Rafael Nadal says the physical demands made on the world's top players is ruining the game in Europe, and has called on the ATP to stop ignoring their pleas.

The French Open champion believes the clay-court season, in particular, is taking its toll, and has called on tennis administrators to consider the players when they plan the tournament calendar, rather than basing their decisions purely on financial gain.

Speaking after a second round victory at Open Sabadell Atlantico in Barcelona, the world No2 said that it was unfair to expect the players to maintain a peak over a month or more and claimed that a string of high-profile withdrawals should be blamed on the authorities and not on the players.

"These people are destroying Europe." Nadal said. "No one is listening to the players. You cannot keep a top level over four weeks. We have to thank the people who decided the calendar, for what they've done to us and to the tournaments. Look to them when players cannot finish matches. When a player pulls out of an event, the tournaments should ring the ATP, not blame the player."

As he prepares to defend his French Open title for the third time, Nadal explained that people should not always reach the latter stages of tournament

"I have to assume that I will not always be able to get to the final. The only way I have survived so far in Barcelona is because it's a place where the fans are so great, they treat me like a rock star."

Earlier this season, the majority of world's top ten signed a petition asking the ATP board not to automatically renew the contract of Etienne de Villiers, who has been architect of the ongoing calendar row.