11/27/2013
11/13/2013
Rafael Nadal Press conference after match against Novak Djokovic at ATP WTF 2013 (Transcript)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Could you give us your thoughts on tonight’s final.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think the level of tennis was similar, my opinion. The level of serve was not similar. That’s first thing when I think about the match, first image that I see. If I can say about one thing that makes the difference in today’s match was the serve, that I didn’t serve well, he served well, I didn’t. So in this kind of court, first shot is very important, and he did that first shot much better than me.
For the rest I felt that when I was playing, I was not far away off his level. But he, you know, played with advantage almost all the match because I give him opportunities with my serve.
Q. Yesterday you said you needed to be very aggressive to have a chance today. In the first set, you hit two or three winners, and Djokovic hit 10, I think. Was it his play that prevented you from being as aggressive as you wanted or what happened in terms of that aggressiveness?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think at the beginning he was playing much better than me. First three games, no doubt. Even the fourth. After that I didn’t see that difference. You know, the winners are when the opponent didn’t touch a ball. That doesn’t make the big difference on playing aggressive or not. That’s just a shot.
After that, I feel I was playing aggressive, going for the shots. I had the control of the point lot of times with my forehand after that three games.
But was always a little bit unlucky at the end of the first set with a few balls. I played a good breakpoint. Then I lost a breakpoint, when he has the breakpoint with 4‑3. Then the 15‑30 ball with the 5‑3 for him.
So at the end I lost little bit probably not the concentration. I don’t know how to say in English. I think I lost little bit. For example, the game, 1‑All, I played too aggressive with the first shot. That’s too much. I had three unforced errors with my forehand in the same game, and that’s cannot happen, so…
After that is another time advantage for him mentally because he’s up in the score again. One break in these scores is a lot.
I felt that I was playing enough well to be little bit closer than the score. But at the end, I lost 6‑3, 6‑4. I lost 6‑3, 6‑4 because the opponent played better than me.
The only thing I can say is congratulate him and I hope to be ready for Australia to play my best again. Is a little bit more favorable court for me. I gonna try to prepare myself as good as I can.
Q. Do you feel like Novak has made some changes or adjustments tactically when he’s played you the last couple of matches? Secondly, talk about the rivalry. You’re No. 1, he’s No. 2. You’re quite far ahead from the other players in the points right now, heading to Australia. You played six matches this year, 3‑3. You’ve played each other 39 times.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I didn’t feel that he changed the tactics. I feel that he play better than me. In this kind of matches, the winners the player who is playing better. We playing in a court that he likes to play. We played on hard. Even if I beat him twice in the American hard court season, the normal thing is he’s a little bit better player than me.
But anyway I think that in Beijing I didn’t play well, I played bad. Here I didn’t play a bad match, in my opinion, but not enough consistently. That’s why the result. He was more, you know, consistent than me on the serve. In the end that makes a big difference because he doesn’t let you play with more calm the rest of the shots.
Rivalry? Yes, I think is amazing playing 39 times. What’s happening the last five, six years, four years, is just amazing that the same players have been competing for every tournament, every single important tournament of the year. So that’s something that didn’t happen very often in the history of our sport.
We are in a special moment of the history of tennis. I don’t say that’s a better moment than anothers, but is special for this fact. So I don’t know for how many years we will have the chance to repeat that situation. Only thing I am sure, I gonna try to keep working hard and hopefully I will be healthy to keep competing the way that I am doing.
Q. Can you tell us what you’ll be doing the next few weeks. After a very long season, what is the one thing you are looking forward to doing the most away from tennis?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I gonna now first few days, I go to Necker Island to do a charity event with Richard Branson. It is great to be there in the end. We going to be in an island, a good holiday for me, but at the same time working for my foundation. That’s important thing for me to do when I have the chance.
Then I gonna be playing few exhibitions in South America. That give me the chance to know different places that I didn’t have the chance to visit in the past. So gonna combine the matches with a little bit of touristic. That give me the chance to be a little bit with my people, the same time to visit people that is very difficult to visit for me around the world. I gonna enjoy that situation.
Then I will go back to Spain around 26. I gonna do a checking of especially the knee. Gonna probably do a little bit of recover on the knee and to try to have the chance to work hard for 15 days in December, no more. Then fly to Abu Dhabi and Doha to start the season.
That’s my schedule. I don’t gonna have the chance to work a lot at home because after these few weeks in South America, I gonna rest for a while, probably until the 9th or 10th of December. Then the 26th I am flying to Abu Dhabi.
I know I going to arrive to Abu Dhabi and Doha in probably not the best physical and tennis conditions because gonna be very short, the period of time I gonna have the chance to work. But I really hope that both events in Abu Dhabi and Doha give me a chance to prepare myself at my 100%, to be 100% ready for the first Grand Slam of the season.
So that’s what I gonna try.
Q. You had your own match to focus on. Did you get a chance to see anything of the Marrero/Verdasco? Do you have any reaction to their win?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Happy for them. I watched a little bit the match on the locker room. They played great. Very happy. Very great achievement for Spanish tennis, two years in a row winning the Masters, two Spanish teams. So that’s something that didn’t happen very often in our country, winning doubles. Just congratulate them and happy for them.
