Between them, Nadal and Nishikori have accounted for 10 of the past 11 editions of this historic ATP World Tour event.

The 29-year-old Nadal arrived straight from Monte-Carlo, where he captured his ninth Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters crown on Sunday with victory over Gael Monfils. After winning his first ATP World Tour title of the season last week, the Spaniard is now looking to regain the Barcelona title that he won from 2005-09 and 2011-13.

“I am very happy about the tournament in Monte Carlo,” said Nadal, who is due to open his Barcelona campaign against either Marcel Granollers or Daniel Munoz de la Nava. “It’s one of the most important ones of the season. Yesterday was a great day. I played at a very high level during the entire week. But now I have to continue like this in the next tournaments.

“Athletes live for their victories. We have to fight hard to do well and achieve victories.

“The objective in 2016 is to be happy. I have to keep playing, but be happy above all. I am looking forward to the tournament.”

Playing his first clay-court tournament of the season, the 26-year-old Nishikori is looking to three-peat at this ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Barcelona, where he beat Santiago Giraldo in the 2014 final and Pablo Andujar last year.

“I want to win the tournament again,” said Nishikori, who faces either Thiemo de Bakker or wild card Elias Ymer in the second round. “This is my favourite tournament. The toughest 500 event, especially on clay, with all the Spanish players and Rafa in good shape. It will be a tough competition.

“I saw a little bit of the Monte-Carlo final yesterday. It was a great match. I think Rafa is in great shape and he is playing great tennis again. It is going to be a tough match if Rafa and I play the final, but it will be a great week.”

The inaugural ATP Challenger Tour event in Gwangju concluded on Sunday, but not without showing that there are plenty of promising Korean players on the rise.

#NextGen star Hyeon Chung has been making headlines for his top-level form over the last two years, but his brother, Yunseong Chung, could soon be doing the same. The 18-year-old took wild cards into both the singles and doubles main draw of the $50,000 event in Gwangju, where he and fellow Korean teenager Soon Woo Kwon upset the No. 2 seeds on their way to the doubles semi-finals.

“It’s always nice to play and practice inside a big stadium like at Gwangju,” said Chung. “I wasn’t happy with my result in singles, but the doubles this week gave me more confidence.”

Chung is currently ranked No. 3 in the ITF Junior Rankings and reached the boys’ singles semi-finals at this year’s Australian Open, as well as at last year’s US Open. In addition to having an ideal practice partner in his older brother, he’s also been getting advice from former Top 50 player Hyung-Taik Lee, who still dabbles on the ATP Challenger Tour at age 40 and reached the doubles final at last year’s $50,000 event in Seoul.

“Hyeon and Hyung-Taik are role models not only for me, but for all Korean tennis players,” said Chung. “I value them so much more than most of the tennis world does. I have been watching Hyung-Taik and have been playing closely with Hyeon. I truly believe that all I need to do is keep doing what they are doing.”

Chung has a current Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 652, but is expected to keep climbing up the rankings as he continues to get more experience at the professional level. As he enters his final year of junior competition, his intention is to focus almost exclusively on pro events and to become a mainstay on the ATP Challenger Tour in the near future.

“Building a better body and performance is my biggest goal for 2016, as well as getting stronger mentally for matches,” said Chung. “If I can do this, I believe I can soon get into the main draws of Challengers myself without a wild card.”

The inaugural ATP Challenger Tour event in Gwangju concluded on Sunday, but not without showing that there are plenty of promising Korean players on the rise.

#NextGen star Hyeon Chung has been making headlines for his top-level form over the last two years, but his brother, Yunseong Chung, could soon be doing the same. The 18-year-old took wild cards into both the singles and doubles main draw of the $50,000 event in Gwangju, where he and fellow Korean teenager Soon Woo Kwon upset the No. 2 seeds on their way to the doubles semi-finals.

“It’s always nice to play and practice inside a big stadium like at Gwangju,” said Chung. “I wasn’t happy with my result in singles, but the doubles this week gave me more confidence.”

Chung is currently ranked No. 3 in the ITF Junior Rankings and reached the boys’ singles semi-finals at this year’s Australian Open, as well as at last year’s US Open. In addition to having an ideal practice partner in his older brother, he’s also been getting advice from former Top 50 player Hyung-Taik Lee, who still dabbles on the ATP Challenger Tour at age 40 and reached the doubles final at last year’s $50,000 event in Seoul.

“Hyeon and Hyung-Taik are role models not only for me, but for all Korean tennis players,” said Chung. “I value them so much more than most of the tennis world does. I have been watching Hyung-Taik and have been playing closely with Hyeon. I truly believe that all I need to do is keep doing what they are doing.”

Chung has a current Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 652, but is expected to keep climbing up the rankings as he continues to get more experience at the professional level. As he enters his final year of junior competition, his intention is to focus almost exclusively on pro events and to become a mainstay on the ATP Challenger Tour in the near future.

“Building a better body and performance is my biggest goal for 2016, as well as getting stronger mentally for matches,” said Chung. “If I can do this, I believe I can soon get into the main draws of Challengers myself without a wild card.”

If Rafael Nadal needed confirmation that he is close to his top form, he certainly got it on Sunday, claiming a 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 victory over Gael Monfils in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters final.

Nadal, who lifted the trophy in the Principality for an unprecendented ninth time, revealed that it is a validation of all the hard work he has put in over the past year. For the Spaniard, a first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title since 2014 is a significant step in the right direction.

“The victory here confirms that I am better and I am very happy,” said Nadal. “It is a very, very emotional week for me at a very important event. Monte-Carlo is one of the most important places in my career without a doubt. To win again here after three years is something so special for me.

“I worked hard to have this trophy with me. I am enjoying this moment. It is an emotional moment after some tough moments. But that’s part of life. It is part of sport in general. I hope and I believe that this week and in Indian Wells, these two tournaments, playing at a very high level, is so important. That’s what I needed.”

Nearly one year after falling to World No. 2 Andy Murray on home clay in Madrid, Nadal exacted revenge in the Monte-Carlo semis and would survive a high-octane encounter against a surging Monfils for the title. The Spaniard admits that after a trying period that saw his form and confidence dip, these big wins in big matches make a huge difference.

“I have been working hard,” Nadal added. “I have been working hard for a long time. I said enough about the nerves. I was nervous during the matches last year.

“Working hard every day slows that down. It’s not something that stays here and disappears. The victories help. Still not 100 per cent perfect, but it is much, much better. I don’t have that feeling I had last year on court. I’m very happy for that. In terms of tennis, I am playing better. It’s obvious.

“I was able to raise my level yesterday in the second and in the third, and today again in the third. That’s something I missed a lot recently. This week I was able to do it.”

Nadal’s focus next shifts to his home country as he bids to add a ninth title at another ATP World Tour event – Barcelona. Two-time defending champion and second seed Kei Nishikori looms in a potential blockbuster final.

“To compete well two weeks in a row is something so positive. I have another chance next week in Barcelona and I am going to try my best again.”