World number one stars Rafael Nadal and Jelena Jankovic insist that their Australian Open build-ups are still on track despite dispiriting new year setbacks.
Nadal, the French Open, Wimbledon and Olympic champion, slumped to a 6-4, 6-4 defeat to France's Gael Monfils in the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Thursday.
Jankovic, looking to silence the sceptics by capturing a first Grand Slam title in Melbourne later this month to beef up the foundations of her world top spot, lost her opening singles match of the year to Venus Williams in Hong Kong.
Nadal also lost to Andy Murray in the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament last weekend, fuelling fears that his off-season preparation had been affected by the knee injury which caused him to miss the last two events of 2008. But he insisted that he had no worries.
"There's no damage to my confidence," said the Spaniard who last season had to wait until April to lift his first trophy of the season.
"I knew that the beginning of the season was not going to be easy because, although I have had more rest than other players, I have also had more time outside of competition than others.
"So it is a little bit more difficult to come back fast to my rhythm. I'll leave here (Qatar Open in Doha) with positive feelings when I go to Australia."
At the World Team Challenge in Hong Kong, Jankovic lost tamely 6-2, 6-2 to Venus Williams as her 2009 campaign got off to a disappointing start.
Jankovic is hoping to use the Hong Kong exhibition tournament to sharpen up ahead of the Australian Open. Last year she reached the final of the US Open as well as the semi-finals of the Australian Open and the French Open.
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