Q. How disappointed are you? You could have made history today with being the first player to win all Grand Slams, Olympics, et cetera. Is that an extra disappointment for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. That’s the sport. Seriously I think not gonna change my career, winning or losing today. I will not be better player, talking about the history with that match or without that match. That’s my feeling, personal feeling. Maybe I am wrong, but that’s my feeling.
That’s fine. I normally accept very well the loses. I am not very disappointed. I know that I was not the favorite for the match, even if I tried with the right attitude, in my opinion, fighting for every moment, trying to be positive in every moment, even if the match was not going the way that I would like.
So only thing that I can say is congratulate the opponent and at the same time congratulate all my team because all the achievements, all the success that I really had this year, I am talking honestly 100%, without all my family, all my team, is impossible to have all what I really had this year, all the success, all the special feelings, special moments.
Is very special what happened this year. For me, the emotions of this year after a tough year for all of us have been fantastic. And certainly is the day to say congratulations and thanks to all the people who were behind me supporting me, let me work in the days that I was down. So just thanks to all of them to give me the opportunity to be back where I am.
Thank you very much, everybody, for everything during the year. See you next year.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
11/12/2013
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Is it more satisfying to be in the final of a Masters or to beat Federer for the first time on an indoor surface? Do you think today Federer played well, not well, you played very well?
RAFAEL NADAL: Always is the same, no? Most satisfying thing always is the tournament more than the personal victories. So for me is more important be in the final in the last tournament of the year than I have the chance to win against Roger, no?
I think the tournament is important one. So to be able to win the final is much more important than any victory against any opponent.
I think Roger played really aggressive, that's my feeling. The beginning, his serve worked very well. My feeling is in the first set, he played very well. He was closer than me to have the break. So in my opinion until 4‑All, he was playing better than me, in my opinion.
I saved a few important breakpoints, very important ones, and then I played a good game when I had the break. Especially I played with good determination the breakpoint. I think I played a great point in the first breakpoint.
The key of the match was probably the 5‑All after he had the break back in the first set when I was serving for the set. Had the break another time. Put 6‑5 in my favor. That was very important.
Q. Yet another final for you here in London. Is it fair to say you're getting used to this surface? Are you going to be 100% for tomorrow? Can you think about the final you played with Roger a few years back to now?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every year is different. Is very difficult to say or make comparisons between years. I never did.
Anyway, most important thing for me is in the toughest surface for me to play, most difficult one, for me was able to win four matches against top‑eight players. That's a great new for me. Is a very good way to finish the year.
Now remain the last match. I hope to be ready for that. I know gonna be difficult one. But will try my best. I need to play my best match to have a chance tomorrow against both opponents, and I will try. That's all.
Q. How much would it mean to you to end your year by winning for the first time ever the World Tour Finals?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me means a lot every match. Means a lot every tournament. Is true that this tournament is special and I never had the chance to win here.
So will be great if any year I have the chance to finish the year with a victory. But I know remain a lot of work, probably the most difficult one. And that's fine, no? I think if I don't play my best tomorrow, I don't gonna have chances. I need to play more aggressive.
It's true that today I tried to play aggressive from the beginning, but is very difficult to play aggressive against a player who try to go for the shots in every ball. So we'll see tomorrow how it is, the match.
Q. People talk about Roger as the greatest player in history. But you've beaten him 22 times out of 32 matches. You're five years younger than him, and you're only four Grand Slams short of him. I know you're a very modest person. When you hear people talking about Roger as the greatest of all time, do you ever sometimes just think, Maybe people should be talking about me like that?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am the first one who says that. I don't have any feeling when I heard that from other people because I believe is 100% fair that people say that because he is today, and will be very difficult to any player to improve his numbers.
Always say the same: is not fair to analyze the history of any player only for the Grand Slams. Everyone who is around this world knows that the tennis is not only the Grand Slams. There is a lot of things outside the Grand Slams. Roger have an unbelievable records outside of Grand Slams. For sure, in Grand Slams, he the player who win more.
But I never saw play Rod Laver, but I know his history. He was away of playing the Grand Slams for a few years because he became professional. He was able to win all four before and all four after. So today the question is not about me or Roger, will be more about Rod Laver or Roger. But I never had the chance to see Rod Laver play.
And talking about my career, I have 27. I did more than what I ever dreamed. I hope to keep having chances to keep winning. I gonna work for that. And hopefully when I finish my career, we'll see where I am in the history of tennis.
Q. You played Roger many times in your career. What do you feel he struggles with in his game compared to perhaps five years ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he finished the season playing much better than what he did for the most of the time. I think he started the season playing well in Australia. Is tough. Then he had problems on his back, I know that, in Indian Wells. He stopped for seven weeks or eight weeks. He didn't play after Indian Wells until Madrid.
Is very difficult when you have to stop for injury or when you have to make a different calendar for an injury. Is difficult to be back and play at your best. Even like this, he was able to play the final in Rome.
But he still got probably, especially after Roland Garros, even if he won Halle, after the lose in Wimbledon, probably he didn't had a very good months after that, playing not his best in Cincinnati and playing not his best in the US Open. He was not able to play very well in Shanghai. But after that he's able to play much better.
