1/29/2015
1/27/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #QF at Australian Open 2015 (Transcript)
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I am feeling okay. Just was not my day. I didn't play with the right intensity, with the right rhythm, and the opponent played better than me. In sport, when you are going to play against an opponent, was a day that the opponent played better than me.
Q. Do you think it's also the fact that you haven't played such a player for a while, the whole process of coming back?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is probably not the day to talk about that. We talked enough about that before the tournament and almost every day, so is a day that I just can congratulate my opponent, accept that. Is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive, as I did in the third. The third was the right set, the right game that I have to play. But is obvious that before I didn't play with the right confidence, with the right intensity, losing court, playing very short. I make him play very easy. So you cannot expect to win matches in quarterfinals of Grand Slam helping the opponent to play well. That's what I did. The first two sets, the beginning -- since the beginning of the third, I played with more character, more the way that I have to play to have chances to keep being -- to be where I want to be, to be where I have been for the last lot of years. I don't know how many. So that's it. Just will keep working hard on the things that I have to do. As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, are difficult the comebacks. There are so many examples around the world of sport that have been tough to be back. For me, I'm not an exception on that, no? I have to take the positive things. Without being at my top level of tennis I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me arriving here the way I arrived: only with one match, only with five matches in seven months. So taking the positive part, that's the thing that I have to take. That's just the beginning of the season, and I want to keep having chances to compete well against everybody. I need to keep working the way that I am doing for be ready for the next. The season is long, I know. Beginnings are tough. I need to be ready to accept all the situations that's going to happen or happened and try to be strong, accepting everything, and working hard to be back the way that I want to be. When I say 'be back,' I don't mean win or lose, I mean have the feeling on court that when you are there you feel confident, you feel you can compete against everybody with equal conditions.
Q. We will never know, but do you think if you had won that third set it could have changed everything, or were you still feeling that Tomas had a little bit the upper hand?
RAFAEL NADAL: "If" doesn't exist in sport. That's the real thing. If, if, if - never comes. The thing is, you have to do it. I didn't have the chance to play the fourth; I lost the third, so that's it. That's sport. I lost the third. He's happier than me in the locker room. I am not very happy because I didn't competed the way I wanted to competed the first two sets and that's something that I don't like. But I tried my best again in the third. I was closer. I had some chances with the 4-All, some breakpoints. The tiebreak I was there fighting even that the situation was tough. But he played aggressive. The tiebreak, he served well. Two sets to love advantage makes the opponent play with more calm than if he is one set to love or one set all. That's a big difference.
Q. Speak a little bit about Berdych today. Do you think he has what it takes to go all the way in this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know if he can go all the way to win this. There's so many good players there that are playing very well. Andy is playing so well. We'll see. It's true that Tomas is playing well. Just happy to see the way that the tournament develops. The best players are there fighting for the tournament. Tomas is a very regular player that he deserves to be there. He have been in the top positions of the rankings for a long, long time, being very regular, being very professional on what he's doing. So he deserve that. And now let's see what's going on, no? For me, I feel that he resisted well in the third. But before was too easy for me to analyze the way he played. He played well, obvious. But my feeling was that I help him a lot in the beginning, no? Is easier to play well when you are up in the score, one break up, two breaks up from beginning of every set, no? That's a big deal, big difference.
Q. The TV showed you taking a pill at some stage early in the third.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, happened nothing. I am feeling well. That's it. That's part of the things that happen sometimes during the matches, but nothing important to say.
Q. Was there anything particularly about Tomas' game today that you found difficult to deal with?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's always that he serve very well. He played aggressive. But I say before, no, in the third, yes, I was able to maintain the rhythm of the ball, to try to put one more ball inside. If I'm able to do that for two hours and a half, three hours, then he can feel the pressure, he can feel more tired when he's going for the shots. But the real thing, I tested him for one hour, for a set. For the rest of the thing I didn't test him in general. As I said before, Tomas is ranked No. 5, No. 6 of the word, No. 7, I don't know. He's a top player. We cannot expect the things that -- all the challenges that he put me on court today because he's a top player. You have to play well to win against a player like Tomas. I didn't play my best today. He played better than me and that's it. That's the sport. Sometimes, almost every time, is simple: the player who plays better, the player who is able to maintain the better rhythm, the better concentration, play with less mistakes, is the player who has more success. And today this player has been Tomas.
Q. Have you ever had a tournament like this where you felt like you've been so up and down? If so, how were you able to manage your expectations coming in today? Were you...
RAFAEL NADAL: I'm sorry. Can you repeat the beginning?
Q. You have been very up and down. You've had a very good match and you've had a so-so match today.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not so-so, very bad. You can say, no problem (smiling).
Q. How hard is it to go on court not knowing what to expect from yourself each match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing new in my side. Is not the first time in my career I have been injury. Is not the first time that I have bad feelings when I am coming back. Is normal and is part of the process. Is part of the process that when I am playing bad, I cannot play that bad. When I am playing well, I have to be able to maintain that level of tennis. When you are coming back from an injuries you lose more easier the feeling than what you do when you are on rhythm, when you are with no injuries, when you are confident in yourself that you played a lot of matches. And that's the thing that happened, no? When I was playing well, I played well. But at the same time, against Sela I played two well two sets, played bad the third. Against Anderson, was probably the only match I played regular. Played the right level during almost all the time. The rest of the matches have been lot of up and down. Against players, top players like the one that I played today, you need to be more -- you cannot be here and here. When you are playing a five-set matches, you're not going to be during the five sets here. But when you are playing bad, you cannot come here. You have to be here. You cannot make that big difference of level during the match. That's the things that can happen when you are coming back from an injury, when you are out of rhythm.
Via ausopen.com
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I am feeling okay. Just was not my day. I didn't play with the right intensity, with the right rhythm, and the opponent played better than me. In sport, when you are going to play against an opponent, was a day that the opponent played better than me.
Q. Do you think it's also the fact that you haven't played such a player for a while, the whole process of coming back?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is probably not the day to talk about that. We talked enough about that before the tournament and almost every day, so is a day that I just can congratulate my opponent, accept that. Is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive, as I did in the third. The third was the right set, the right game that I have to play. But is obvious that before I didn't play with the right confidence, with the right intensity, losing court, playing very short. I make him play very easy. So you cannot expect to win matches in quarterfinals of Grand Slam helping the opponent to play well. That's what I did. The first two sets, the beginning -- since the beginning of the third, I played with more character, more the way that I have to play to have chances to keep being -- to be where I want to be, to be where I have been for the last lot of years. I don't know how many. So that's it. Just will keep working hard on the things that I have to do. As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, are difficult the comebacks. There are so many examples around the world of sport that have been tough to be back. For me, I'm not an exception on that, no? I have to take the positive things. Without being at my top level of tennis I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me arriving here the way I arrived: only with one match, only with five matches in seven months. So taking the positive part, that's the thing that I have to take. That's just the beginning of the season, and I want to keep having chances to compete well against everybody. I need to keep working the way that I am doing for be ready for the next. The season is long, I know. Beginnings are tough. I need to be ready to accept all the situations that's going to happen or happened and try to be strong, accepting everything, and working hard to be back the way that I want to be. When I say 'be back,' I don't mean win or lose, I mean have the feeling on court that when you are there you feel confident, you feel you can compete against everybody with equal conditions.
Q. We will never know, but do you think if you had won that third set it could have changed everything, or were you still feeling that Tomas had a little bit the upper hand?
RAFAEL NADAL: "If" doesn't exist in sport. That's the real thing. If, if, if - never comes. The thing is, you have to do it. I didn't have the chance to play the fourth; I lost the third, so that's it. That's sport. I lost the third. He's happier than me in the locker room. I am not very happy because I didn't competed the way I wanted to competed the first two sets and that's something that I don't like. But I tried my best again in the third. I was closer. I had some chances with the 4-All, some breakpoints. The tiebreak I was there fighting even that the situation was tough. But he played aggressive. The tiebreak, he served well. Two sets to love advantage makes the opponent play with more calm than if he is one set to love or one set all. That's a big difference.
Q. Speak a little bit about Berdych today. Do you think he has what it takes to go all the way in this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know if he can go all the way to win this. There's so many good players there that are playing very well. Andy is playing so well. We'll see. It's true that Tomas is playing well. Just happy to see the way that the tournament develops. The best players are there fighting for the tournament. Tomas is a very regular player that he deserves to be there. He have been in the top positions of the rankings for a long, long time, being very regular, being very professional on what he's doing. So he deserve that. And now let's see what's going on, no? For me, I feel that he resisted well in the third. But before was too easy for me to analyze the way he played. He played well, obvious. But my feeling was that I help him a lot in the beginning, no? Is easier to play well when you are up in the score, one break up, two breaks up from beginning of every set, no? That's a big deal, big difference.
Q. The TV showed you taking a pill at some stage early in the third.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, happened nothing. I am feeling well. That's it. That's part of the things that happen sometimes during the matches, but nothing important to say.
Q. Was there anything particularly about Tomas' game today that you found difficult to deal with?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's always that he serve very well. He played aggressive. But I say before, no, in the third, yes, I was able to maintain the rhythm of the ball, to try to put one more ball inside. If I'm able to do that for two hours and a half, three hours, then he can feel the pressure, he can feel more tired when he's going for the shots. But the real thing, I tested him for one hour, for a set. For the rest of the thing I didn't test him in general. As I said before, Tomas is ranked No. 5, No. 6 of the word, No. 7, I don't know. He's a top player. We cannot expect the things that -- all the challenges that he put me on court today because he's a top player. You have to play well to win against a player like Tomas. I didn't play my best today. He played better than me and that's it. That's the sport. Sometimes, almost every time, is simple: the player who plays better, the player who is able to maintain the better rhythm, the better concentration, play with less mistakes, is the player who has more success. And today this player has been Tomas.
Q. Have you ever had a tournament like this where you felt like you've been so up and down? If so, how were you able to manage your expectations coming in today? Were you...
RAFAEL NADAL: I'm sorry. Can you repeat the beginning?
Q. You have been very up and down. You've had a very good match and you've had a so-so match today.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not so-so, very bad. You can say, no problem (smiling).
Q. How hard is it to go on court not knowing what to expect from yourself each match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing new in my side. Is not the first time in my career I have been injury. Is not the first time that I have bad feelings when I am coming back. Is normal and is part of the process. Is part of the process that when I am playing bad, I cannot play that bad. When I am playing well, I have to be able to maintain that level of tennis. When you are coming back from an injuries you lose more easier the feeling than what you do when you are on rhythm, when you are with no injuries, when you are confident in yourself that you played a lot of matches. And that's the thing that happened, no? When I was playing well, I played well. But at the same time, against Sela I played two well two sets, played bad the third. Against Anderson, was probably the only match I played regular. Played the right level during almost all the time. The rest of the matches have been lot of up and down. Against players, top players like the one that I played today, you need to be more -- you cannot be here and here. When you are playing a five-set matches, you're not going to be during the five sets here. But when you are playing bad, you cannot come here. You have to be here. You cannot make that big difference of level during the match. That's the things that can happen when you are coming back from an injury, when you are out of rhythm.
Via ausopen.com
1/26/2015
1/25/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #R4 #AO2015 (Transcript)
Q. It seems like after 5-all you had no problems anymore.
RAFAEL NADAL: Problems? There is always. There is always some key points of the match that change the dynamic of the match. Is true that I was lucky in the first set to have the set with me because was very dangerous. I think Kevin was playing very aggressive from the beginning, going for the winners every shot. He had the breakpoint before in the 3-2 or 3-All, I think. Then with the 5-All I was lucky, sure. I played two forehands down the line, because was not an easy forehand because he pushed me. I changed the direction, but I can miss that shot, no? Then a few good serves, but especially the ace again. Yeah, but in general, even if he had that chances in the first set, even in the first set seem that he was having more chances than me, I was playing better than the days before, no? I felt myself with better rhythm in the legs, better rhythm with my forehand. So in general, I am very happy the way I played today. The way that I improved my level is not the most important thing; obviously the victory is.
Q. Until the game that you broke him in the first set, you had only won one point on his serve. Was it a matter of you figuring out the serve, or did his level of serving drop?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know if you saw that, but I changed completely the position on the return. I was returning very close to the baseline. Is easier to start more aggressive and make the transition aggressive to defensive than defensive to aggressive. So is something that I talk before the match, and we decided to go close to the baseline in the beginning. Then if was not working, try to play more points. I had that feeling that I need to make him feel that he needs to play a winner to win the point, no? Because before my feeling was he was winning too many points only with the serve. So I tried to change that at the end of the first set. I was able to have some good returns. One very good one, but then the other ones, just put the ball inside the court and then try to let him think a little bit more than what he was doing until that moment. That's what changed the dynamic of the games on the return. Very favorable way for me.
Q. Tell us how you get out of these difficult positions. What is going through your mind in those moments?
RAFAEL NADAL: I try to think point by point. I know with Love-40, losing that games with the first set and losing the first set against a player, a very good player like Kevin, he has big serve, and then he's able to play good from the baseline, pushing you from the first ball. So I know that I going to play with lot of pressure during the rest of the match if I want to have chances to win. And I fought point by point. I just tried to change a little bit the way I was serving. I served a little bit more aggressive. It's true that I had two forehands down the line, as I said before, that can miss. But for the rest, I had two good -- Love-40 was that forehand down the line, but then in the 15-40 and the 30-40, two good serves to the body. Something that I was not serving very often since that moment, so I changed that. Then breakpoint I changed the direction and serve probably the fastest serve for me this tournament, 205 ace in the middle, no? So just try to play with the right decision, right determination, and I did. Worked well. But sometimes works well, sometimes isn't.
Q. A lot of other players get tight in these moments. You don't seem to get so tight, so worried.
RAFAEL NADAL: I am (smiling).
Q. You said a week ago before the tournament that you didn't consider yourself one of the favorites to win it, but ask you in a week if you're still here. You're still here. How do you feel about your chances to go further now with four wins under your belt?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am one of the eight. That's the most important thing, no? I am in the last eight of the tournament. Seriously, for me, I cannot talk about that. I never talked during my career about that. But especially in this moment when you are coming back after a period of time where you were not on competition and you're going to play a very tough player like Tomas Berdych that he started the season great playing very well in Doha, and now he's here in quarterfinals. I don't know if he lost a set. I don't think so. He's playing great. Will be a very tough opponent, no? But for me quarterfinals is a great result, talking seriously. Arriving here, losing in the first round of Qatar, not playing matches for the last seven months, to have the chance to be in quarterfinals again here is a very positive thing for me. I'm very happy for that. I am sure that going to help me for the next events. For sure I going to try my best after tomorrow. I am not a person that I am happy like this and that's it. No. I try to play better and better every day. If that happens, I hope to keep having chances for the next match. But today is a day to be happy the way that I improved my level of everything, talking about tennis, all the things I have to do on court. I was closer today. Even if I played the first two sets the other day well, today I was much closer what I have to do to try to have success.
Q. How far do you feel you are from your best shape? 60%? 70%?
RAFAEL NADAL: That's not mathematics. You cannot say number. Doesn't matter at the end. I am in quarterfinals. I am feeling better every day. You don't know. Today I was at very, very high level winning against Kevin Anderson. I don't know which ranking he has.
Q. 15.
RAFAEL NADAL: Winning against the No. 15 of the world in straight sets, would be very arrogant if I say I'm not a very high percentage. Happy the way I played today. Is the first day that I felt that I was playing at the level that I want to play and the way that I want to play. Let's have a chance to practice tomorrow, keep doing well the things I did today, and then try to arrive for the next match with the highest energy possible and try to be ready for it. I know it's going to be very tough.
Q. You mentioned Berdych earlier. You have an incredible record against him. I think you've won your last 17 matches, 37 out of the last 40 sets. Why do you think you have been so successful against him over the years?
RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn't matter what happened in the past. Is different story this time. Different moment for me; different moment for him. So the way we arrive to that match don't going to affect what happened in the match. I'm sure of that. He's a great player. I have success against him, but I have the chances to lose against him. I remember 2012 probably I had a very, very tough match against him here. It was close to be two sets to love down. He's a player that is top level.
Q. What is the meaning of what you're writing on the lens of the camera?
RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn't matter. Is stupid thing. With my friends, that's it.
Via http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2015-01-25/201501251422170365548.html
1/24/2015
1/23/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after R3 #AO2015 (Transcript)
Q. How did you day yesterday go and how did you feel today on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yesterday was okay. Seriously I feel that I was in terms of legs I wake up in the morning better than what I thought. In terms of, you know, I was still a little bit dizzy yesterday. I think I lost lot of fluids the other night. But in general I was not very, very bad. Knowing that I going to play tonight, I know -- I hope that I -- I thought I going to be ready for tonight, no? Happy the way I was physically on court tonight. Obviously happy the way I played the first two sets. Then the third play with more mistakes, but all is part of the process that I am doing. It's normal to play every day with a little bit more ups and downs when you are out for a while.
Q. Was it focus in the third set or because it goes on and on the body needs to adjust to compete again?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's a little bit about confidence, a little bit about the feelings on everything. You know, when you are on the tour, playing better or playing worse, you make some mistakes. But normally that don't affects for the next balls, no? But obviously when you're not there on competition for a long time, without having that feelings for a while, you need to readapt your mental part, your confidence again to the court. Happens when I have some mistakes that I am losing little bit of confidence for a while. It's positive that at the end of the match I play with the right position, right determination again. But it's true for that games I was having more mistakes than usual with my forehand again.
Q. You saved all seven breakpoints he had against you. That must please you.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's true the other night, at the end of that fifth set that I play with the right determination, even if I was very tired, some good balls, good shots. Today again with the breakpoint I think I really served. My serve worked well on the breakpoints. I had one lucky break, that was at the net, with my forehand. But the rest of the points I played with determination, going to the net, having some good serves. The last game, I am happy the way that I lost the first match point trying to go for the winner with my forehand. Even if I had the mistake, I think it was the right thing to do in that moment. Happy to be able to take that position in that moment. With 6-5, never easy. Then with the next point I was able to finish with the forehand, no? I play with the right determination in the right moments. That gives me confidence and a way how to play for the future.
Q. You played some amazing shots tonight. Even after all this time, do you sometimes surprise yourself with some of the shots you play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when you are on the confidence, you feel that that shots comes without thinking. When you are little bit on that process, all the shots are important for you. When you are making good shots, always surprise you a little bit. But is true that for two sets I was able to adjust very well the balls, playing some very good forehands down the line. If I want to have chances to keep being competitive in this tournament, I need to play this way. I need to play more aggressive. I need to play with that determination. I really hope the suffer of the other night and then the way that I played today going to help me for the next round. Going to be a big opponent, no? Big server. Kevin is very aggressive player. Going to be a big, big test for me. Very tough match.
Q. About the conditions, you played in the night. How do you feel if your next match is going to be played in the daytime, playing Kevin Anderson?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. All my career, if the conditions are not very humid, I like the faster conditions than slower conditions, no? I feel during all my career I like when the ball is faster, flying quicker through the air, and has more topspin. Always help me more my game than when we play during the night. As I say before, seems like the next couple of days will not be very hot. That's what I saw yesterday in the predictions. So after what happened the other day, for me is not negative thing.
Q. You said on the court that you don't like to sleep very much. Were you joking or was that a serious answer? A lot of athletes like to sleep a lot because they need to.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I never like to sleep a lot, no. It is obvious when I am on competition and when I am practicing a lot I always sleep that eight hours that I need. But, no, I am not big fan of being relaxed on the sofa, watching TV, sleeping a lot of hours. I like activity. I like the sport. I like to do things. During all my career, during all my life, I was that way. Is true that the last couple of years I take the life little bit more easy without doing that many things that when I was 18, 19, 20, 21. But even like this, I am a person who likes to do things.
Q. There's been some thoughts about changing the schedule of the tournaments. Like between the French Open and Wimbledon, an extra one week this year. There's been talk that the Australian Open would also benefit from a later start, say in February or March. Your thoughts on that? Would it benefit the players if you had more time for preparation for the Australian Open if it starts in February or March?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is difficult to imagine about these kind of things. I don't know if in February the conditions are warmer here even. I don't know if that's a good idea. Is not very healthy when you are playing under 38 degrees or 36 degrees or 40. Is not the ideal thing. But anyway, is true that have such an important tournament that early in the year, is true that --
Q. It would give you two or three weeks extra preparation, everyone.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, is always that for everybody. Is better to have, for example, more than one tournament before the Australian Open, no? It would be great if we are able to go early with two more weeks would be great for different facts, no? For us, is important to spend the new year at home. Is important to spend Christmas at home with family. That dates are, you know, very important. Players have family. Players have small kids. You want to spend that time with them. With that calendar, is tough to have and enjoy this period of time with your family. Is true that if we went two weeks, better for that. But at the same time, is better to play one tournament or two tournaments before Australian Open. Would be great. Two tournaments will have the right period of time before the tournament to play. But today we are talking for talking, because I don't see a change in that calendar for the future.
Via http://www.ausopen.com/
Q. How did you day yesterday go and how did you feel today on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yesterday was okay. Seriously I feel that I was in terms of legs I wake up in the morning better than what I thought. In terms of, you know, I was still a little bit dizzy yesterday. I think I lost lot of fluids the other night. But in general I was not very, very bad. Knowing that I going to play tonight, I know -- I hope that I -- I thought I going to be ready for tonight, no? Happy the way I was physically on court tonight. Obviously happy the way I played the first two sets. Then the third play with more mistakes, but all is part of the process that I am doing. It's normal to play every day with a little bit more ups and downs when you are out for a while.
Q. Was it focus in the third set or because it goes on and on the body needs to adjust to compete again?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's a little bit about confidence, a little bit about the feelings on everything. You know, when you are on the tour, playing better or playing worse, you make some mistakes. But normally that don't affects for the next balls, no? But obviously when you're not there on competition for a long time, without having that feelings for a while, you need to readapt your mental part, your confidence again to the court. Happens when I have some mistakes that I am losing little bit of confidence for a while. It's positive that at the end of the match I play with the right position, right determination again. But it's true for that games I was having more mistakes than usual with my forehand again.
Q. You saved all seven breakpoints he had against you. That must please you.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's true the other night, at the end of that fifth set that I play with the right determination, even if I was very tired, some good balls, good shots. Today again with the breakpoint I think I really served. My serve worked well on the breakpoints. I had one lucky break, that was at the net, with my forehand. But the rest of the points I played with determination, going to the net, having some good serves. The last game, I am happy the way that I lost the first match point trying to go for the winner with my forehand. Even if I had the mistake, I think it was the right thing to do in that moment. Happy to be able to take that position in that moment. With 6-5, never easy. Then with the next point I was able to finish with the forehand, no? I play with the right determination in the right moments. That gives me confidence and a way how to play for the future.
