Swiss tennis number one Roger Federer says he is feeling less pressure this year as he enters the clay-court season.

The star, who is preparing to play both singles and doubles at the Rome Masters this week, said having one French Open under his belt made a difference.

"Questions are already very different. It doesn't start off with, 'Oh, are you going to win the French Open this year?' So it's just a bit more relaxing," Federer said at
the Foro Italico on Sunday.

"I also got a lot of confidence from winning the French Open last year. You feel like if you can do it once you can do it twice."

Federer said he was feeling refreshed after a month off as he gears up for his first clay match since last year’s French Open – a title which had always eluded him.

However, Federer still rated rival Rafael Nadal as the top player on clay after the Spaniard's dominant performance at last week's Monte Carlo Masters.

swissinfo.ch and agencies

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative