Miami  - Rafael Nadal eagerly hopped the first available flight back to Europe on Friday after what the Spaniard admits was a brutal, tiring month of March in the US.

The world number 1 lifted a title at Indian Wells over Andy Murray but followed up at Crandon Park with a quarter-final shock at the Miami Masters.

The clay master from Mallorca was hoping to clear his head and rest his body over the weekend before plunging into training next week on his home island prior to the start of the Monte Carlo Masters starting next Easter Sunday.

The Spanish top seed continues to ponder his defeat on hardcourt by Juan Del Porto, but is just glad to be out of the US after the March grind on cement.

"One month is a lot, because when you finish Indian Wells you have one week practicing here," he said before leaving Miami. "After I came back from Australia I had Rotterdam three days later.

"Later Davis Cup. So it's a long, long time."

But Nadal cannot help but be pleased that his favorite part of the season will begin in just over a week. And after taking the weekend off, he will be keen to return to his element.

"I have to adapt to clay again, I have to be 100 percent ready mentally, physically. The most important thing, playing well, for Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, and Madrid maybe.

"I'm really happy to come back to clay. I am excited to start to play on clay, trying to play good matches again," said the four-time French Open winner. (dpa)