A true grand slam, of course, comprises victory in all four major championships within a calendar year. A career grand slam is winning all of the four at least once, Nadal having completed his set at the US Open last September. A golden slam (refer Steffi Graf), includes Olympic singles success. Four consecutive majors carried over two seasons was, most recently, a Serena (Williams) Slam. It could next be Nadal's.

Yesterday, he was asked about little else; that, and the fever that flattened him in Doha last week and from which he is gradually recovering before his opening round against Brazilian Marcos Daniel. Never mind Nadal's futile protests that it is not the prospect of the quadrella that motivates him, but simply a good run in the next race.

When the 24-year-old eventually sat down with The Sun-Herald, we requested an estimate of how many times in the previous hour he'd been asked about the Rafa Slam. ''I don't know how many interviews I did, but in every one,'' he said.

Nadal acknowledges the inevitable, understands the interest. Every tournament needs a focus and, here, this appears to be it. The Spaniard's great rival Roger Federer was twice thwarted at the final hurdle - at the French Open, by Nadal, of course - when he owned Wimbledon and the US Open from one season and the Australian title from the next. Nadal insists, with typical modesty, that he believes this is the one chance he will ever get.

Indeed, it would be a Rafa record that Roger has not held before him. Then again, since Australian great Rod Laver achieved the second of his calendar year slams in 1969, it is something no man has managed.

''Seriously, I can't imagine,'' Nadal said. ''I can't imagine this now. I know how difficult it is winning a grand slam and I won the last three so it's almost impossible to win four in a row.''

Twelve months ago, in his last appearance at the Australian Open, chronic knee issues prevented Nadal from completing his quarter-final against Andy Murray. Those were troubling times, for he had been unable to defend his Wimbledon title in 2009 and, amid considerable personal turmoil, had worked so hard to return.

''Seriously, I never imagined at that moment I'm gonna win the next three grand slams and I'm going to win a few more tournaments, so it was an amazing year for me, unforgettable year, very emotional because I came back after a difficult time,'' he said.

''For sure I have my doubts. The truth is I worked a lot to be back at my best, but I didn't come back to my best, I played better than that, so that forgives a lot of satisfaction, to come back after a difficult situation. But that's 2010. That's past, now we are in 2011 and we start from zero another time.''

In Melbourne, he likes to walk around town and mingle with the locals. At home in Majorca, he fishes, plays golf (he plays off an eight handicap) and plays football with his many cousins.

Here, it is all about the tennis, and working with his uncle and lifelong coach, Toni. Together, the pair tweaked Nadal's serve for a valuable pay-off at the US Open, adding pace through a slight change of grip. It was, the world No.1 thinks, decisive in annexing his ninth grand slam singles title, and only his second on hardcourts after the memorable Australian triumph of 2009 . ''It worked unbelievable. So we will see what's going on here.''

So we will. Nadal is feeling better ''but not perfect, yet'', more tired and sweatier than usual as he overcomes his illness. If the limited off-season means he is not exactly rested, then it must surely seem a long time since he has lost at a slam?

''No,'' he protests. ''It's always very close. And it's something that's is always here because you always lose. Tennis you can't draw, so every week only one player will win, so it's a sport you are always losing.''

Which may sound pessimistic, but Nadal remains a humble champion. When Federer was asked what skill he would pinch from Nadal, Federer said his ability to slide on clay. Nadal was asked the same.

''I will take almost everything from him, because he is the more complete player in the world, and probably the more complete player of history,'' said a player who, however reluctant he may be to talk about it, could soon make a little history of his own.