He played a good tournament in Basel again, playing a good final, winning good matches. He was able to win very good matches last week in Paris. He was in semifinals here, losing against probably the player who is playing better today ‑ like is Novak ‑ losing three sets in both tournaments in a row, having set and a break up for him in Paris, winning against del Potro who is a player that is playing great, winning twice in a row against him.
So I think he should be, you know, happier about the way he finished the season than compared how he was three months ago. I am sure today he was a little bit tired about the match of yesterday. Is normal what happened at the end. So I am sure that he will have the chance to start the next season with full conditions and he will be one of the candidates to win in Australia.
Q. You said he was playing crazy today and going for winners almost on every shot.
RAFAEL NADAL: I never say 'crazy'. I think he play very aggressive and going for the shots in every moment.
Q. Why do you think that is? Is that the first time he was going for shots in every moment in all the times you played him?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. I played against him in indoors in the past. He played very aggressive. I remember 2011, he destroy me here, 6‑3, 6‑0. He played unbelievable. He hit I don't know how many winners. Is true that I was not playing well. But he went for the shots, for the winners, in every shot. He had big success with this mentality.
I felt against him on indoor always he was trying to play aggressive against me, putting me a lot of pressure. And the surface adapts to this strategy better than when you play outdoors. When you play outdoors, points can be longer, so then you can became tired if you play this strategy, no?
But here, lot of times you find the success trying to play this way.
Q. Tennis is always changing and evolving and improving. This season again we've seen the same group of players winning all the big tournaments, all the Masters tournaments. Next year, do you expect to see some of the young guys, maybe 23 and younger, to start pushing you, Raonic, Dimitrov, Janowicz, or do you think they're far away from being able to challenge the top guys?
RAFAEL NADAL: You never know. Is very difficult to predict the future, very difficult to know what's going to happen next year.
But what's happened the last probably six years, seven years, not going to be forever. We don't going to be where we are forever. So one day, the next generation will catch us and will beat us and will be the best players. I don't know if will be next year. Hopefully not (smiling).
But I am ready for that. I know I not going to be where I am, being in the top positions, forever. I understand that's a question of time, and that will happen. I don't know when.
Q. You've somewhat downplayed your chances this week due to the form of other players coming in and the surface. Given the week that you've had, you're going to finish the year at world No.1, you just have beaten the most successful player in this format for the first time, you have a longer rest than the player you play in the final tomorrow, are you convinced yet that you're the favorite for this competition?
RAFAEL NADAL: Playing the final at 8:00 in the afternoon tomorrow not going to affect nothing. If you have the match, for example, at 2:00 or something like this, or 3:00, you play a match this afternoon, probably the player who going to win probably going to be in a little bit worse position than me.
That's not the case. The winner will have a chance to sleep well in the morning. I don't think will make not make any difference in that.
We'll see what's going on tomorrow. I was able to play better and better a little bit every day during the tournament. We'll see if tomorrow I have the chance to play better than what I did. If that's happens, I hope to have my chance.
Q. You just played Wawrinka this past week. You played Djokovic quite a bit on hard courts this year. How do you see that match going tonight? Do you have a prediction of that match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Favorite is Novak. Wawrinka is the kind of player that if he has his day, is very dangerous for everybody. So Wawrinka can win, yes. The favorite is Djokovic, yes.
That's that simple. The sport, you have to write a lot of papers, but is simple. If Wawrinka have the chance to play his best match, he will have his chance. If not, will have much less chances.
Is true that Wawrinka is playing more aggressive than ever. He has the serve and the game to win against everybody if he is able to play his best. We'll see.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
11/11/2013
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. I know you've been in this situation before. Is it slightly odd when you're playing and you know that other people's fate is in your hands, so to speak?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, at the end that doesn't matter, no? At the end I play for myself, 200 points. I am playing against a great player like Tomas. For me have victory against big player like him, in any surface, is important.
It mean that even more because is a bigger win for me. So I went on court like if I am playing for the qualification, no?
Is true that after the first set I know that I had already the first goal converted, that being the first of the group. But at the end just winning a set, the only thing that I had was that. No points, no confidence if I didn't finish that match playing like I played.
So was important to finish that match the way that I did. Very happy for that.
Q. You always seem to find a way to win when it gets tense. You've beaten Tomas 16 times in a row now.
RAFAEL NADAL: How many?
Q. 16 times in a row. What is it that you do better than they do in the important moments?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. That depends on the moment. That depends on the confidence of everyone in every moment.
Is true that during all my career, you know, when I am playing bad, when everybody is playing bad, is impossible to play well the pressure moments or the important moments, because when you are playing bad, you don't have the right feelings to play with the right determination.
When I was playing okay or good, during all my career I think play well the important moments is something that I did very well. So at the end lot of tournaments, lot of matches, decides in this small but very important moments.
I was able a lot of time to find a way to escape on that tough moments and to be through. That's give me a lot of opportunities to win matches and tournaments.
Q. Who do you prefer to face in the semifinal?
RAFAEL NADAL: I did my goal. I am in the semifinals without losing a match. So that's most important thing for me.
