6/30/2014
6/28/2014
Rafa #Nadal press conference #R2 Wimbledon 2014 (Transcript)
Q. You came through in the end.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Every match is so difficult here. Especially when you play against players that they, yeah, really decided to play every shot full power, with serve, with the forehand, with the backhand.
So when that happens you are in trouble if the inspiration is there for the opponent, no?
I played a bad game in the 4-All and I lost the first set. I think until that moment I was playing better than him, but didn't have my chances on the return because he was serving well.
I was confident with my serve, but I lost that game. Then he start to hit every ball full power, every serve serving unbelievable. I feel that was very important the second set when I had the break back in the 4-3 I played an unbelievable game, I think. Great returns.
So very happy. Is a very important victory for me. To be in the third round here again after two, three years is very positive news and I think I finished the match playing at a very high level.
Q. What were the biggest differences, besides the result, from the last time you played him here until now?
RAFAEL NADAL: The difference maybe is one point. Maybe if I lose that set point in the second set, if that forehand down the line went out, maybe will be here with a lose.
But that's the sport. That forehand was a perfect forehand for that moment. Is true that even if I was losing, I was fighting for every ball. I was fighting mentally, physically. Positive thing about tennis, I was able to find solutions through the whole match. At the same time my physical performance was different today than a few years ago.
Q. You talked about the game at 4-3. There was a huge celebration on the second point in that game. Can something like that help get rid of tension?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Was Love-30. I didn't lose my tension there, no, losing that point. Was a set down, 4-3 for the opponent. I didn't have breakpoints before that moment. Love-30 is a match. I know if I come back on the match I will have my chances again. Love-30 was a very important point.
Q. Is there any way you can prepare differently to face an opponent like Rosol? Can you do anything different to prepare for a match like that or do you react to the way he's playing?
RAFAEL NADAL: I can try my best in every single point. That's the only way to win. The negative thing was I had a bad game. That's the problem in grass, that you have bad game and you are in trouble for the rest of the match.
Especially against players who are able to serve very well, hit the ball very aggressive. That's what happened in the first set.
In the second, he was playing amazing. No, no, no. I really cool in the match for a lot of moments in the second set.
I am very happy the way I played seriously. Is a great win for me. Is the best level I played on grass since long time ago, the last three sets. That's very important news for me.
Q. When you're a set down and you get broken in the second, do you think back to 2012 at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said other day, no, when I am playing the match today, I am not thinking about the match two years ago. I am thinking what I have to do to win the next point in that match.
What happened happened. That's it. We already congratulate him for what happened two years ago.
Today is another history, another story. I needed to find the solution. Finally I did. That's the most important thing.
I think I played with fantastic energy during the last three sets. Very positive. Very quick with my legs. You know, very quick mentally. I was returning great last three sets. I was able to have more breaks.
But he was serving well, hitting the ball well. When I had the chance to touch the ball with the return, every return was in, and a good one. So I am very pleased the way that I played.
Q. How much confidence does that give you now, playing as well as you did? How much confidence do you have going forward?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every day is different. Is true, as I said before, is an important victory for me. Every victory will mean a lot to me here in Wimbledon. Always very dangerous surface. Every opponent is tough.
My draw was difficult from the beginning because two players that can hit the ball very strong, good serve. You will have the chance that you will not be able to get some rhythm from the beginning. Especially in my case that I didn't play many matches for the last three years on grass.
So is difficult to start. But as I say before, I arrived here after winning Roland Garros, less pressure. So more confidence. I said before the tournament that this year I feel myself little bit better physically. So I tried my best in every single practice, in every match that I played on the practice courts.
I was trying everything to be able to compete well again. I was practicing with a different energy than the last two years because my knees works better.
Q. It looks like the rain is coming. If it does go indoors the next couple days, do you have to change anything the way you play?
RAFAEL NADAL: I would love but I am not that good.
I prefer to play outdoors. Is obvious. If we have to play indoors, we play indoors.
Q. How easy do you find it to switch off between matches? Any particular places you like to go out to eat when you're here at Wimbledon? Anything you particularly like to do?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am here in a house. The easier is World Cup year. Germany/United States starts in 15 minutes, so...
We are in a nice house. I have my coaches here. I have Marc Lopez with me at the house. I have my team. We play little bit of different games. Maybe one day we go out.
But seriously we go to restaurants every single day of the rest of the year. So when we are here I like to cook, I like to be a little bit more relaxed at home and see the World Cup. I love football.
Q. Was there a moment in that match today where you thought you could lose? If so, does that inspire you to come back?
RAFAEL NADAL: My inspiration is the motivation to play Wimbledon. That's my motivation and that's my inspiration.
Talking about if I thought that I can lose that match, during the match I thought that I can lose before the match, during the match. Now that the match finished, I really know that I had the chance to lose the match.
But I didn't today. That's the positive thing. Very happy for that.
Q. Rosol, how would you describe his game and why it's difficult for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: If he plays well, is difficult for everybody, not just me. The players who are able to serve 130 miles, good first serve, good second serve, and hit the ball that quick with his forehand and his backhand, especially on this kind of surface, will be dangerous for everybody if he's playing well.
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/interviews/2014-06-26/201406261403800210087.html
Q. You came through in the end.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Every match is so difficult here. Especially when you play against players that they, yeah, really decided to play every shot full power, with serve, with the forehand, with the backhand.
So when that happens you are in trouble if the inspiration is there for the opponent, no?
I played a bad game in the 4-All and I lost the first set. I think until that moment I was playing better than him, but didn't have my chances on the return because he was serving well.
I was confident with my serve, but I lost that game. Then he start to hit every ball full power, every serve serving unbelievable. I feel that was very important the second set when I had the break back in the 4-3 I played an unbelievable game, I think. Great returns.
So very happy. Is a very important victory for me. To be in the third round here again after two, three years is very positive news and I think I finished the match playing at a very high level.
Q. What were the biggest differences, besides the result, from the last time you played him here until now?
RAFAEL NADAL: The difference maybe is one point. Maybe if I lose that set point in the second set, if that forehand down the line went out, maybe will be here with a lose.
But that's the sport. That forehand was a perfect forehand for that moment. Is true that even if I was losing, I was fighting for every ball. I was fighting mentally, physically. Positive thing about tennis, I was able to find solutions through the whole match. At the same time my physical performance was different today than a few years ago.
Q. You talked about the game at 4-3. There was a huge celebration on the second point in that game. Can something like that help get rid of tension?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Was Love-30. I didn't lose my tension there, no, losing that point. Was a set down, 4-3 for the opponent. I didn't have breakpoints before that moment. Love-30 is a match. I know if I come back on the match I will have my chances again. Love-30 was a very important point.
Q. Is there any way you can prepare differently to face an opponent like Rosol? Can you do anything different to prepare for a match like that or do you react to the way he's playing?
RAFAEL NADAL: I can try my best in every single point. That's the only way to win. The negative thing was I had a bad game. That's the problem in grass, that you have bad game and you are in trouble for the rest of the match.
Especially against players who are able to serve very well, hit the ball very aggressive. That's what happened in the first set.
In the second, he was playing amazing. No, no, no. I really cool in the match for a lot of moments in the second set.
I am very happy the way I played seriously. Is a great win for me. Is the best level I played on grass since long time ago, the last three sets. That's very important news for me.
Q. When you're a set down and you get broken in the second, do you think back to 2012 at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said other day, no, when I am playing the match today, I am not thinking about the match two years ago. I am thinking what I have to do to win the next point in that match.
What happened happened. That's it. We already congratulate him for what happened two years ago.
Today is another history, another story. I needed to find the solution. Finally I did. That's the most important thing.
I think I played with fantastic energy during the last three sets. Very positive. Very quick with my legs. You know, very quick mentally. I was returning great last three sets. I was able to have more breaks.
But he was serving well, hitting the ball well. When I had the chance to touch the ball with the return, every return was in, and a good one. So I am very pleased the way that I played.
Q. How much confidence does that give you now, playing as well as you did? How much confidence do you have going forward?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every day is different. Is true, as I said before, is an important victory for me. Every victory will mean a lot to me here in Wimbledon. Always very dangerous surface. Every opponent is tough.
My draw was difficult from the beginning because two players that can hit the ball very strong, good serve. You will have the chance that you will not be able to get some rhythm from the beginning. Especially in my case that I didn't play many matches for the last three years on grass.
So is difficult to start. But as I say before, I arrived here after winning Roland Garros, less pressure. So more confidence. I said before the tournament that this year I feel myself little bit better physically. So I tried my best in every single practice, in every match that I played on the practice courts.
I was trying everything to be able to compete well again. I was practicing with a different energy than the last two years because my knees works better.
Q. It looks like the rain is coming. If it does go indoors the next couple days, do you have to change anything the way you play?
RAFAEL NADAL: I would love but I am not that good.
I prefer to play outdoors. Is obvious. If we have to play indoors, we play indoors.
Q. How easy do you find it to switch off between matches? Any particular places you like to go out to eat when you're here at Wimbledon? Anything you particularly like to do?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am here in a house. The easier is World Cup year. Germany/United States starts in 15 minutes, so...
We are in a nice house. I have my coaches here. I have Marc Lopez with me at the house. I have my team. We play little bit of different games. Maybe one day we go out.
But seriously we go to restaurants every single day of the rest of the year. So when we are here I like to cook, I like to be a little bit more relaxed at home and see the World Cup. I love football.
Q. Was there a moment in that match today where you thought you could lose? If so, does that inspire you to come back?
RAFAEL NADAL: My inspiration is the motivation to play Wimbledon. That's my motivation and that's my inspiration.
Talking about if I thought that I can lose that match, during the match I thought that I can lose before the match, during the match. Now that the match finished, I really know that I had the chance to lose the match.
But I didn't today. That's the positive thing. Very happy for that.
Q. Rosol, how would you describe his game and why it's difficult for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: If he plays well, is difficult for everybody, not just me. The players who are able to serve 130 miles, good first serve, good second serve, and hit the ball that quick with his forehand and his backhand, especially on this kind of surface, will be dangerous for everybody if he's playing well.
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/interviews/2014-06-26/201406261403800210087.html
6/22/2014
Rafa Nadal press conference(transcript) before the start of Wimbledon 2014 via @asapsports
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What did you make of Spain at the World Cup and how determined you are to give the Spanish public something to cheer about here?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me doesn't make no one difference on my motivation. That's not different stories. I am sad. Everybody in Spain is sad for what happened in the World Cup.
But my mentality, my motivation going to be always at the top to play here in Wimbledon.
So I am not more motivated because Spain lost in the World Cup.
Q. What does it tell us about sport, though, a team that had been so dominant for six years...
RAFAEL NADAL: That's the sport. You know, that's the life. That's normal that that can happens.
Is not the first time that happens in the world of sport, and will not be the last that these kind of things happen.
Everybody who understand about sport understand that there is a beginning, there is an end of the things. Is difficult to make changes on the team when the team had the success that this team had. Is normal that probably the coach didn't had the changes for this World Cup.
So now after that lose, you feel free to make the changes. But at the same time, is a little bit sad that nobody ‑ the players, the coach, the fans ‑ nobody had the chance to enjoy that World Cup.
Was only the first half against Holland was positive. After that was everything so negative.
Is the moment to analyze the mistakes and to work hard for the next competitions.
Q. You left Halle pretty frustrated having no real match under your belt. Can you talk about your preparations since then.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't remember that match (laughter).
