CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) - Reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has slammed the ATP for a hardcourt tournament schedule which is taking its toll on the players.

With the Beijing Olympics packing out the summer calendar, the post-Wimbledon run in North America began even earlier than usual and the strapping Spaniard says even the most fit competitors are paying the price.

"That's a big mistake, in my opinion, for the tour," said the world number two, tracking down Roger Federer in a tight rankings chase. "If you saw the players, how many injuries the players have in the last months...

"You have to (consider) if we are going in the good way, a good direction or not."

Nadal's comments add fuel to the fire raging around the ATP, currently battling in a Delaware court against the Hamburg tournament, which is contesting a downgrade for 2009 in a 75 million-dollar lawsuit.

Nadal, Federer and third-ranked Novak Djokovic were recently elected to the ATP's player council and have criticised scheduling and the elimination of Hamburg from the Masters ranks.

The Spaniard said that physical problems in the locker room are overwhelming.

"Not everyone has the same (injuries), but I see a lot of players with problems in the knees and the feet. Everybody is taped, you have to tape. It's very tough, this surface," Nadal said.

Of the eight Masters Series, four - Indian Wells, Miami, Canada and Cincinnati - are on hardcourt.

Add that kind of a weekly summer beating to the impeccable clay and grass season Nadal put together and the physical drain becomes apparent.

"I played a lot of matches in the last months - too many I think," said the winner of seven 2008 titles including Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

"This year I'm playing my best season - not on hard but on every surface. I'm confident for that reason. I feel a little bit better player."

Nadal didn't spare the ATP, led by under-fire supremo Etienne de Villiers, any of his frustration.

"The top management of ATP are always thinking about playing more and more tournaments on this kind of surface. I think it's not a good way," Nadal said.

"If I look in the locker room and the trainers' room, everybody has problems. This is the hardest surface for the body, that's for sure."