Any opponent will be very difficult. We are playing against the best players of the world. So if is del Potro, if is Federer, both players know very well how to beat me, in this surface especially. The only way to win the match of semifinals is playing my best match, playing fantastic tennis. That's what I gonna try.
I have one day off. One day tomorrow to keep playing well, keep trying to improve a little bit more.
The first set was great today, I think, in my opinion. Played my best set of the tournament. So that's the way. That's the goal that I have to do, the thing that I have to work on.
Q. After his match against you the other day, Wawrinka in the press conference here said he felt that Toni was coaching you throughout the match, that it was too much. Was that true? What is your reaction to him saying that?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I understand. At the end almost everybody have some talk with the coach during the match. I think everybody does.
But the thing is the way that you do. And is true that the other day Toni was not coaching because he didn't told me nothing in particular about tactics. But he told me just support me, just told me, C'mon, in the moments that the people was quiet, so I was in the other part of the court.
Stan was there. Stan, you know, I think three times after the point probably Stan heard that. It was after Stan lost that first set, in a very bad way at the end. It was in the beginning of the second.
So, you know, the moment I understand that Wawrinka get upset in that moment. But, no, is nothing about coaching. And then after the match, Stan and Toni talked in the locker room. So Wawrinka felt sorry because he did that in that way, and Toni felt sorry because Toni never had the intention of bother Stan during the match. They talk for three minutes. Nothing happened.
Wawrinka is one of the players that I have a better relationship on tour. I feel sad during the match that he felt that way. In sense I told him, I'm sorry, not going to happen again. That's why I told Toni stop because the relationship is more important than any match, and that's it.
Q. The second half of this year we haven't talked much about your knees, which is good. Are you playing pain‑free or do you still have pain during matches that you have to manage?
RAFAEL NADAL: That's doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is I did my goal during the whole season. I was able to play since the beginning until the last tournament of the year. And obviously I played with a good conditions, free movements.
Is true that I need to keep improving on my knee to try to have the chance to compete in the way that I competed this year ‑ not talking about results, I know that's impossible, but talking about feelings on court. So I need to keep having better feeling than what I have lot of days.
So we are working on.
Q. You've been training with Philippe earlier in the week. He's left now. How did that affect your preparation for today? What do you think of him as a player?
RAFAEL NADAL: That's not affect my preparation.
But is good to have a player like him. I always like to play with players that play with passion, goes for every ball, players who really try his best in every practice. He's doing in every one. He's a great guy. I wish him all the best because the way that he practice, he deserve to be in the professional tour very early.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
11/09/2013
Rafael Nadal's Match Point Hot Shot in London
http://www.youtube.com/v/LPO9R266C3Y?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=mRiRWwYVWkTNloksq_zh3g&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1
Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych ( 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 ) Highlights London 2013
http://www.youtube.com/v/v8I8RMtnvDA?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=NuAt9b4ukI5KR0RzdDR-fg&autoplay=1
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Friday Interview Nadal
http://www.youtube.com/v/1aejhiLtTY4?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&autohide=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=SjcBnrY0LUqfSUARsU6kUQ&feature=share
11/08/2013
Rafael Nadal on-court post match interview in London (def. Berdych 6-4 1...
http://www.youtube.com/v/b-F7Bgn7BsY?autohide=1&version=3&autoplay=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=Y9dTKCmr8rNTpHKxb8egnw&showinfo=1&autohide=1
11/07/2013
Rafael Nadal Press conference after match against Wawrinka at ATP WTF 2013 (Transcript)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You were obviously very, very happy at the end of the match today. What was it that pleased you most? Was it qualifying for the semifinals? Was it securing the world No.1 position? Was it the way you played?
RAFAEL NADAL: Today was more important secure the No.1 at the end of the season. That's the real thing. Because at the end during all my season I said is not my goal, but the real thing is after all the success I had during the season, winning, you know, five Masters 1000s, playing a final in another, winning a few 500s, playing another final, winning two Grand Slams, so I think that after all what happened last year, I felt I deserved to be there at the end of the season. And today I did.
So was one of the, you know, best things that I did in my career: come back to the No.1 after three seasons. That's very difficult in our sport, and after a very important injury.
That's an emotional thing for me, for sure. In the same time be able to qualify for the semifinals is an extra thing. And the good thing is after two matches now, I can really be focused only on the tournament because the year‑end is over.
Q. Last year we were all talking about how much we missed you, how much tennis missed you. You came back in a magnificent way. Talk about now Nole is chasing you, has a winning run, and the rivalry will take over next season. How is it for you when it's so tight at the top and there are so many good players? Does it make you try a little bit extra?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't want to fight for the No.1 in the next season. I think is not my (indiscernible) today to fight for the No.1. My (indiscernible) is fight to try to be enough competitive to keep having chances to win important tournaments, and that's my goal. That's my biggest goal, the thing that really motivates me.
At the end this year I never fight for No.1. This year, because all the success that I had, I am the No.1, but I never thought about that during the season.
I will start the next season trying to be fit for Australia, trying to give me more chances to compete for the best tournaments of the year. That's my motivation, and I will fight for that and I will work hard for that.
Q. Can you remember where you were this time 12 months ago, whether you were watching the tennis, at home relaxing, and what your thoughts were about your future?