I came back home. I didn't practice tennis for a while. I went a few days with the family, with friends. I was able to go for a party on Saturday with my friends. I was able to go to the beach few days in Mallorca. Work little bit physical performance on the gym.
But I didn't practice tennis there. I needed a few days off for my back after a lot of stress for my back in Roland Garros.
I really tried hard on Halle, even though I know I was not able to have good success there. But few days of practice help me to, you know, retain a little bit how to play here on grass. That helps me little bit, that when I arrive here on Wednesday was not the beginning, you know. The feeling to play on grass starts easier, come back easier to my mind.
And that's it. I am practicing hard since I arrived here. More than usual. Practicing more hours than what I usually do in the tournament. That's positive that my physical performance, especially my knee, give me the chance to practice that much to prepare the tournament, because is only tournament of the year that you don't have weeks of preparation and matches to understand how you are playing or to know how you are playing in that surface.
Was always a little bit tougher to know which level you can offer.
Q. Novak and Roger were saying now top players can be vulnerable here in the first couple of rounds. Do you feel more refreshed coming in this year than the last couple of years? Physically, I mean.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Yes, but that doesn't matter if I go to the first round and the opponent plays better than me and he beat me.
I say before: Is really the most dangerous tournament of the year. When I arrive to Roland Garros I already played for one month on clay. I played a lot of matches. So more or less I can imagine how I am going to play.
US Open is the same.
Australia, is true that is the beginning of the season, but is surface that we know so is not a dramatic change, no?
Here, yes. Especially the beginning of the tournament the courts are a little bit faster. The feeling on court is a little bit strange for everybody. Especially the top players have really more pressure.
But then the match is decides in a few balls, so you need to convert the small opportunities that you have. That is true. If you are able to win a few matches, you have the feeling you are in the tournament and everything becomes a little bit more logical, no?
I will answer your question that I am feeling better this year than last couple years, seriously. Personally I feel that I am doing the things better. I am able to move myself more free now with less‑‑ I'm not scared about my knee. That's the most important thing for me.
But then is true that for the last couple of years I didn't play lot of matches on grass. But I am confident that I can do it again. Not talking about win, talking about play better than what I did last couple of years on grass.
Q. Having had some time to think about it, what are your thoughts now about what you accomplished at the French?
RAFAEL NADAL: The sport at the end is a thing that when you are playing, when you keep playing, doesn't matter what happened the weeks before. That's going to be important when I finish my career.
We will have, hopefully, enough time to understand how difficult was what I did and to analyze all the things I did in all my career.
But for sure I'm very happy. Was very emotional victory for me, very important one. But at the same time, is no time to enjoy as I would like to enjoy Roland Garros because I am here in Wimbledon, and I really want to try to play well here. That's my real goal today.
When I finish here, I will have one month at home probably. For sure going to be the moment to be happy. Going to be the moment to analyze what happened.
For sure nine Roland Garros are a lot.
Q. You were just talking about sport, and you said there's a beginning and an end. You just said about finishing a career. What would make you think about finishing the career? Have you thought what you may do after?
RAFAEL NADAL: After the career?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: That's easy to answer, no? The most important thing to keep playing tennis is be happy playing tennis. If you are not happy playing tennis...
I have the luck that I can decide, you know, because I did the things very well since I had very early age. I had the success during my career, so I can decide when I have to stop. That's important thing.
But is something that not worries me. I was never worried about that, because at the end is something I don't think about. I will know when I have to stop because will be the moment I don't want to go on court.
I'm going to say, Okay, I don't feel nerves. I don't want to win as I wanted to win before. I don't feel that passion for what I am doing.
When that day arrives, I going to do another things. Not scared about stop playing tennis. I think I will have a good life after if I am healthy. I like a lot of things. I have a lot of hobbies. I have projects in my mind to do in the future.
The only thing I am sure, if I am healthy, I will not stay in my house, in the sofa watching the TV the whole day. I love to do things, and I will do things.
Q. How does it feel for you to come back to a place where you've had great success already in the past, but not so much in the last two years? What does it mean for your confidence going into the tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: The sport in general is about victories. Is not about loses. That's my feel.
In the end, everybody remembers the winner. Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the loses.
So doesn't matter if you play so bad for two months and you lose eight first rounds in a row and then you arrive to Wimbledon and you win Wimbledon. Nobody will remember about that two months that you played bad. Everybody will remember about your victory in Wimbledon.
That's sport. That's the good and the bad thing of sport. The winner takes it all.
But obviously, talking about personal feelings, obviously winning Roland Garros is a lot of confidence for me and give me the possibility to play here with less pressure.
That's always a positive impact, to have the chance to play better here.
Negative things, is true that I didn't play as much as I would like to play on grass for the last couple of years. I am not going to start from zero because I already played a lot in this surface in my career, but is like a restart.
I am going to try to play well. I am going to try to play with the best attitude that I have. I am practicing that way, very positive every moment, playing my best in every moment, working in the things that I really believe that I need to work to play well here.
But as I say before, is a tournament you arrive to the first round, sometimes the match cannot be in your hands, because in the end is a surface that you don't have the time to control the match. You have two mistakes with your serve and you lose the serve, you have a lot of chances to lose the set and you are in trouble.
That's the real thing of the grass. But for the rest, I am doing everything I think the right way to have a chance to play better here.
Q. Which players do you see as the biggest threat at this particular tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Biggest threat? I don't see farther than that today. I have tough first round against Klizan. For the last two years I lost in the first and second round. I cannot think more about that.
Seriously, in every tournament of the year, even on clay that I had a lot of success, probably some of you think that Rafa, when the tournament start, analyze Djokovic, Federer, the other ones.
I start from the first round in every surface. You can imagine even more here on grass.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What did you make of Spain at the World Cup and how determined you are to give the Spanish public something to cheer about here?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me doesn't make no one difference on my motivation. That's not different stories. I am sad. Everybody in Spain is sad for what happened in the World Cup.
But my mentality, my motivation going to be always at the top to play here in Wimbledon.
So I am not more motivated because Spain lost in the World Cup.
Q. What does it tell us about sport, though, a team that had been so dominant for six years...
RAFAEL NADAL: That's the sport. You know, that's the life. That's normal that that can happens.
Is not the first time that happens in the world of sport, and will not be the last that these kind of things happen.
Everybody who understand about sport understand that there is a beginning, there is an end of the things. Is difficult to make changes on the team when the team had the success that this team had. Is normal that probably the coach didn't had the changes for this World Cup.
So now after that lose, you feel free to make the changes. But at the same time, is a little bit sad that nobody ‑ the players, the coach, the fans ‑ nobody had the chance to enjoy that World Cup.
Was only the first half against Holland was positive. After that was everything so negative.
Is the moment to analyze the mistakes and to work hard for the next competitions.
Q. You left Halle pretty frustrated having no real match under your belt. Can you talk about your preparations since then.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't remember that match (laughter).
I came back home. I didn't practice tennis for a while. I went a few days with the family, with friends. I was able to go for a party on Saturday with my friends. I was able to go to the beach few days in Mallorca. Work little bit physical performance on the gym.
But I didn't practice tennis there. I needed a few days off for my back after a lot of stress for my back in Roland Garros.
I really tried hard on Halle, even though I know I was not able to have good success there. But few days of practice help me to, you know, retain a little bit how to play here on grass. That helps me little bit, that when I arrive here on Wednesday was not the beginning, you know. The feeling to play on grass starts easier, come back easier to my mind.
And that's it. I am practicing hard since I arrived here. More than usual. Practicing more hours than what I usually do in the tournament. That's positive that my physical performance, especially my knee, give me the chance to practice that much to prepare the tournament, because is only tournament of the year that you don't have weeks of preparation and matches to understand how you are playing or to know how you are playing in that surface.
Was always a little bit tougher to know which level you can offer.
Q. Novak and Roger were saying now top players can be vulnerable here in the first couple of rounds. Do you feel more refreshed coming in this year than the last couple of years? Physically, I mean.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Yes, but that doesn't matter if I go to the first round and the opponent plays better than me and he beat me.
I say before: Is really the most dangerous tournament of the year. When I arrive to Roland Garros I already played for one month on clay. I played a lot of matches. So more or less I can imagine how I am going to play.
US Open is the same.
Australia, is true that is the beginning of the season, but is surface that we know so is not a dramatic change, no?
Here, yes. Especially the beginning of the tournament the courts are a little bit faster. The feeling on court is a little bit strange for everybody. Especially the top players have really more pressure.
But then the match is decides in a few balls, so you need to convert the small opportunities that you have. That is true. If you are able to win a few matches, you have the feeling you are in the tournament and everything becomes a little bit more logical, no?
I will answer your question that I am feeling better this year than last couple years, seriously. Personally I feel that I am doing the things better. I am able to move myself more free now with less‑‑ I'm not scared about my knee. That's the most important thing for me.
But then is true that for the last couple of years I didn't play lot of matches on grass. But I am confident that I can do it again. Not talking about win, talking about play better than what I did last couple of years on grass.
Q. Having had some time to think about it, what are your thoughts now about what you accomplished at the French?
RAFAEL NADAL: The sport at the end is a thing that when you are playing, when you keep playing, doesn't matter what happened the weeks before. That's going to be important when I finish my career.
We will have, hopefully, enough time to understand how difficult was what I did and to analyze all the things I did in all my career.
But for sure I'm very happy. Was very emotional victory for me, very important one. But at the same time, is no time to enjoy as I would like to enjoy Roland Garros because I am here in Wimbledon, and I really want to try to play well here. That's my real goal today.
When I finish here, I will have one month at home probably. For sure going to be the moment to be happy. Going to be the moment to analyze what happened.
For sure nine Roland Garros are a lot.
Q. You were just talking about sport, and you said there's a beginning and an end. You just said about finishing a career. What would make you think about finishing the career? Have you thought what you may do after?
RAFAEL NADAL: After the career?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: That's easy to answer, no? The most important thing to keep playing tennis is be happy playing tennis. If you are not happy playing tennis...
I have the luck that I can decide, you know, because I did the things very well since I had very early age. I had the success during my career, so I can decide when I have to stop. That's important thing.
But is something that not worries me. I was never worried about that, because at the end is something I don't think about. I will know when I have to stop because will be the moment I don't want to go on court.
I'm going to say, Okay, I don't feel nerves. I don't want to win as I wanted to win before. I don't feel that passion for what I am doing.
When that day arrives, I going to do another things. Not scared about stop playing tennis. I think I will have a good life after if I am healthy. I like a lot of things. I have a lot of hobbies. I have projects in my mind to do in the future.
The only thing I am sure, if I am healthy, I will not stay in my house, in the sofa watching the TV the whole day. I love to do things, and I will do things.
Q. How does it feel for you to come back to a place where you've had great success already in the past, but not so much in the last two years? What does it mean for your confidence going into the tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: The sport in general is about victories. Is not about loses. That's my feel.
In the end, everybody remembers the winner. Everybody remembers the victories, and nobody remembers the loses.
So doesn't matter if you play so bad for two months and you lose eight first rounds in a row and then you arrive to Wimbledon and you win Wimbledon. Nobody will remember about that two months that you played bad. Everybody will remember about your victory in Wimbledon.
That's sport. That's the good and the bad thing of sport. The winner takes it all.
But obviously, talking about personal feelings, obviously winning Roland Garros is a lot of confidence for me and give me the possibility to play here with less pressure.
That's always a positive impact, to have the chance to play better here.
Negative things, is true that I didn't play as much as I would like to play on grass for the last couple of years. I am not going to start from zero because I already played a lot in this surface in my career, but is like a restart.