Q. You played some amazing shots tonight. Even after all this time, do you sometimes surprise yourself with some of the shots you play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when you are on the confidence, you feel that that shots comes without thinking. When you are little bit on that process, all the shots are important for you. When you are making good shots, always surprise you a little bit. But is true that for two sets I was able to adjust very well the balls, playing some very good forehands down the line. If I want to have chances to keep being competitive in this tournament, I need to play this way. I need to play more aggressive. I need to play with that determination. I really hope the suffer of the other night and then the way that I played today going to help me for the next round. Going to be a big opponent, no? Big server. Kevin is very aggressive player. Going to be a big, big test for me. Very tough match.
Q. About the conditions, you played in the night. How do you feel if your next match is going to be played in the daytime, playing Kevin Anderson?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. All my career, if the conditions are not very humid, I like the faster conditions than slower conditions, no? I feel during all my career I like when the ball is faster, flying quicker through the air, and has more topspin. Always help me more my game than when we play during the night. As I say before, seems like the next couple of days will not be very hot. That's what I saw yesterday in the predictions. So after what happened the other day, for me is not negative thing.
Q. You said on the court that you don't like to sleep very much. Were you joking or was that a serious answer? A lot of athletes like to sleep a lot because they need to.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I never like to sleep a lot, no. It is obvious when I am on competition and when I am practicing a lot I always sleep that eight hours that I need. But, no, I am not big fan of being relaxed on the sofa, watching TV, sleeping a lot of hours. I like activity. I like the sport. I like to do things. During all my career, during all my life, I was that way. Is true that the last couple of years I take the life little bit more easy without doing that many things that when I was 18, 19, 20, 21. But even like this, I am a person who likes to do things.
Q. There's been some thoughts about changing the schedule of the tournaments. Like between the French Open and Wimbledon, an extra one week this year. There's been talk that the Australian Open would also benefit from a later start, say in February or March. Your thoughts on that? Would it benefit the players if you had more time for preparation for the Australian Open if it starts in February or March?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is difficult to imagine about these kind of things. I don't know if in February the conditions are warmer here even. I don't know if that's a good idea. Is not very healthy when you are playing under 38 degrees or 36 degrees or 40. Is not the ideal thing. But anyway, is true that have such an important tournament that early in the year, is true that --
Q. It would give you two or three weeks extra preparation, everyone.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, is always that for everybody. Is better to have, for example, more than one tournament before the Australian Open, no? It would be great if we are able to go early with two more weeks would be great for different facts, no? For us, is important to spend the new year at home. Is important to spend Christmas at home with family. That dates are, you know, very important. Players have family. Players have small kids. You want to spend that time with them. With that calendar, is tough to have and enjoy this period of time with your family. Is true that if we went two weeks, better for that. But at the same time, is better to play one tournament or two tournaments before Australian Open. Would be great. Two tournaments will have the right period of time before the tournament to play. But today we are talking for talking, because I don't see a change in that calendar for the future.
Via http://www.ausopen.com/
1/21/2015
Rafa #Nadal Transcript Interview after #R2 #AO2015
Q. You said after your first-round match you didn’t know a whole lot about Tim. How much did you learn in the last couple days? Were you surprised by the way he played in the end?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I saw him play some videos. I checked some videos. Well, I think he played well, but is true that what he did at the end of the fifth is just amazing. Congratulate. I say on the court, but I want to say here, too. Very few players can do that after four hours something of match, 5-All, Love-30. So just will say thanks to him because he’s a great example what he did today.
Q. What was your reaction? Were you surprised?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, sure. At the end should not be surprising, but is surprise. That’s not positive thing. But is good. Is great. Is very difficult to make it and he did, so just congratulate.
Q. After the third set, what was happening in your mind and body? Did you feel at this moment that you can still turn this around?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. I felt very tired. I felt, I don’t know. At the end of the first set, I start to feel my body very bad, very tired. I don’t know. I was worrying crazy. Then when I was serving for the third, almost throw up. So was terrible feeling, no? I suffered too much on court for three hours and a half. I was suffering a lot. Too much. You know, was not funny today the way that the match was. Obviously is a very positive thing that finally have the chance to win, but, yeah, I hope to recover myself.
Q. Any explanation of what went wrong?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. I don’t know yet. I just go out. But is true that the weather was different today than the last couple of weeks. Very humid. I am sweating a lot always when it’s humid. But, I don’t know, long time without competition, with tough conditions, but at the end happened something more. Is obvious, no? I practiced a lot. Should not be that tired after 40 minutes. That’s obvious, no? Something happened, and I feel lucky to have the chance to finish the match, and then to find a way to win. So very positive for me. As I say the other day, all the moments I spend on court are important. Is not positive be like this, but in general you know important to win these kind of matches. That’s give me the possibility to play again, and I going to try to make better the next day.
Q. The suffering that you had on the court today, is that one of the toughest wins you’ve ever pulled off?
RAFAEL NADAL: In terms of feeling bad on the court, yes. Probably yes. I was close to not continue because I felt that I was very dizzy. I felt that I can lose little bit the – I don’t know how to say – can fall down. So is true that after the third, fourth, and fifth, I tried to play much more aggressive, without running, no running anymore, and try to go for the winners and play little bit better, play little bit more relax. In terms of physically, at the end of the match I started to felt little bit better.
Q. How did you feel going into the match? Completely normal or tired?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. I had a great practice today. Probably the practice is better during the last week. So was positive feeling about the ball, about everything. Completely normal.
Q. You’ve had some very grueling matches on this court over the years, some very emotional matches. What is your feeling about this place? Why does it seem to bring out those kind of matches for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I spent lot of beautiful moments in this court, but at the same time is one of the court that I really had more tough moments in my career, no? So when you suffer a lot on one court, then you love a lot the court, because I try very hard in all my career to be ready to play well here. I did lot of times, but the same time a lot of times I was in trouble. 2006 I didn’t came; 2007, if I am not wrong, I had a strain against Gonzalez; 2010 I had to retire against Andy; I don’t remember, but 2011 I think — well, I finished the match, but I breaked a little bit, a strain against David Ferrer. And last year the final. 2013 I didn’t came, and then the final of 2014, what happened with my back. So lot of tough moments on this court for me. But, well, I love Australia. I love the crowd. And, seriously, is one of the court that make me play with more emotions.
Q. What do you feel about your ability to dig down and come through? Do you think that is a talent that you have?
RAFAEL NADAL: All during my career is obvious that I was able to find solutions for tough moments. I was able to win matches where I was in trouble. Sure, is an ability, but you know I worked very hard during all my career to resist, to try to be strong mentally. Is obvious that all the practices when I was a kid, all the moments that I suffered, helps.
Q. Given your physical troubles on court today, how do you now prepare for your next game? Anything different?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I going to prepare in something different way?
Q. Yes, given your troubles today.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is difficult. I don’t know. I did the normal things as I do every day to play any match. During all my career I did almost the same. Difficult to change with 28 and a half.
Via http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2015-01-21/201501211421846493342.html
1/20/2015
1/19/2015
Q. It went easier than you would have thought?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, this is true. Very positive result for me. I think very good start. Very important, no? Always before the first match you always have the doubts, especially in this situation I'm arriving here. Never easy, but it was an important match for me. Every match is very important for me today. Was a comfortable victory that give me some confidence.
Q. When you're coming back from an injury layoff, how important is the strength in the mindset?
RAFAEL NADAL: At the end you know that you not going to be at your 100%, so most important thing when you are coming back is accept all the challenges, the weeks, months, that you didn't have the chance to be able to practice, to compete. That you will have for sure. Just accept every situation. Accept that you're going to be a little slow, a little out of rhythm. You can practice a lot. I did. I practiced I think enough and with the right attitude, but at the end what you need is matches. You practice very well, but you don't have matches under your shoulders. You cannot play with the right confidence, with the right competitive spirit, because you need to feel that. All the practices, you don't get that. The only way to get that, you know, is having matches. That's why this victory today is very important, and every time that I am on court competing is a big help for me to try to be back on the right level that I want to be.
Q. Looks like you're going to play Tim Smyczek next. Do you know anything about him at all?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know very well. I talked little bit about. But he's losing the third. I don't know what's going on. But, anyway, for me always, but especially today, all opponents are dangerous. All opponents are going to be difficult, and with the maximum respect for everybody and knowing that anything can happen in every round against anyone. So just going to go on court with the same spirit as today, maximum respect, trying to be very focus, and try to play little bit the same way like I did today. I think I did very positive things. I am trying to improve in the thing that I need to improve a little bit more.
Q. Mikhail says he thinks you can be very dangerous in the second week here. Has today changed your opinion of how far you think you can go here?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. What I say the other day is the real thing. Today is very hard to speak about having chances of nothing. I have one match. That's better than two days ago. But I need more to feel that I am ready for something very important here, no? So is not the right moment to talk about that. It's the moment to really give to this victory the right value. That's very important for me. And try to be ready for after tomorrow.
Q. In the many months you were out of the sport, what was the moment when you most appreciated tennis, and what did you appreciate about the game?
RAFAEL NADAL: I always had lot of passion for this sport, for sport in general. That's the real thing. As a fan, as a player, as a professional player, as everything, playing amateur golf, football, anything. When I am able to do some sport, I always try my best and enjoy doing. And, seriously, the last seven months that I only played four matches, four, five matches, have been tough. But at the same time, is always the same. Was a lot of accidents, so just trying to accept every situation and trying to enjoy different things. That different things is being at home, being with the family, parents, cousin, sister, friends, trying to enjoy little bit of the beautiful island from where I am, Mallorca. In general, I was happy during these seven months, but is obvious that I know that I hope to have the chance to do that in the future. Tennis career is not forever. So always when you're not playing in Indian Wells, when you're not playing in Toronto, when you are not playing in Cincinnati, the US Open, in the World Tour Finals, in Shanghai, in Bercy, you know that you are missing important opportunities for your career. So that's not good. But that's part of my career, too.
Q. Is there something you've done today on court that you're especially satisfied with?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I returned well. My return worked really well. The serve, too. I served, I think, the right way, with only one breakpoint during the whole match. And in general I played with not many mistakes. I didn't have lot of mistakes, but is true that when I am defending, I can arrive with little bit more confidence and try to hit the ball longer. The only way to have that is winning. And playing this match of tomorrow I will do it better. If I am able to win tomorrow, I will have a chance to do better next time. That's always the way that you become better and you become confident: winning. The victory is everything in the sport.
Q. Do you think it's harder for a player who is shy to be successful on the tour? If you're more introverted, do you think it's more difficult to win those big matches and have success?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I was really shy when I was a kid. I started on the tour very early with 16, and I was very shy. Well, I was not shy playing on court. That's the most important thing, no? You can shy in life, but obviously when you are going on court, when you are competing, you compete. You cannot be shy. At the end is obvious if you are shy playing, probably you will be in trouble. But the normal thing, if you are a good junior, all your life you did that, it's difficult to be shy on court. You can be shy outside, but on court, is the thing that you do, you are by yourself, and probably will not happen.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about your new racquet, if it's required any adjustments in playing. What sort of information do you find useful after the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: The racquet for me is very similar one to the last one. Didn't change almost nothing. The new Babolat is a new technology that probably will be the future in our sport. I think is great that Babolat did that. Is a big improvement for everybody who loves our sport, no? For the kids, for the amateurs who plays the sport, who plays tennis, and for professionals. At the end, we are professionals. We arrived here without using this technology, so it's a little bit more difficult to adapt to this. But is a help, no? When you finish the practice, is a help to see - or a match - how many forehands you played, how many backhands so you know you are doing the right thing. For example, I know to play well I need to play 70% of forehands; 30% of backhands. If I'm not doing that, I know I not doing the right thing on court. That's a way that you can check these kind of things. Then for amateurs is good to compare after the match where they're hitting the ball, after practice where they are hitting the ball. They can compare with another thing. At the end is fine for the people who has passion for this sport, for tennis, no? I think is great. I am really sure that in the future everybody will use that.
Q. When you come out onto the court and you sit down on the bench, do you turn it on?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I did before I start.
Q. Jim Courier was talking about back problems. He said when you're a back patient, you're a back patient really for life. It's something you have to take care of your whole career, your whole life. Is that the case for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. Last year was tough year with my back because I had problems here, then in Rio, then in Roland Garros, then I didn't have more because I didn't play more (smiling). But for the moment, for this year, I am feeling well. The back is not limiting me, so that's important for the moment, no? I know the back is dangerous. I know the back is a thing that you have to take care about. We are trying to do the right things to be safe with that, but there is things you cannot control.
Q. Your shorts seem a lot shorter this year than before. Is that a decision you've made or something that's come from your sponsor?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. To make the shorts shorter is something that I like. I feel more comfortable this way. We make it shorter already last year, and this year a little bit more. I like. I feel more comfortable here, more fresh. Sometimes is good to have some changes, to try different things. But seriously, I prefer this way.
http://www.ausopen.com/…/2015-01…/201501191421649748158.html
http://www.ausopen.com/…/2015-01…/201501191421649748158.html
1/18/2015
1/17/2015
Rafa #Nadal's pre-tournament press conference ( transcript)
Australian Open. 17/01/15
Q. To be at the best level you can be, is it a question now of fitness or match toughness?
Australian Open. 17/01/15
Q. To be at the best level you can be, is it a question now of fitness or match toughness?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is a question of everything to be ready, to feel yourself confident, to feel yourself that you are 100% competitive. Always you need to play more matches than four or five in seven months. That's a thing that everybody knows. At the same time you feel in better shape physically when you are play matches, when you have confidence about your movements. Even if you practice a lot, then the competition is different. The stress of the competition is different than the practices, no? So is a question of time and work. I am working big-time.
Q. Do you feel it's getting better and better with your practice?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am doing lot of practice and doing the things that we believe we have to do to recover our level. Is true that having a Grand Slam that early in the season after injury like this not the ideal thing. But here we are. I worked a lot since 10th of December. I worked a lot last couple of weeks in Abu Dhabi and Doha, then here this week. I am with calm and happy the way I did the things. Then I need to play better than what I am doing. I think that thing is sure. But I know to play better, I need to win matches. I need to spend hours on court competing. The only way to make that happen is to be on the tour. So I am on the tour, and that's the only way I can come back to my best level.
Q. You've had to do this a few times before because of injuries. Does it help now that you've done this before, you know what it's like coming back after a break?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every time is different. Every feeling is different. Every time you come back, you have the doubts, you have the feeling that you are far away from your best. But at the same time you know the only thing you can do is play with the right attitude and try to have the right schedule to play matches, to play weeks in a row. It's the only way to find the positive feelings and the confidence back. When you have put all the things together, it make your game better again. That's what I am doing. I am trying to do the calendar that will be better for me. Playing here, then playing on clay, that helps me physically, in terms of tennis, too. That's all, no? Difficult to say more things. The only thing I can say is I need to play better, yes. But the only way to play better is to win matches.
Q. How close to 100% do you feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. Doesn't matter. In terms of what?
Q. Out of 100%?
RAFAEL NADAL: 100% of what?
Q. Of your best form.
RAFAEL NADAL: Of tennis?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: In the end is difficult to say 50%, 55%, 20%. Doesn't matter. This kind of thing is impossible. Is not mathematics. You never know when you are 100%. The only thing is I know I need to work, spend time on court, play matches. When that happens during few months, I know in terms of being competitive, in terms of rhythm, I will be ready again, no? But if I am able to win matches in a row before these few months, I'm going to be ready earlier, no? That's what happened in 2013. But I started on clay, tournaments that give me the chance to play more matches, 250 tournaments. This time a little bit different. At the same time the only way is winning matches and spend time on court.
Q. You said Brazil is a lucky place for you. How do you feel about the Rio Open? Too much play, too many people with Carnival?