RAFAEL NADAL: I was at home, yes. The thoughts about the future? Just focus on recover, focus on try to find a solution for my knee, and that's it. Working every day, trying to do different things to try to be back.
And finally, even if I was not with my 100% at the beginning, because I fly to Viña del Mar without the best feeling, but I was able to play again. And here we are after ten months or eight months. So very happy for everything.
Just can say thank you very much everybody. Really, all the support that I had around the world, around the tournaments, every tournament that I played, I had probably more support than ever. All that support was really, really important for me, really emotional. So many thanks everybody.
Q. At this time last year could you have at all envisaged, ever thought of being in this position? Even when you started a comeback, could you even think about being in this sort of a position?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I answered that question lot of times, no? How I can think to be back in this position when I am at home without having the chance to even practice?
I cannot think far away than the next day and how my knee going to feels next day, and after next week, and after next month.
My thoughts was on that, nothing else.
Q. A few words about Stan, who played a great game today, but also a fantastic season.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he's a great player and he's a great guy. I am very happy for him. All the success that he's having, he deserve. He's playing great. Very high level.
Very tough to play against him in every surface, but especially in this one that the ball goes quick and he's able to hit the ball very aggressive.
Yeah, is a big challenge play against Stan today. So just congratulate him for everything.
Q. Yesterday you were asked for your views on the decision in the Troicki case. You mentioned that you feel sorry for Viktor. Although you were injured, you two have one thing in common, which is being away from competition for a long time. Do you have any advice for him about how to make it through a long time away from the tour?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think is a completely different history, so is impossible to compare this thing.
Mentally probably if his feeling is he did nothing wrong, if he has this feeling, is frustrating mentally. But at the same time, he's able to practice every day, so that makes a big difference.
I was not able to practice.
Q. Novak said last night that he has lost faith and trust in the anti‑doping authorities, partly because of the Troicki case. He doesn't believe they are accurate enough. What do you think about the whole situation, about what he said?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody's fair to say. You know, I said hundreds of times of what I think about all of this.
At the end all the words that I can say not going to change nothing. At the end when I talk, the thing about these things, is not good for me, so I prefer to not talk about these things.
But at the end we have rules. We can like or not bad rules, but we have rules.
I am very sorry for Viktor because I believe 100% on him. Probably the doctor, you know, make the mistake. But he knows that he has to pass the doping.
I think the thing that makes sure that the doctor was wrong is Viktor make the control the next day. So that proves that the doctor give him the possibility to make it the other day. That's the negative point about that.
But at the end he knows that he has to do the control when, you know, the authorities required. So was a big mistake.
Q. In your mentality on the court and in life you never give up, you never quit. Recently you said with ATP politics, you quit, you want no more. I want to know, what is it about the tour politics that makes you want to quit?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am focused on my tennis. At the end I am a guy that when I do things, I do the things with everything that I have. I feel that me and another guys tried hard for a few years to make things that can improve the tennis in general and can make the careers longer and can make the life a little bit easier for the players and can make a difference at the end of our careers.
My thoughts, my worries is my life is not only tennis. I have a life after tennis. I going to finish my tennis career when I going to be young. So I love this sport. I would love to have the chance to be able to keep practicing this sport after my career.
So with a lot of things that we have on tour, I am really, you know, worried that I will not be able to practice the sport after my career. That's something that makes me feel very sad.
But I am talking personally. But I am nobody in this world. I am just one more player, one more career. There are a lot of careers that probably will have the same problem, and is not nice that.
I am out because I feel with the structure of today, there is nothing to do. That's my feeling.
Q. You can't change anything?
RAFAEL NADAL: You can change the structure, yes. But I am not enough powerful to change that, and I don't want to fight more, seriously. I want to play tennis. I want to enjoy the last years of my career, and that's what I am doing.
All the things that I feel that can improve, the people who has to know, they know. That's it. I don't want to fight more for this thing because at the end I feel that the opportunities with this structure are very low.
Q. Today's match was really close. How do you explain that when it's close, still it's you who wins in the end? What advice would you give to Stan to eventually one day beat you?
RAFAEL NADAL: We cannot say. At the end was two amazing points at the end of the first set. One lob that I don't know how I put it there. I saw on the TV now after the match, and I felt that I was very far away from the ball. But finally I was able to get the ball and put the ball in a dream place, because I could not put the ball in a better place from that position.
He was unlucky the next point. He make a bad movement on the net.
Second set the same.
But is true that in both sets I was able to have the break before him, so I was on control of both sets before all the complications.
At the end was very, very close everything. But I think I played with the right determination the important moments, especially the second set to win the match. I played more aggressive at the end of the match than I did the rest of the match, and that give me the victory.
I felt I had to do it. I do it. Because I play with the right determination, I felt much better the ball with my forehand.
Q. You said all year the No.1 ranking was not the most important thing, but then you said today it was for this match. When did you start thinking about that? Was it after Bercy? Was it when you first got here? Was it weighing heavily on you?
RAFAEL NADAL: To finish the year No.1?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: It came important after the US Open, because after winning five Masters 1000s, two Grand Slams, all the things, I felt that I had everything to be there.
But at the same time, I have a zero in Australia, I have a zero in Miami, I have a zero in Wimbledon. A lot of zeros to be No.1. I think is a great effort because I have unbelievable competitors in front. That makes the year‑end No.1 very, very special.
You can feel how tough is everything that winning all the things that I win this year, until the last tournament, I was not able to make it. So that makes everybody think how difficult is be there.
Q. Now that you've secured the No.1 ranking, if you can now go on and win this tournament, which is the only major title you've never won, how special would that be? Where would it rank in terms of Grand Slams and the Olympics?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am in semifinals, no? I am very far away to win this title. Here we are fighting. Winning two matches already, that's a very positive thing for me.
But, seriously, even if I am in semifinals, in this surface, I am not the favorite. I know that. But I gonna try. We'll see. We'll see if that happens. We'll see where is in my emotions because at the end talking about important things is talking about personal emotions. That's my feeling.
At the end what's more important is not what's more important for everybody, it's what's more important for yourself. I never won that, so I cannot tell you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
11/06/2013
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Wednesday Hot Shot Nadal
http://www.youtube.com/v/mLt0Gg1T0Ng?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=Ojy8xH-I7hZiggFpRfK3bw&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&feature=share
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Wednesday Interview Nadal
http://www.youtube.com/v/_nCAp_1u4FY?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=1N9HbpgI0luXC289VL8wiA
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Wednesday Interview Nadal
http://www.youtube.com/v/_nCAp_1u4FY?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=1N9HbpgI0luXC289VL8wiA
Nadal vs Wawrinka ATP World Tour Finals London 2013 R Robin HD Full Match
http://www.youtube.com/v/OipPkF8QcV0?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=G3FkXAcAvehxxd24GLsA3A&feature=share&autohide=1
Rafael Nadal Vs Stanislas Wawrinka RR HIGHLIGHTS ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS 2...
http://www.youtube.com/v/1q-z1HVG5ig?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=f76xizVcbZYsTgtroq0OAg&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share
Rafael Nadal Press conference after match against Ferrer at ATP WTF 2013 (Transcript)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What changed in three days?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, what really changed is nothing in three days. But probably, yeah, he arrived a little bit more tired after playing the final there. Not a lot of time to adapt. Court is a little bit slower.
I played with a little bit more calm than other day. And, in my opinion, he didn't had the chance to hit the winner as easy as he did three days ago.
Q. Obviously you couldn't be here last year. How did it feel to be back out on the court again?
RAFAEL NADAL: It is a fantastic stadium. Is a stadium that I really love. Is one of the best stadiums that I ever played.
I enjoy every time. First of all, what means to be playing here is because you had a great season, and same time the atmosphere, the combination of lights, you know, is great. I really enjoy so much. Even if I was not able to play my best a lot of times here, I really have great feelings every time I have the chance to be playing in this stadium.
Last year, you know, was a big miss for me.
Q. When you've played someone that much ‑ 30 times you've played David ‑ do you pick up new things, new ideas, nuances when you play someone that often, when you know their game that well, or it's pretty much the same thing, you're going to do what you're going to do?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, always during these 30 times have been already been nine, ten years during these 30 times, no? Times change. Tennis change. My tennis not the same than 2006. His one neither.
Sure, when you have the things fresh on your mental, after what happened a few days ago, you know you have to do a few things different. And in my opinion, I did a few changes tactically from a few days ago that make me play with a little bit more calm and that made me play, you know, in better position on the court, no?
My opinion, in Paris he was able to hit the winner lot of times in the first shot. I had mistakes in my first shots where I hitted the ball. I tried to hit against his backhand too many times there. He was quick and he cover very well his backhand with his forehand. From that position, he takes the control of the point from inside. Was very difficult to be back on the point.
So I changed little bit where I hit the first ball.
Q. I appreciate there's still a lot of tennis to be played in this tournament. But when you look back on this event, it's an event that you haven't won. So does it make you any more determined this year, especially with the way you've played in the last eight months, nine months, to actually win this tournament this time?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I always came here with motivation to play well. But, you know, I didn't win all the tournaments that I played in my career. I lost in places every time that I was able to compete in the tournament.
For some reasons, you have places that the conditions are a little bit worst for you. But that doesn't mean that one year you are special motivation. Every time I am able to play in the World Tour Finals have been a special feeling for me.
Sometimes I didn't play my best. In other times, I play well. I had a few chances without positive end. But I going to try myself to play a good match tomorrow and create me another chance to be in the semifinals again.
But we'll see. Remain a lot. Is a good start for me, positive one. But, you know, to win against Wawrinka or Berdych, I need to play my best. Surfaces that are favorable for them, or a little bit less positive for me. So if I not play my best, will be very tough to have another victory. I gonna try.
Q. You have to play again in 24 hours against someone who has had an extra day off. How do you think that will factor into the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I would love to have one day off today because at the end I didn't have a lot of time to prepare this tournament.
Is always great when you win a match, then have a day off to confirm the feelings, to keep doing the things that you need to keep playing well.
But the tournament decide that is the other part of the draw, that they have the day off. So talking about physically, no, that's not going to affect for tomorrow. I didn't have very demanding physically match today. So I hope that will be 100% for tomorrow physically.
