Rafael Nadal is reining in expectations after his epic Wimbledon triumph, preferring to keep his head down and get to work at this week's Toronto Masters.

The second seed, who won the 2005 title at the event which switches annually between Toronto and Montreal, arrived in Canada after a restful week or so at home on Mallorca, fishing and heading for the beach with his girlfriend.

The Spaniard needed the down-time to prepare for the big push to the Beijing Olympics and the US Open to follow.

Nadal said on Monday that his narrowing of the gap on rival Roger Federer atop the world rankings is the last thing on his mind, even after beating the five-time champion in this month's Wimbledon final.

"I can improve my game in every surface, on clay, grass, hard, indoor — every place," said the winner of 11 Masters Series shields. "On hardcourt I can improve for sure.

"Right now the important thing is try to play at the same level like the last few months."

Nadal lost a Canadian semifinal a year ago to Djokovic, who beat 2004 and 2006 champion Federer in the final, played last year in Montreal.

But even with his head of steam this season from six titles — including the first Roland Garros-Wimbledon combination since Bjorn Borg in 1980 — the 22-year-old remains humble.

"I have less points to defend (this summer), but normally Roger he plays better than me on this kind of surface. He's done very well for the last five years in this tournament."

While the top eight seeds were enjoying first-round byes, play began Monday on a day interrupted for a few hours by showers.

French ninth seed Richard Gasquet took early aim at a dream repeat of his 2006 final, making the first step with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over compatriot Michael Llodra.

Swiss ninth seed Stan Wawrinka beat Italian Simone Bolelli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) wile recovering Nicolas Kiefer, back after wrist problems over the last two seasons, stopped American Mardy Fish 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).

Gasquet lost to Federer for the title in 2006.

"I'm happy to win this match but it's difficult to win against a friend," said Gasquet after handing Llodra his fifth defeat without a win in Canada.

"He was not a Spanish guy so it's OK for me to play three sets," said the 12th ranked Gasquet, who has slipped from the top 10 this season.

"Michael has a big serve and he tried to play one or two strokes to win the point. I tried to fight, but I'm happy to have gotten through in the wind."

Wawrinka won his 31st match of the season a week after disappointment at his home event in Gstaad. The Swiss with two ATP finals in 2008 had never faced Bolelli from Bologna.

Kiefer first beat Fish in 2001 and made it 2-0 seven years after their only previous meeting.

Spain's 12th seed Tommy Robredo beat the week's first Canadian in number 208 Frederic Niemeyer 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. The 14th-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez cruised past Julien Benneteau of France 6-2, 6-1.

AFP