I am going to try to play well. I am going to try to play with the best attitude that I have. I am practicing that way, very positive every moment, playing my best in every moment, working in the things that I really believe that I need to work to play well here.
But as I say before, is a tournament you arrive to the first round, sometimes the match cannot be in your hands, because in the end is a surface that you don't have the time to control the match. You have two mistakes with your serve and you lose the serve, you have a lot of chances to lose the set and you are in trouble.
That's the real thing of the grass. But for the rest, I am doing everything I think the right way to have a chance to play better here.
Q. Which players do you see as the biggest threat at this particular tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Biggest threat? I don't see farther than that today. I have tough first round against Klizan. For the last two years I lost in the first and second round. I cannot think more about that.
Seriously, in every tournament of the year, even on clay that I had a lot of success, probably some of you think that Rafa, when the tournament start, analyze Djokovic, Federer, the other ones.
I start from the first round in every surface. You can imagine even more here on grass.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
6/21/2014
6/09/2014
#RG14 #Final Press Conference Transcript
Rafael Nadal: “Without that second set, I don’t know if I have this trophy with me now”
TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 8th of June. R. Nadal d. N. Djokovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. An interview with Rafael NadalQ. Congratulations, of course. Are we going to change the name of Roland Garros to Nadal Garros? How many times you have to win it for that? Did you change strategy? Because today you played 43 winners; one more than Djokovic. Play many, many forehand on his forehand down the line, which normally doesn’t happen. You always play much more on the backhand. Was that strategic? Something that you started? I guess it worked.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, thank you very much. The name is very nice, Roland Garros, so… (Laughter.) Don’t need to change nothing.
Well, I tried to do my best all the time, no? I know to play against him I need to play to my limit, I need to play aggressive. But is always the same thing, no? To play aggressive and to play that shots, you need to be with confidence, you need to feel the ball.
Sometimes you don’t have that great feeling. It’s more difficult to produce these kind of shots, no? Is true that at the beginning the match start very equal, but I felt that the match was more in his hands at the beginning than in my hands.
I was winning more points from his mistakes than from my winners, and I need to change that. I think in the second set that the dynamic of the match changed. I was able to play more aggressive. I did better things.
And even if I was 4 All, the real thing was that the match really changed before. So that was a positive thing. For sure the day of today was very tough, very humid. The combination of two weeks of cold with the drastic change of yesterday and today, so today was the first real day that we play with that conditions.
This big change I think affects us, affects our physical performance. After the one set and a half we were a little bit tired today, no? It was very important for me to win that second set. Without that second set, I don’t know if I have this trophy with me now.
Q. This was a very special victory for you, your fifth in a row. You’re the first person to achieve five in a row at Roland Garros. Your ninth victory. You equal Pete Sampras with 14 Grand Slam victories. How important would you rate this victory as compared to your first, and also the last year when you come back from injury? How important would you rate this victory?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I always said the same, that I don’t like the comparations. But always for me is the same. For me, the most important thing is win Roland Garros. That’s the most important thing.
Then the other things, sure, are important, but the other things I always repeat the same. We will see when we finish my career how many Grand Slams I have or if I win four, three, or five in a row.
You know, today, that is not the most important thing, no? The most important thing today is I won the most important tournament of the world in clay, probably the most important tournament of the year for me.
I did a lot of times. I think was an emotional victory after what happened in Australia. I think I arrived with a lot of motivation to Australia this year. I prepared myself well to be there healthy and to be there with the right level.
All the tournament I played great, and in the final is true that I played against a player I always repeat the same that was playing amazing, like Stan. I don’t know if I would be able to beat him in that match. I don’t know.
But I didn’t compete that match, so that was a little bit hard to accept for me. I had few months later that mentally I go down a little bit. I was keeping fighting, but I didn’t feel myself enough strong.
Since one month I felt that I was able to playing better or worse, but my mentality was there again, no? And my motivation, my positive feelings on court was there again. Talking about mentally, no?
Then is a process that you need to work, need to win matches to play better and better. That’s something that happened. I was winning more and more the last couple of weeks, and I arrived here playing well.
That’s why I won against the toughest opponent possible today.
Q. People talk about your big strokes, but you’re also so strong on court mentally. You have such an ability to overcome problems. We saw that today. Talk about your ability to solve problems on court, your mental strength. Do you think that’s one of your strongest qualities?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. I think everybody who is able to do what we are doing, you know, is because we are able to find solutions.
But most important thing is not the solutions. It’s not the most important thing. You find solution because you really want to do it, because you really want to fight, you really want to find it, you play with the right motivation all the time.
And that’s why Novak, me, Roger, last eight years we were there so many times. It’s obvious that we are not playing at our best every day, but when we are not playing at our best, we were able to keep believing in the victory, keep fighting for the victory, and keep trying different ways to win the match, no?
So that’s my feeling. That’s why we were able to do what we did that often and with that regularity, no? So it’s true that during all my career I fighted a lot for every match, and that’s the principal thing in my opinion, no?
Because then the solutions arrives, but because you really want to find the solution, no? Is true that during the matches I always try to improve the things, analyze the opponent, what’s better, what’s worse.
But the most important thing is what I told you.
Q. Wondering what the feeling is like for you to have this great match that ends with a double fault. It’s happened to you before against Novak here two years ago, and also against Verdasco in Australia. Wondering what that feels like when a big match ends on a double fault.
RAFAEL NADAL: It’s difficult. At that moment you cannot feel that was a double fault. Only feeling is you won Roland Garros, no? That’s the real thing.
Sorry for him. Was a little bit unfair what happened in the last point between his first and second serve. Happens sometimes in the big stadiums. Is nothing wrong with the crowd, but that can happen.
Probably that distracts him a little bit more than usual. That combined with the moment, with the pressure that is match point, makes him double fault. Sorry for him.