But talking about tennis, I would prefer to have one more day off. But that's what it is, and nothing. One or another group had to play this way. Was my one. Accept and try to play my best tomorrow.
Q. It might sound a bit of a silly question, but what to you is different about playing indoors? Does it feel strange? Does it feel different?
RAFAEL NADAL: I like the sunshine (smiling).
Is a little bit different, you know. The feeling on the ball, on your racquet, is different. The sound is different. All of these small things that make you feel a little bit strange.
And at the end I didn't play a lot on indoor in my career. That's another point, no? But is not a thing that I don't like to play in indoor. I like to play in indoor. But is true that the feeling on the ball is little bit more strange than when you play outside, no?
Sometimes I feel like the ball stays less time on the racquet than other surfaces, no? But at the end, is not a big deal. Just, in my opinion, the opponents have the chance to hit the ball and to go for the winners with better chances of success than in outdoor courts.
Q. You said it's a bit slower than in Paris. Are you happy with that?
RAFAEL NADAL: I let you know after the tournament if I happy or not.
But I really like the fast surfaces. Because of my success on clay, lot of people thinks that I play much better in a slower surfaces. And I think that's completely not true. I have, you know, my best results on hard court are in fast surfaces. I win in Montréal two times. That is one of the fastest. I won in Cincinnati this year. That is one that is very fast. And Indian Wells is not a slow court. Indian Wells, is true is not very quick, is not very slow, and the bounces are always high. Always the easier one for me to play.
But Shanghai this year was very fast and I had a great feeling playing there. Is not a question of the speed of the court. Is a lot of different factors make you feel good or bad, no? The balls are very important sometimes when you play in these kind of surfaces. That's it, no?
I am happy. The court is in perfect conditions here. I think the court is the right way to see good tennis.
Q. Today Viktor Troicki received a reduced ban. He said it ends his dream to become a top player. Do you agree with him that it's still too harsh for a missed test?
RAFAEL NADAL: I really don't have the whole information to say about this. I say what I had to say in Shanghai.
So at the end is a tough position for everybody because I believe in Viktor. But at the end there is somebody that have to take the decisions. The doctor who accept to make the control the next day, if that's that way, that's big mistake from the doctor, too.
So at the end there is somebody that have to decide how many months are for sanction. That's 12. I am sorry for him. I know Viktor is a good guy. I hope to see him back on tour next year.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
11/05/2013
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Tuesday Interview Nadal
http://www.youtube.com/v/ZjFfFxDzx-k?autohide=1&version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&attribution_tag=ltE9xpYj-tY_FDeeXeceMA&showinfo=1&autoplay=1
Rafael Nadal On-court interview after the match aganst Ferrer/ATP WTF 2013
http://www.youtube.com/v/MIHJ8rdWjc0?version=3&autohide=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=6xxAV6xl5TfJrJli221Npw&autoplay=1&autohide=1&feature=share
Rafael Nadal vs David Ferrer ( 6-3, 6-2 ) Highlights London 2013
http://www.youtube.com/v/vYlN6k0f_FM?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=7ZCtxwKz8wbRWKbFrZJQQQ&feature=share&autohide=1
Nadal vs Ferrer London ATP WTF 2013 RR1 HD Full Match
http://www.youtube.com/v/XbBH2WRJd3o?autohide=1&version=3&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=azoR12sI-fGnhpsvnoDGKA&autohide=1&autoplay=1&feature=share
2013 ATP World Tour Finals Rafael Nadal def. David Ferrer 6/3 6/2 LAST ...
http://www.youtube.com/v/if-BlASm8Ts?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=odkrDLnc2RQCJPB2FESTPA&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals Preview Tuesday Nadal Ferrer
http://www.youtube.com/v/O6U4Bfxy1y0?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autohide=1&attribution_tag=eDa3UZ-shIp6boeVpRTSBw&autoplay=1
Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2013 Nadal Preview
http://www.youtube.com/v/PejRSybzdXQ?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=nfsBmFtbwbrqGCWDx0GMEw&feature=share
11/04/2013
Nadal SlowMotion @ ATP World Tour Finals 2013
http://www.youtube.com/v/gNnPs7wHB2M?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=_v2LQnuEgzMAaNO5dGu5Mg&feature=share&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&autohide=1
Rafael Nadal Training-ATP World Tour Finals 2013
http://www.youtube.com/v/4pWUPdZmU1Q?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=uqRhyIdF8dZjCoLM4GY5ng
BNPPMasters: Semifinal Conference Transcript
Rafael Nadal
PARIS, FRANCE
D. FERRER/R. Nadal
6‑3, 7‑5
6‑3, 7‑5
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. David played a very, very solid match today, and it seems like you never really found your best game out there. How did you feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he played much better than me today. That's the first thing. And that's in these kind of matches the player who play better normally win, so I congratulate him.
Q. Obviously disappointed. How do you plan to change things around for London? What do you think you need to correct to do better in London?
RAFAEL NADAL: I need to play better, as I said before. Sometimes we find a lot of things in the sport, and the sport is very simple. Is not a big thing, you know.
