Serb Novak Djokovic said on Sunday he was better prepared than last year going into the claycourt season, which he will start at the Monte Carlo Masters Series.

The world No 3, who claimed his maiden grand slam tournament at this year's Australian Open, said he had gained the patience needed for sometimes exhausting matches on the slow surface.

"I think I am stronger than last year because I am more confident. I have won a grand slam, even though it was not on clay," Djokovic told reporters.

"These past months, my form has been going up, except for Miami. I have been playing at a high level."

Djokovic, 20, will face either three-times French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten or Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in the second round after being awarded a bye for the first round.

He said his second-round exit at the hands of South African Kevin Anderson at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last month might have been beneficial.

"I've had more days to recover and work on things I never had time to work on. I've had more time to prepare for the clay season," he said.

"The approach of matches on this surface is ... different. If you change your game too much, it can turn against you."

Djokovic added he was now mentally strong enough to cope with the demands of claycourt tennis.

"You have to be more patient and I am more patient than in the past years," he said.

"You have to be mentally strong, it takes more time to create points and you have to wait for your chances. You also have to be physically very fit to do that.

"It's what I have been working on in the past two weeks."

Djokovic added he would probably be more able to deliver at the French Open next month: "The French Open clay is faster, it suits my game better."

However, he was not too optimistic about his chances of lifting the trophy at Roland Garros.

"I am facing two players (Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal) who are very consistent. And the truth is that Rafa plays his best game on clay," he said.

(Agencies April 22, 2008)