But for me personally, finish one way or another way, that doesn’t make a difference.
Q. You said that one of your objectives was perhaps Rio as well, and to reach the same level as Roger Federer.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, the fact that I wanted to go to Rio is a source of motivation, you know, when I couldn’t go to London. So for me it was a motivation.
Now talking about Federer, well, he’s had 17 and I have had 14 Grand Slams, that’s true. But I’m not really worried. It’s not a source of motivation for me. I’ll follow my own path. Then when my career is over, we’ll count. We’ll count.
But I don’t really care that much about the records. I’ll still play with a lot of intensity. I’ll still be motivated. Then we’ll see. Time will tell if I can have another record or not. For the time being, I’m so happy to have reached 14 Grand Slams.
So I’m so very happy. But I didn’t really look at things this way when I arrived here at Roland Garros. I’m so happy.
And then about Rio, you know, we can talk about this afterwards. You know, I have just finished Roland Garros. We’ll talk about the rest in a month, right?
I love talking about football, that’s true, but we’ll talk about Rio and football later on, if you don’t mind.
Q. You have won this tournament. Now do you feel calmer or at peace for the rest of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, whatever happens for the rest of the season, I must say I have done so much already since the beginning of the year. Since I started my career, it’s been ten years, and for ten years I have played many tournaments at a high level. Of course I’m quite serene and calm, at peace.
Well, you know some holidays will probably be better, that’s for sure. The fact that I won my ninth Roland Garros in a row is a very good thing. Mentally it really shows that I can play in a very consistent way for many months. You know, it’s not just a one week preparation. You have to work hard and practice for days and weeks and months.
To me, winning is the result, the equivalent of lots of effort; therefore, I feel more serene and personally I’m very satisfied.
6/08/2014
6/07/2014
6/06/2014
Rafa #Nadal transcript interview after the #SF #RG14
Friday, June 6, 2014
Q. Have you played better this season? That was quite an amazing performance?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well. I said the other day that I was practising better than a long time ago, so that's why the result today, no?
Normally when you are playing well, then you are able to play with the right position and go on court with the right intensity. You can do it. You can play at the same level that you are practicing, so I think something that I did today.
I think I played very well with my forehand. I think was important to serve the way that I served today. Is true that for a player like Andy he's a big returner that he make more mistakes than usual on the return.
But is true too that I made a lot of times serve, and the first shot with my forehand starts to be very positive because I am able to take the advantage from the first shot.
And then if I am able to hit a few forehands in a row probably not one month ago, but today if I am able to hit a few forehands in a row is true that normally I have a lot of chances, have had good success.
Q. Were you expecting one month ago when you were losing some matches which you normally don't lose to be able in one month to recover so well and to be so strong? Also, did you expect that Murray didn't make more than seven points on returning your serve until half of the third set?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I didn't see the statistics, obviously. Is difficult to talk about statistics for me. I talk about my feelings. Is true that I lost a few matches, but playing the way that I played today probably I will not.
But another thing that is true is every week on the clay court season I was doing something better. So if I was able to start a little bit before with that improve not talking about the level of today, but if I was able to play a little bit like I did in Rome few weeks before, probably we will be here talking about a great clay court season.
But the problem is always the same. The problem is the past. Problem is comparisons, because for everyone that in the clay court season make quarterfinals in Monte Carlo, quarterfinals in Barcelona, winning Madrid, final in Rome, and final in Roland Garros, will be a very positive clay court season.
But probably comparing with the last eight years will be a little bit more negative. For me, still a very good clay court season. Important thing is that I played at very high level today. I finished well the match the other day. I played again probably my best match in the clay court season today.
So happy for that. Very happy for that. Seriously. Very, very happy to be in the final of Roland Garros again. That's something very special for me, and I'm happy that I am.
Q. Two questions: were you nicely surprised as the match advanced that things went so smoothly or easily in this match? Did you expect this kind of score? The second question is like Djoko has never won Paris. Do you think that the fact that he will have this big appetite for this first win here might be an extra problem for you on Sunday? Is that a factor?
RAFAEL NADAL: The first thing, sorry, but is difficult for me to answer a question like this. When you're going on court playing against one of the best players in the world, you don't expect nothing. You expect a tough match. You expect play point by point, and you expect to play your best to try to win. That's the real thing.
The second thing, Novak already did a lot times positive results here. It's nothing new for him to be in the final. He has the motivation to win Roland Garros for the first time for sure.
But at the same time, he has the pressure to win for the first time. I have the pressure that I want to win and the motivation that I want to win the ninth. So I don't see a big difference on that. I'm going to go on court with the same motivation than him. I don't know if the same pressure than him. Probably we are in different situations.
But I don't know if that's gonna make a big impact on the match. What's going to make the real impact is the player who will be playing better.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well. I said the other day that I was practising better than a long time ago, so that's why the result today, no?
Normally when you are playing well, then you are able to play with the right position and go on court with the right intensity. You can do it. You can play at the same level that you are practicing, so I think something that I did today.
I think I played very well with my forehand. I think was important to serve the way that I served today. Is true that for a player like Andy he's a big returner that he make more mistakes than usual on the return.
But is true too that I made a lot of times serve, and the first shot with my forehand starts to be very positive because I am able to take the advantage from the first shot.
And then if I am able to hit a few forehands in a row probably not one month ago, but today if I am able to hit a few forehands in a row is true that normally I have a lot of chances, have had good success.
Q. Were you expecting one month ago when you were losing some matches which you normally don't lose to be able in one month to recover so well and to be so strong? Also, did you expect that Murray didn't make more than seven points on returning your serve until half of the third set?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I didn't see the statistics, obviously. Is difficult to talk about statistics for me. I talk about my feelings. Is true that I lost a few matches, but playing the way that I played today probably I will not.