RAFAEL NADAL: I hope not to have too much time for Carnival (smiling). Well, no. I have been in Brazil a couple of times. 2005 was the first tournament victory of a big season. 2013 was a special one, because after a lot of months without winning, without competing, I had a chance to win the title there. Helped me for the confidence for what happened later, no? Last year was important one, but was different situation. This year is a little bit like before, no? Going to be the first tournament on clay after a long time ago. I hope will be a good moment for me to have the full confidence back.
Q. Which aspect of your game are you happiest about as you're returning to form? Which part is going well for you at the moment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing (smiling). No, I am not serving bad. My serve is working more or less well. I need to be a little bit more dynamic on court with my movements. I am a player who find the confidence when I am able to defend well, when I am able to hit the ball knowing that the ball going to go in most of the times. So that's when I feel myself strong. As I say before, no, to make that happen, you need to do that on the competition. For example, last week in Doha I did a very good thing in the first set, played very good first set. But then, you know, I lose the intensity on my game, I lose the rhythm, something that normally never happen to me when I am competing two weeks in a row. That is something you need when you didn't play for a long time. I don't know about in which part of my game I'm more happy. But I really know what I have to do to be happy with my game. My game is always good when my movements are good, when I am able to have control of the point with my forehand, and always hitting good backhands. But the forehand need to be aggressive, need to create space with my forehand. That's the way that I need to play to have my chances back on being competitive against everybody.
Q. Who do you think is the favorite for the tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know the same like me who is the favorite for the tournament. I think everybody thinks the same names. Novak finished the season great. He is a fantastic player. He's in his favorite surface. Roger is the same story. Had a great season last year. He finished well. Plays in his favorite surface, or one of his favorites, grass and here. And Andy I think is playing well. We'll see. The rest always are there. There is a few more players that always going to have the chances. But between these three names, it's a big chance.
Q. Four names, your name?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't consider myself one of the favorites here. Last year, yes. This year is a different story. Would be lying if I say I feel that I am ready to win today. I don't feel myself ready to win the tournament here today. If I am here in a press conference in one week, maybe I will say another thing because will have the feeling that I will play few matches, and if I'm able to win that couple of matches, then probably I will have little bit more rhythm, I will have more confidence. But in theory, playing four, five matches in seven months, you cannot be a favorite of a tournament that is not clay, is on hard. Is another thing. In terms of being favorites, the other names are more favorites than me at this time.
Q. Are your backhand wrist injuries completely over?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. I cannot say is completely recovered because that can happens when you compete, when you put your back under stress. Can come back, no? Is something that I not 100% confident yet. If you talk about my knees, I say, Okay, can happen, but I am confident about my knees because are working very well. But my back, I don't have enough time having good feelings to say I am 100% perfect, no? I need to take care about this for the moment. But hopefully will be fine.
Q. You said you don't see yourself as a contender for the title, but there must be a large part of you that must be delighted to be here competing.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. Must be nothing better for you than being here playing. That must give you a good feeling.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, at the end, as I say before, the only way to arrive to the tournaments being one of the favorites, being a real candidate is being here. Without being here, there is no chances. So I know that I am in the right way because I am here, first thing, and because I am with very high motivation to recover all the things that I didn't have the chance to do. The last seven, eight months, more or less. So here is a big motivation. Here, Australia is a tournament I really like a lot. Even if I have a lot of injuries in my career, in this tournament, I always had a great feeling here. And I hope, I really hope, that this will be a good start of an important year for me. I am enjoying every day here. I hope to be here more days.
Via http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2015-01-17/201501161421465244602.html
1/15/2015
1/14/2015
1/09/2015
1/08/2015
1/07/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #R1 in Doha (Transcript)
Q. You looked okay in the first set. Did your physical or mental condition change after that? What happened?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. As I said the other day, these things happen after long time without being on the road, being on rhythm, being on competition. So I think I think I played a great first set, a lot of winners with my forehand, no mistakes.
But at the end I had a bad game in the third one, fourth one of the second set. He break me. After that everything changed. He played well. I was playing with more nerves than usual after‑‑ as I said before, after long time I wanted to win. I know that winning couple of matches here will help me. So that makes me play a little bit more under more tension.
But that's it. You know, at the end, that's the sport. That's normal things. When you are back from an injury and you are back again from an injury, that takes time. There is risk. And always, when you are a time outside that the things are complicated at the comebacks for everybody, no? You can see all the comebacks from a lot of players when they were injured from long time, the comebacks are tough.
I'm not an exception. I am another one that will be tough for me. I'm going to work hard to try to make it less tough as possible, but my motivation and my hunger to keep doing the things well still the same, so I am sure that I gonna come back to my best. I hope to be soon.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. As I said the other day, these things happen after long time without being on the road, being on rhythm, being on competition. So I think I think I played a great first set, a lot of winners with my forehand, no mistakes.
But at the end I had a bad game in the third one, fourth one of the second set. He break me. After that everything changed. He played well. I was playing with more nerves than usual after‑‑ as I said before, after long time I wanted to win. I know that winning couple of matches here will help me. So that makes me play a little bit more under more tension.
But that's it. You know, at the end, that's the sport. That's normal things. When you are back from an injury and you are back again from an injury, that takes time. There is risk. And always, when you are a time outside that the things are complicated at the comebacks for everybody, no? You can see all the comebacks from a lot of players when they were injured from long time, the comebacks are tough.
I'm not an exception. I am another one that will be tough for me. I'm going to work hard to try to make it less tough as possible, but my motivation and my hunger to keep doing the things well still the same, so I am sure that I gonna come back to my best. I hope to be soon.
Q. Losing a match in the first tournament of the season may not be a disaster, but do you feel confident that you can pick up quite quickly from this, or do you have a feeling how long it will take?
RAFAEL NADAL: Mentally?
RAFAEL NADAL: Mentally?
Q. Just your game, your general game.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, mentally is just a lose. No, at the end that not gonna affect my career, that lose of today. That's the really thing. But at the end is a tournament that I like. First tournament of the year is, as I said before, especially after long time without playing, I wanted to do well. Playing two, three matches, four will help me a lot to be a little bit better.
But that's not the case. So accept that. Be ready for what's going on, try to play a good tournament of doubles. Playing doubles is competition at the end. Gonna help me to be on rhythm. So I gonna try my best to do it well tomorrow in doubles, and for the rest, try to practice as much as I can and put my physical performance on the right position.
And then talking about tennis, I can do it better but was not that bad. Was a little bit unlucky for moments of the match that I felt that I had the chance to be back on the match or to finish it a little bit, no?
Was some moments that I had some chances that was one ball like this (indicating short distance between index finger and thumb), one lob shot important one that was on the line, some different points that was all the time from the opponent, not from me. And at the beginning, you know, you need that little bit of luck to be more confident, to play with a little bit more, you know, relax. That's it.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, mentally is just a lose. No, at the end that not gonna affect my career, that lose of today. That's the really thing. But at the end is a tournament that I like. First tournament of the year is, as I said before, especially after long time without playing, I wanted to do well. Playing two, three matches, four will help me a lot to be a little bit better.
But that's not the case. So accept that. Be ready for what's going on, try to play a good tournament of doubles. Playing doubles is competition at the end. Gonna help me to be on rhythm. So I gonna try my best to do it well tomorrow in doubles, and for the rest, try to practice as much as I can and put my physical performance on the right position.
And then talking about tennis, I can do it better but was not that bad. Was a little bit unlucky for moments of the match that I felt that I had the chance to be back on the match or to finish it a little bit, no?
Was some moments that I had some chances that was one ball like this (indicating short distance between index finger and thumb), one lob shot important one that was on the line, some different points that was all the time from the opponent, not from me. And at the beginning, you know, you need that little bit of luck to be more confident, to play with a little bit more, you know, relax. That's it.
