Melbourne - Rafael Nadal Saturday followed the lead of Roger Federer, saying he would prefer if the Australian Open were played in February instead of its traditional January date.

"I would love (to) have the first Grand Slam of the season a little bit later," said the top seed. "You start the season and after one week you are playing one of the most important tournaments of the year."

Nadal took this week off to train privately after playing a pair of events in the Gulf, the Abu Dhabi exhibition and the Doha ATP, where he lost in the quarter-finals to Gael Monfils.

"But it's been like this for a long time. If it can change, I think (it is) gonna be perfect for us."

Nadal said that getting in a few more preliminary weeks of play would help players make a solid start at the season's first major.

"It seems like you arrive here without knowing exactly how you are (playing) "You only have one week before, the one tournament before."

"I'm practising well, but I don't have a lot of matches (played) to know exactly how I am. That is the same for everyone."

Federer said he would prefer to have the event shifted back a week or two, an idea which Tennis Australia has strongly rejected.

Nadal opens his campaign for a first Melbourne title facing Belgian Christophe Rochus. (dpa)