But another thing that is true is every week on the clay court season I was doing something better. So if I was able to start a little bit before with that improve not talking about the level of today, but if I was able to play a little bit like I did in Rome few weeks before, probably we will be here talking about a great clay court season.
But the problem is always the same. The problem is the past. Problem is comparisons, because for everyone that in the clay court season make quarterfinals in Monte Carlo, quarterfinals in Barcelona, winning Madrid, final in Rome, and final in Roland Garros, will be a very positive clay court season.
But probably comparing with the last eight years will be a little bit more negative. For me, still a very good clay court season. Important thing is that I played at very high level today. I finished well the match the other day. I played again probably my best match in the clay court season today.
So happy for that. Very happy for that. Seriously. Very, very happy to be in the final of Roland Garros again. That's something very special for me, and I'm happy that I am.
Q. Two questions: were you nicely surprised as the match advanced that things went so smoothly or easily in this match? Did you expect this kind of score? The second question is like Djoko has never won Paris. Do you think that the fact that he will have this big appetite for this first win here might be an extra problem for you on Sunday? Is that a factor?
RAFAEL NADAL: The first thing, sorry, but is difficult for me to answer a question like this. When you're going on court playing against one of the best players in the world, you don't expect nothing. You expect a tough match. You expect play point by point, and you expect to play your best to try to win. That's the real thing.
The second thing, Novak already did a lot times positive results here. It's nothing new for him to be in the final. He has the motivation to win Roland Garros for the first time for sure.
But at the same time, he has the pressure to win for the first time. I have the pressure that I want to win and the motivation that I want to win the ninth. So I don't see a big difference on that. I'm going to go on court with the same motivation than him. I don't know if the same pressure than him. Probably we are in different situations.
But I don't know if that's gonna make a big impact on the match. What's going to make the real impact is the player who will be playing better.
R. Nadal v. A. Murray 2014 French Open Men's SF Highlights
R. Nadal v. A. Murray 2014 French Open Men's SF Highlights
6/05/2014
Rafael Nadal: “After the second set I think David play with more mistakes than usual, and I continue playing with my forehand”
TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 4th of June. R. Nadal d. D. Ferrer 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-1. An interview with Rafael Nadal
Q. The match changed totally after the first two sets. How did you see it, and what did you see make it change so fast?RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think at the beginning David was playing with a higher intensity than me. Is true that I started first two points playing well, but then I make a lot of mistakes with my backhand. Amazing with how much mistakes I had with my backhand today.
Difficult to understand, because last two days I was practicing the best that I practiced since a long time ago in terms of feeling with my forehand, with my backhand.
I went on court relaxed. Not relaxed thinking that I’m going to win, but relaxed thinking I’m going to play well. I really felt the ball better than probably during the whole year.
So I don’t know. Windy day, too. I get a little bit block mentally with my backhand, and was a little bit difficult for me to change the dynamic of the match.
I needed to hit more forehands to change that dynamic, and I was not able to do it in the first set. I was hitting the backhand that bad that I couldn’t put David away from a good position and then let him play in not a good position I had the chance to hit with my forehand, no?
Then when I was hitting my forehand I tried to go too much for the points in the first set, because I know if I hit, he has that option to play against my backhand and then he will have that advantage again.
So it was tough the first set mentally. I decide to go more inside to return in the second set, and I decided to play much more times with my forehand.
I did, I think: When I did, I think the dynamic of the match changed. Even if the match was close in the second, even if he had some break points to break back to me, the dynamic was better for me I thought in that moment of the match.
I was able to make that change. That’s important and very positive.
And then after the second set, I don’t know, I think David play with more mistakes than usual, and I continue playing with my forehand.
Is true after that second set I relaxed and I was hitting the backhand probably not perfect, not as I would like to do, because as I told you before my feeling before the match was unbelievable with the shots but I was playing with no mistakes.
So that was very important.
Q. At some point you won like 10 games in a row. Was the fact that it was getting darker maybe helping you think that you want to be more aggressive and play faster and try to finish it tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Would be real arrogance if I said yes to that. When you play a match of quarterfinals of Roland Garros against a big player like David Ferrer, you think about point by point and try to be an advantage.
But not winning faster because can finish the day. No, no, no, you can think that when you are 4 1 in the fourth. No, not when you are 2 0 in the third, because you know how tough is David. You have to take your own time.
Q. Mats Wilander said he was very impressed with the way Andy was playing on clay. He described him as a tactic genius, and he’s a threat to all the top players.Are you impressed as well about the way he’s playing on clay, or…
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I’m not impressed the way he’s playing on clay. I am not answering in a bad way. I’m saying in a good way. He can play very well on all the surfaces. It’s nothing new that he plays very well on clay.
I always say he’s able to play well on all surfaces if I really wants to do it. Is not the first time he’s in semifinals of Roland Garros.
I remember amazing match in semifinals against Novak when Novak was playing unbelievable in 2011, and he was very close to beat him. And it was on clay.
No, no, not surprised Andy is in semifinals. He’s a candidate to win Roland Garros. Before the tournament he was a candidate to win Roland Garros for me, so it’s not a surprise.
Q. David said he made many mistakes during the match. I would like to know if you are satisfied with your match.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, during these past two days I practiced a lot. I think that I managed to hit the balls a lot better, a lot better than in the past year, so I felt good really before I stepped in onto the court.
But then at the beginning of the match my backhand was appalling. I made so many mistakes with my backhand; therefore, I tried with my forehand, doing more with my forehand, but I was making mistakes.
But then on my backhand my shots were not long enough, not deep enough, not across the court, so I had to try and use my forehand; therefore, this was the battle.
The battle for me was with my backhand to try and overcome this endless spiral I was trapped in to at last have a good forehand shot. When the balls were high and deep, I couldn’t play on my backhand. This is what happened throughout the first set.
No, I couldn’t manage with my backhand. I thought, Play more with your forehand. Then, during the second set, I managed to do this. During the first one, I couldn’t.