Q. I realize you're still in doubles here. But once you get to Australia, would you consider playing maybe an exhibition match at Kooyong or a wildcard in Sydney if you happen to lose earlier here in doubles than you anticipated?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not in my mind. I don't know. Difficult for me to think about that now. Is very early, but I am quite sure that I have to talk with the people that I have to talk.
But then if the people that I have to talk has different opinion, then I am a guy who listen and try to do the things that the people believe that are better for me, not only take my decision and that's it.
But Auckland or Sydney for me today is not in my mind.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not in my mind. I don't know. Difficult for me to think about that now. Is very early, but I am quite sure that I have to talk with the people that I have to talk.
But then if the people that I have to talk has different opinion, then I am a guy who listen and try to do the things that the people believe that are better for me, not only take my decision and that's it.
But Auckland or Sydney for me today is not in my mind.
Q. You have a history in the past of coming off a season where you have had injuries and whatever even stronger than you had been before that. Are you confident that you can do the same after the 2014 season?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I am stronger, I gonna be the best of the history, so that's not gonna happen. I don't gonna be stronger than before, no. So no, no, no, no.
I'm sure that it's gonna takes time. I was not ‑‑when I came back, I was not stronger than before. I had amazing year, but ‑‑ 2005 was amazing year. 2008 was a fantastic year and without coming from injury. And 2010 was a great year after a tough year, 2009, for different things, no, but especially for the knee.
But two toughest, three toughest time that was injury for me was 2005 to 2006, you know, and take a little bit of time for me to be back on my best, even if I won at Dubai, the second tournament that I played, then was tough to feel a little bit that I was in rhythm.
And 2013 was amazing comeback, but as I say the other day, I come back on perfect conditions for me, on clay, 250 tournaments. All the facts was on my favor.
This time is a little bit different. This one is the third one, so we will see. We will see how the thing goes in a couple of months. I wanted to start well. Was not the case today. I want to play well in the Australian Open. That's a tournament that I like a lot.
I don't know if it will be the case, but I gonna work for it. If not, you know, I gonna play in Rio de Janeiro, I gonna play in Buenos Aires. I need to be ready for that. The season is long. After, when you come back after an injury, you cannot only see the immediate moment. You have to take a look a little bit farther. That's normally, during my career, I was looking always tournament by tournament.
But now in my mind is practice well, try to be ready for Australia, but knowing that can happen that I gonna go to Australia and lose early. It is true if I'm able to practice well and find my rhythm, if I'm able to win a couple matches there, then anything can happen.
Can happen that I gonna arrive there and I gonna lose early, but I don't know.
RAFAEL NADAL: If I am stronger, I gonna be the best of the history, so that's not gonna happen. I don't gonna be stronger than before, no. So no, no, no, no.
I'm sure that it's gonna takes time. I was not ‑‑when I came back, I was not stronger than before. I had amazing year, but ‑‑ 2005 was amazing year. 2008 was a fantastic year and without coming from injury. And 2010 was a great year after a tough year, 2009, for different things, no, but especially for the knee.
But two toughest, three toughest time that was injury for me was 2005 to 2006, you know, and take a little bit of time for me to be back on my best, even if I won at Dubai, the second tournament that I played, then was tough to feel a little bit that I was in rhythm.
And 2013 was amazing comeback, but as I say the other day, I come back on perfect conditions for me, on clay, 250 tournaments. All the facts was on my favor.
This time is a little bit different. This one is the third one, so we will see. We will see how the thing goes in a couple of months. I wanted to start well. Was not the case today. I want to play well in the Australian Open. That's a tournament that I like a lot.
I don't know if it will be the case, but I gonna work for it. If not, you know, I gonna play in Rio de Janeiro, I gonna play in Buenos Aires. I need to be ready for that. The season is long. After, when you come back after an injury, you cannot only see the immediate moment. You have to take a look a little bit farther. That's normally, during my career, I was looking always tournament by tournament.
But now in my mind is practice well, try to be ready for Australia, but knowing that can happen that I gonna go to Australia and lose early. It is true if I'm able to practice well and find my rhythm, if I'm able to win a couple matches there, then anything can happen.
Can happen that I gonna arrive there and I gonna lose early, but I don't know.
Q. How hard will it be for you to go to Australia, knowing you don't have enough matches and may be a little rusty and not have expectations possibly of winning and thinking you can lose early? Is that difficult for you going into a Grand Slam, mentally, to accept?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't want to see that way. Will be hard if I will see the thing that way, but I don't want to think that way. I gonna think that I have my chances.
But anyway, will not be hard. Playing in Australian Open never will be hard as a tournament. It's a fantastic tournament. It's one of the best tournaments of the world with a great organization. If it's hard to go to the Australian Open, better go home and don't play tennis.
But anyway, will not be the case, because in my mind is play a good Australian Open.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't want to see that way. Will be hard if I will see the thing that way, but I don't want to think that way. I gonna think that I have my chances.
But anyway, will not be hard. Playing in Australian Open never will be hard as a tournament. It's a fantastic tournament. It's one of the best tournaments of the world with a great organization. If it's hard to go to the Australian Open, better go home and don't play tennis.
But anyway, will not be the case, because in my mind is play a good Australian Open.
vIA FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
1/05/2015
Rafa #Nadal pre-tournament press conference in Doha
(Transcript)
![Photo : RAFA IS BACK, READY FOR “NEW CHALLENGE”
Rafael Nadal is back, healthy and ready to make his ATP World Tour comeback at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he is the defending champion.
“[I’m] just happy to be in Doha again,” said the Spaniard on Sunday. “New season start, so for me it's a new challenge and new motivation.”
“At the end, as many matches as I can play, [the] more help [it] will be for me,” admitted Nadal. “I need time [to] improve, but that's normal.”
Na
“You never know in the world of sport,” said Nadal, when asked about the possibility of retaining his title. “If I am able to play [a] couple of matches and to win a couple of matches, then probably the feeling will be different for me, and I will feel that I will be more ready for everything. But this is [a] tough tournament. A lot of good players [are] in the draw.”
Looking ahead to 2015, Nadal said he has the same goals “like every year.”
“My goal is try to be competitive in every tournament that I’m going to play,” he said. “It's normal that I'm going to need some time. But I'm happy; I'm practising well and working very hard. I'm doing the right things with the right attitude.
“I hope to be ready to compete here, and then if I am able to spend some time on court, every moment on court will help me [and] will be positive for my future. [I’m] going to try to play the best tournament possible.”
Read the full article:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/1/Doha-Sunday-Preview-Nadal.aspx](https://scontent-b-fra.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p235x350/10386829_876499322371218_1836658592227515157_n.png?oh=014709d43ee86f3720a883d185e6ebf9&oe=552B861B)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. I hope you're feeling physically good. Can you describe to us how you feel now?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, just happy to be in Doha again. New season start, so for me it's a new challenge and new motivation. I started last week in Abu Dhabi. It was positive for me there playing and practicing a few days. It was a good help, and as usual, you know, the comebacks, at the beginning the feelings are not the best. At the beginning you need to suffer a little bit on court. You need to remember all the things that you make it well in the past to have success, and with hard work of every day, try to improve a little bit every day to find the rhythm, to find the way that you really want to play.
All these kind of things needs to go all the way but step by step, because at the end I don't want to arrive here and gonna play my best tennis. I know that and probably everybody knows that after ‑‑it doesn't matter if I play in Beijing and play in Basel. That's not like playing for me. It was nothing. Since Wimbledon I count like since Wimbledon I didn't play. It was long time again, so I need this period of time of face the competition and to the high level of tennis.
Q. You're experienced in starting the new season slowly. You have done that before. Is that a help to you to have that experience so that you can keep your spirits high as well improve physically?
RAFAEL NADAL: At the end, that's in a sport that the experience helps, but if you're not hitting the ball well and you're not moving well, doesn't matter how much experience you have. If the opponent hit the ball faster, more quicker, doesn't matter if you have more experience than the opponent, no?