Just I need to play with less mistakes. I need to move quicker. I was slow. I felt that I don't move ‑‑always I was a little bit late on the ball. So against a player like David, he's quick and he plays inside the court and he puts you pressure on you all the time, you are dead, no? It was like this.
In the second set I had chances. Big mistake for me though in the game 5‑All. Because if I win that game and I put 6‑5 on my favor, I will have a chance.
But I didn't, so stupid talk about that (smiling). That's all. I need to play more aggressive on Tuesday and I need to move quicker.
If I move myself quicker, I gonna have the chance to hit the ball quicker and have the chance to play with less mistakes.
But basically, the most important thing is the movement.
Q. It was a strange match. You didn't seem to move as well as usual. You said you were slower than usual. Were you affected by your stomach bug, or did you have any physical problem?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I don't have no one physical problem. Just, you know, I don't know why today I was sweating much more than previous days. I feel a little bit, you know, slower, but nothing that really should affect to my movements.
That's it. Just I was not enough well this afternoon, and David was much better than me. Just the thing that I can do when these kind of thing happen is congratulate my friend and wish him the best of luck for tomorrow. I hope he will have his chance tomorrow.
For me, just have tomorrow and Monday to practice a little bit in London. I need to practice as well, need to work on a few things. Very short period of time, but that's what there is.
Remain one tournament. Try to play with positive attitude, best attitude I can. I think today I played no negative. Trying to be positive. Trying to fight until the end, but was not the day.
That's the only thing I can do, because I know at the end of the season a lot of times the body, the mental, and the tennis is tougher for me, no? I arrived with a bit more tired, and the conditions of these courts didn't help me a lot never.
So we will see what's going on. I gonna try to play better on London. In the end I played here four matches. That's positive thing for prepare for London. I don't say this is a tournament to prepare London because I don't take this tournament like this.
I think this tournament is big enough important to have a preparation tournament. Again, at the end, when this tournament is over, I have to think that I had four matches here that hopefully again can work well for me to try to be quicker and try to be more dynamic next week. That's what I need.
Q. It's pretty unusual to get to play the same player two times in a row like you will against David. Is there anything tactically you will be thinking about from this match going into the next one, or how is that sort of different preparation than usual?
RAFAEL NADAL: You was here? I think I answered that question a few questions ago. I said that the only thing that change is try to play more aggressive, try to play with less mistakes, try to move myself better.
Q. In terms of the matchup, did you learn anything about David's game that you can use immediately for the next time, I guess?
RAFAEL NADAL: We played I don't know how many times. Is nothing completely that I need to know, no. We know each other very well. I know what things he's doing well, and when he's playing well he's very dangerous on all the surfaces, but especially on this one, especially because it's probably the worst surface for me.
We will see. I need to do a few things better. That's what I say before. Learn or not, doesn't matter. In the end, I am 27 years old. I don't have 18 or 19. All experiences are positive when you are younger.
Today I know very well my opponents and I know what I have to do. The thing is if I am ready to do it or not.
Q. You played at a very high level against Janowicz and Gasquet. When you have a day like this, do you just say, Okay, it was a bad day at the office and you forget about it, or do you get a little bit worried about what may have gone wrong?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I didn't play enough well during the whole tournament. That's my feeling. It's true that yesterday I won 6‑4, 6‑1, but at the same time it's true that the style of Richard is a little bit different than the style of David. Probably the style of Richard helped me a little bit to me because he plays with topspin. I have more time to think.
I play a match more like a normal surface, not like indoors, no? So that helps my game.
Is a different history today. David plays more like this, and if I am not very quick on my legs affects a lot to my game, no?
Yesterday, even if I was not that quick, I had more time to prepare the point.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
11/03/2013
Nadal vs Ferrer PARIS 2013 SF HD Full Match
http://www.youtube.com/v/u-LyyuUJsiY?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=lv0CpEGqYr9NMHvq_-zbdQ&autohide=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autoplay=1
Nadal vs Ferrer HIGHLIGHTS Masters 1000 Paris 2013 SF TRUEHD
http://www.youtube.com/v/wLLDwZ381Wc?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=0PBpnMRStls34PNw1qMyLA&showinfo=1&autohide=1&feature=share
11/02/2013
Josh Berry impersonates the top 8 @ ATP World Tour Finals
http://www.youtube.com/v/Z-VRuc5xcK8?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=fuwuSaX4ESBeRzZWzKQ5dQ
Nadal vs Gasquet PARIS 2013 QF HD Full Match
http://www.youtube.com/v/vf5nZZMBW2Y?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autohide=1&attribution_tag=cM9jjTSPi0fzmGo0Hg24EQ&showinfo=1&autoplay=1
Rafael Nadal Reflects On Semi-Final Appearance In Paris
http://www.youtube.com/v/wJS6fQPOnEA?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=oWw_T1-ukMmHegAX4ndxzA&autoplay=1&autohide=1&showinfo=1&feature=share
11/01/2013
2013 Masters Paris-Bercy QF Rafael Nadal def. Richard Gasquet 6/4 6/1 M...
http://www.youtube.com/v/R1tI2qTvCcc?autohide=1&version=3&attribution_tag=ppo1qAB1eeP9eRG0eKvGGQ&autoplay=1&feature=share&showinfo=1&autohide=1
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