Rafael Nadal 'being on top not a burden'

Rafael Nadal is happy to be on top.

The tennis player insists the number one ranking is not a burden as he prepares to come under pressure to stay at the top.

The Spaniard reached the last 16 of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami with a 6-3 6-3 win over compatriot Feliciano Lopez.

He has a mountain of ranking points to defend in the coming months, but Nadal is not troubled by the challenge.

“I don’t feel that I have to defend the points,” said Nadal.

“I feel in every tournament that I am going to play I have the chance to win points, not to lose points.

“I know I’m number one in the ranking right now, but I am number six this year. I didn’t play for a month.

“For me every year I start from zero. Right now I am number six, and I would love to play well in the next tournaments and have the chances to be in a better position.”