Why is Rafael Nadal so good at comebacks? "I have the ability to be humble enough"

WATCH: Tennis Channel Live discusses Rafael Nadal's victory in the second round of Madrid

Rafael Nadal is known as the king of clay, but he's also a king of comebacks.

The 35-year-old is returning to competition this week at the Mutua Madrid Open from a six-week layoff with a stress fracture in his rib, having just started the season by coming back from a five-month injury break to win the Australian Open.

Nadal defeated Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets in his Madrid opener, a winning start that was in sharp contrast to the slower comebacks currently underway by other Grand Slam champions like Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka.

But Nadal says it's not that comebacks come easier to him, it's that he understands they are difficult.

"When you come back from a period of not playing, it's tough. For me, it's also tough," he told press in Spanish following his win. "I believe that it's as hard for me as for the rest of the players, but it's true that during my career I have been able to come back from really complicated moments.

"I think I have the ability to be humble enough to accept that things are not going to be perfect.

"From there onwards you have to build your game. You have to build things from daily work, you have to know and accept that there are going to be errors and just look forward with excitement and determination."

Though Nadal admits to getting frustrated by frequent injuries during his career, it has given him experience. Knowing the recovery process is a big help.

"But talking injuries, they normally happen—I had them in my knee, my ankle. Those ones are important but [recovering from] this one, with the rib, is just a matter of time," he said. "It's a determinate amount of time where you have to be calm between five and seven weeks.

"So mentally it's easier when you have a fixed amount of time that you will be able to come back."

Nadal also emphasized the importance of getting off to a good start to avoid getting trapped in a "cycle" of defeats and doubts.

"If you come back and if you win the first matches, then you're able to get your rhythm back again," he said. "They have a really big value, and today's victory, for me it's really important."

Having got the win, he now wants to keep playing at home in Spain while also getting back in shape for potentially another record-breaking run at the French Open. "I need to stay positive,'' said the third seed. "I need to play with the right attitude, and take every single match that I'm able to win like a present to play another time here."

Nadal next plays David Goffin, another veteran on the comeback trail.