That's in a sport that you have to be quick, you have to be dynamic, you have to play with no mistakes, and that's the things that I need to do to have success again.
Every feeling is new, every year is new. Experience can help you in some moments, but in general, every year there is new feelings and new things that you have to learn to try to keep doing well.
Q. We didn't see you on court for official tournament since Basel in October, so you're back here for an official tournament in Doha. What are your goals for 2015?
RAFAEL NADAL: The same ones like every year. No, no, it's not like ‑‑no new things for me, no? My goals is try to be competitive in every tournament that I gonna play. I know that to be competitive in every tournament I gonna play, hopefully not much, but I gonna need small period of time, I hope, hope will be small, because, as I said before, it's difficult to be back playing against the best players, compete well from beginning is something that almost never happened.
So I gonna try to make it as quick as possible, but it's normal that I'm going to need some time. But I'm happy I'm practicing well and working very hard. I'm doing the right things with the right attitude.
I hope to be ready to compete here, and then if I am able to spend some time on court, every moment on court will help me, will be positive for my future, and for sure I gonna try to play the best tournament possible.
Q. Given how much time you have had off, what would you be satisfied with this week? Is it more important for you to have match time? Is a result relevant for you this week?
RAFAEL NADAL: The result is the sport at the end, no? The result is the life. That's the real thing. But at the end, for me, as many matches as I can play, more help will be for me. So will be every match today means a lot and will be very important.
If I'm able to win couple of matches will be fantastic for me to play some matches, and then a week of practice before Australia can help me. But if not, I am ready to accept everything, to accept that I gonna need time and I gonna need to play with my best attitude possible to be competitive.
Seriously, I happy the way that I am. I need time prove, I know that, but that's normal. But in general I think I am not that bad. I hope to be competitive soon.
Q. At the end of last season and again last week you said that the most important thing for you to be competitive mentally is to get back your competitive spirit. Can you say how close you are to that or if you feel competitive and ready at this moment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn't matter what I am feeling, no? Is what the opponents feels. At the end, I can feel myself competitive, but if the opponents feels that I'm not competitive and they beat me, will be that I'm not ready yet, no?
So we will see. Every match will be a test for me. Every moment will help, as I said before. And I have the mental spirit I always had, the mental spirit competitive, no? So now I need to recover the tennis, I need to recover the movements. All these kind of things that only the competition can give, you know.
So I think I'm ready mentally to work for it, and I am doing. And seriously I think the work I did in Majorca was important. The work I am doing here will be important for the future, too. I happy how I am.
I play doubles tomorrow. Every moment that I gonna spend on court will be important, and then singles on Tuesday. We will see.
Q. We have seen you winning the title last season for the first time. Can we see Rafa doing it for the second time in a row this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not the ideal situation to do it again, but that's a reality. You never know in the world of sport. The things change quick. If I am able to play couple of matches and to win a couple of matches, then probably the feeling will be different for me and I will feel that I will be more ready for everything. But this is tough tournament, a lot of good players in the draw.
The people remember my comeback of 2013, but the truth is I came back in a perfect situation for me and perfect conditions for me, not playing on hard conditions, on clay, 250 tournaments, better and possible for my recover my feelings, no?
Today is a different story. The tournament is different. The surface is different. Is difficult to imagine something like happened few years ago.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
(Transcript)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. I hope you're feeling physically good. Can you describe to us how you feel now?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, just happy to be in Doha again. New season start, so for me it's a new challenge and new motivation. I started last week in Abu Dhabi. It was positive for me there playing and practicing a few days. It was a good help, and as usual, you know, the comebacks, at the beginning the feelings are not the best. At the beginning you need to suffer a little bit on court. You need to remember all the things that you make it well in the past to have success, and with hard work of every day, try to improve a little bit every day to find the rhythm, to find the way that you really want to play.
All these kind of things needs to go all the way but step by step, because at the end I don't want to arrive here and gonna play my best tennis. I know that and probably everybody knows that after ‑‑it doesn't matter if I play in Beijing and play in Basel. That's not like playing for me. It was nothing. Since Wimbledon I count like since Wimbledon I didn't play. It was long time again, so I need this period of time of face the competition and to the high level of tennis.
Q. You're experienced in starting the new season slowly. You have done that before. Is that a help to you to have that experience so that you can keep your spirits high as well improve physically?
RAFAEL NADAL: At the end, that's in a sport that the experience helps, but if you're not hitting the ball well and you're not moving well, doesn't matter how much experience you have. If the opponent hit the ball faster, more quicker, doesn't matter if you have more experience than the opponent, no?
That's in a sport that you have to be quick, you have to be dynamic, you have to play with no mistakes, and that's the things that I need to do to have success again.
Every feeling is new, every year is new. Experience can help you in some moments, but in general, every year there is new feelings and new things that you have to learn to try to keep doing well.
Q. We didn't see you on court for official tournament since Basel in October, so you're back here for an official tournament in Doha. What are your goals for 2015?
RAFAEL NADAL: The same ones like every year. No, no, it's not like ‑‑no new things for me, no? My goals is try to be competitive in every tournament that I gonna play. I know that to be competitive in every tournament I gonna play, hopefully not much, but I gonna need small period of time, I hope, hope will be small, because, as I said before, it's difficult to be back playing against the best players, compete well from beginning is something that almost never happened.
So I gonna try to make it as quick as possible, but it's normal that I'm going to need some time. But I'm happy I'm practicing well and working very hard. I'm doing the right things with the right attitude.
I hope to be ready to compete here, and then if I am able to spend some time on court, every moment on court will help me, will be positive for my future, and for sure I gonna try to play the best tournament possible.
Q. Given how much time you have had off, what would you be satisfied with this week? Is it more important for you to have match time? Is a result relevant for you this week?
RAFAEL NADAL: The result is the sport at the end, no? The result is the life. That's the real thing. But at the end, for me, as many matches as I can play, more help will be for me. So will be every match today means a lot and will be very important.
If I'm able to win couple of matches will be fantastic for me to play some matches, and then a week of practice before Australia can help me. But if not, I am ready to accept everything, to accept that I gonna need time and I gonna need to play with my best attitude possible to be competitive.
Seriously, I happy the way that I am. I need time prove, I know that, but that's normal. But in general I think I am not that bad. I hope to be competitive soon.
Q. At the end of last season and again last week you said that the most important thing for you to be competitive mentally is to get back your competitive spirit. Can you say how close you are to that or if you feel competitive and ready at this moment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn't matter what I am feeling, no? Is what the opponents feels. At the end, I can feel myself competitive, but if the opponents feels that I'm not competitive and they beat me, will be that I'm not ready yet, no?
So we will see. Every match will be a test for me. Every moment will help, as I said before. And I have the mental spirit I always had, the mental spirit competitive, no? So now I need to recover the tennis, I need to recover the movements. All these kind of things that only the competition can give, you know.
So I think I'm ready mentally to work for it, and I am doing. And seriously I think the work I did in Majorca was important. The work I am doing here will be important for the future, too. I happy how I am.
I play doubles tomorrow. Every moment that I gonna spend on court will be important, and then singles on Tuesday. We will see.
Q. We have seen you winning the title last season for the first time. Can we see Rafa doing it for the second time in a row this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not the ideal situation to do it again, but that's a reality. You never know in the world of sport. The things change quick. If I am able to play couple of matches and to win a couple of matches, then probably the feeling will be different for me and I will feel that I will be more ready for everything. But this is tough tournament, a lot of good players in the draw.
The people remember my comeback of 2013, but the truth is I came back in a perfect situation for me and perfect conditions for me, not playing on hard conditions, on clay, 250 tournaments, better and possible for my recover my feelings, no?
Today is a different story. The tournament is different. The surface is different. Is difficult to imagine something like happened few years ago.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)