Then I decided to turn around the ball, to hit the ball with my forehand quite often. I was surprised to see that I couldn’t play my backhand shots, even though I practiced and I was feeling the ball really well before the match.
Well, this is what I remember from the match. My memories are awful. So at the end of the day, I am rather happy to have been able to turn the situation around. I managed to pull through. Even though it was complicated, I managed to find solutions during the second set.
Then at the end of the match I think he made many more mistakes. I changed the rhythm of the match. I played more on his forehand; therefore, I got more shots on my forehand.
This is a turnaround as well, because my back was not really hurting today. It was okay. I didn’t put too much stress on my back.
At the beginning, I really wanted to be very careful with my backhand shots. At the same time, I didn’t want to hit too strongly because I wanted to protect my back.
You know, he was returning the points flat on my backhand, deep and flat. That was a problem for me. Then when I managed to react it was a lot better.
When I improved with my forehand I took control. I made fewer mistakes. This is what I was saying in English before. I was saying, now, given the last two sets, the third and the fourth set, it really shows that David didn’t really play well during these sets.
The score shows that I played well, but also he made mistakes.
Q. Now, what about these eight hours when you had to wait for the match to start? How did you experience this? Last year this match was a final. What about this one?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we were in the locker rooms with Carlos, Albert, Toni, and we were enjoying ourselves. But I was a bit surprised I was not to be playing on the central court. I think I would have liked to play on the central court a lot better than the Suzanne Lenglen Court.
There were probably reasons, which of course I understand. But to be frank, I wanted to play on the central court.
6/02/2014
TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 2nd of June. R. Nadal d. D. Lajovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-1. An interview with Rafael Nadal (taranscript)
Q. Obviously in a Grand Slam championship that goes on for so long, it’s important to conserve as much energy as you can. How pleased were you with the way you played today and the fact it was a relatively short match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, thank you. Yes, it was a positive match for me, obviously. I think I played a great first set. In my opinion, he didn’t play bad in the first set. He played a good set, too.
I played with no mistakes and having the control with the backhand, with the forehand from the baseline.
Happy with the way that I played. Sure, you never know what’s better, but in theory, the theory says that it’s better win like this than win longer matches.
But you never know what’s the best thing for what’s going on, no? That’s all.
Happy to be in quarterfinal. Is a positive result for me. Yeah, gonna be tough match next one.
Q. What do you think about the abdication of the king of Spain?
RAFAEL NADAL: Okay, well, we were very surprised with this announcement that the king was abdicating in Spain. The only thing I can do is to thank his majesty, the king, for everything he did all along these years.
He was a wonderful person, a great representative of our country everywhere in the world, and Spain should thank him for everything he did during his reign. I just want to thank him for everything he did for my country.
More personally speaking, I had the great opportunity of meeting him on quite a few occasions. On a personal note, he was always very nice to me, very warm. He made me feel very comfortable each time we met.
So I feel honored. I had the opportunity of meeting him, and I wish him the best for the future, for whatever he decides to do for the future.
I think you can’t ask more for a person who has done so much for us.
Q. You play David Ferrer next. I was wondering if mentally it is different when you play him here when you have lost to him recently on clay? Is it easy for you to forget about the past and just approach the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. When you lost, you lost. That’s it. Normally when I am coming here, I’m not lying nobody. Always when you have a loss in the last confrontation, that can affect. Or not. I don’t know.
I will tell you after tomorrow. But at the at the end, important thing for me is I am in quarterfinals here. I am happy the way that I arrived here.
I think that I am a little bit better than when I was playing against him in Monte Carlo, but I think he’s playing great, too. He played three weeks in a row very high level. In Madrid he played great, in Rome he played great, and he’s playing great here.
He’s coming to the match with confidence and with confidence that he gave me the last time, so is extra thing for me. It will be a tough one. I know to play against him and to have chances to win I need to play very well.
That’s what I gonna try. If not, will be impossible.
Q. In the last match you mentioned when you were serving you weren’t serving at 100% because you may have felt something with the back. I’m just wondering whether you are 100% now and there is no back problem.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I say the other day. You were here in the other press conference? I say I don’t really want to talk much about that. I say I try to don’t to nobody when I am here, but another thing is talk too much. I don’t want to talk too much about this thing today.
I have important match to come. Today I won a match in good shape. We’ll see what’s going on in the future.
Q. When you’re here at Roland Garros, how much do you think about the past and your past performances and victories here? Or is it better to be in the moment, in the present? What do you find the balance to be?
RAFAEL NADAL: The past is past. You can think about the past in a few years when I will be in Mallorca fishing or playing golf.
Today the past is not helping me to win no one point. That’s it. The sport is the present, and I’m thinking about what’s going on today, what’s going on tomorrow, my practice, and day after tomorrow in my match.
Then hopefully after my career I will have chances to think about all the things that happened in the past.
Today, when I’m coming back here to Roland Garros always is a special feeling, special memories when you are here. But when the tournament start, you are ready for the action and the competition, and you want to be ready for give you another chance to be competitive. The past don’t help you on that.
Only thing that helps you is practice every day, the motivation to keep doing things the right way. That’s it. All what happened here in the last nine years is something very special for me.
Q. Since the last match you played, your serve is faster 8 kilometers per hour faster. Did you sort of program this?
RAFAEL NADAL: I’m not a machine. No, I play with the conditions on the court. I play with my feelings on the court. Since the third round I started serving a bit better, a bit faster, and my serve was a bit more fluid.
And to continue having these feelings, I need to repeat the same gesture, especially against David, because he returns in a very tough way.
So I don’t want to waste the advantage I have with my serve.
Via ubitennis.com
R.Nadal v D.Lajovic 2014 French Open men's R4 Highlights
R.Nadal v D.Lajovic 2014 French Open men's R4 Highlights
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