory at Roland Garros.

Nadal had to dig deep to beat world No 3 Novak Djokovic 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 for his record fifth successive title, dropping a set for the first time since his 2006 final against Roger Federer.

"I did it four years. That's nothing, no? It is a completely different tournament and there are some weeks left before Roland Garros," the Spaniard told reporters.