3/30/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #R3 at #MiamiOpen 2015 (Transcript)
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It seemed you found a way in the second set, and then it totally went away in the third. What was the sensation today? How can you explain how it went?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, in general, I played some good games at the beginning, bad games at the end of the second set; some good games on the second; not bad at the beginning of the third.
But he played well the third, so he deserved to win more than me without any doubt tonight. Just congratulate him for the victory.
Q. Do you feel that you haven’t been able to build up much momentum this season?
RAFAEL NADAL: It’s not the question of tennis. The thing is the question of being enough relaxed to play well on court. Something that if I tell you one month ago or one month and a half ago I didn’t have the game.
Today my game in general improved since a month and a half. But at the same time, still playing with too much nerves for a lot of moments, in important moments, still playing with a little bit of anxious on that moments.
For example, in the 4-3 in the first set, and then in the 5-4, 30-Love. Something that didn’t happen a lot during my career. I have been able to be under control, control my emotions during, let’s say, 90%, 95% of my matches of my career, something that today is being tougher to be under self-control. But I gonna fix it. I don’t know if in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I gonna do it.
Q. You obviously had quite a few issues last year. I think your wrist, your back, and the appendicitis. I’m just wondering if you’re finding it as easy to trust your body perhaps after those problems last year.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. Is it an issue maybe trusting your body this year after all the physical problems last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. The physical problems are past. I am on competition. I’m playing weeks in a row. Is not an excuse.
What happened last year, yes, the first weeks of the season obviously all the problems that I had didn’t help, but talked enough about these kind of things. Is different story today.
As I said before, feeling much more comfortable in my tennis, practicing well, much better than in Australia, much best than Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. But still playing on competition, you know, feeling more tired than usual, feeling that I don’t have this self-confidence that when I hit the ball I gonna hit the ball where I want to hit the ball, to go for the ball running and knowing that my position will be the right one.
All these are small things that are difficult to explain. One of the tougher things have been fixed, that is the game, in my opinion. Now I need to fix again the nerves, the self-control on court. That’s another issue.
Is not a tough issue to fix, but I gonna keep trying. I am trying my best. I am practicing with the right attitude, I think. I arrive in an important part of the season for me. I didn’t want arrive to that part of the season with that loss of today, obviously, but that part of the season arrives.
It’s the next for me, and I am excited. I am enough motivated to keep working hard, and that’s what I gonna do. The tournaments that are coming are tournaments that are historically good tournaments for my game, good tournaments for my confidence.
Is true if I’m not able to control all these things, I don’t gonna to have the possibility to compete well and have have success on that events.
But still with confidence that I can do it.
Q. I think it’s very interesting you’re talking about nerves and self-control. I mean, you seem like you have won so many big matches in your career that you always seem to have that confidence and that swagger about you. Why do you think this has happened? When did you start feeling that way?
RAFAEL NADAL: It happened when I came back. Beginning of the season I am playing with, you know, all these feelings that for moments are new. You know, I am not saying that didn’t happen in the past because happened, but happened for a very small — for one point, two points.
Happened, and then (snapping fingers) I’m able to say, Okay, I am here. But now, for example, happened for, you know, 3-All break point, more or less easy forehand. That was a very important point for me, but shouldn’t be that important, you know. I lost that point, and then affects to the next game. I am playing with the next game with more nerves. Then I had the break back, 30-Love, and then again I miss a forehand. That created me doubts again.
So a little bit on and off, on and off too much. That’s something that didn’t happen in the past, no?
I’m trying to be honest. I am saying the things that I feel today. But at the same time, I tell you that I have been able to able to change a lot of situations, a lot of negative situations in my career, and I want to do it again. Gonna work to do it again. I am confident that I can do it. I don’t know if I gonna do it, but I hope I can.
Q. Have you ever felt this kind of nervousness or lack of self-confidence before in your career?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said yes. I said before yes. But not for, let’s say, four games in a row, no? Happened for two points and then I was able to be back and to forget about that two mistakes. Now takes a little bit more time.
For example, I was able to be back on the match today, but between 5-3, 4-3, and 2-1, break point for him, I was not there, you know. And I was not there not because I didn’t want to be there, no? Because I was with negative attitude being there.
Because I was playing with too much nerves. I was anxious on court. It’s not the thing that, you know — well, is not like maybe some players happen that four games because they lost the concentration and they didn’t have the right attitude there. Is not my case, no? Is not my case.
I wanted to be there. I tried in every point, but I was not able to relax myself, calm myself, say I’m going to play my tennis now.
Q. As this is a problem in your head, if you like, have you thought about consulting a sports psychologist? Many top golfers say the sports psychologists were very, very important in recapturing their game and getting over these problems. Are you thinking about doing that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Seriously, I said a lot of times in my career that tennis is not a big deal in life. (Smiling.) You know, medical treatment you need when you have problems. Outside of the tennis world when you have some problems in your life, is a good help that you visit a professional that can help you to improve your quality of life.
Is sport, is game. That’s not that much important. But I don’t know. I didn’t think about. Is something that I need to fix for myself and with my team. I need the help of my team, too.
But especially I need the help of myself. That’s what I am trying to do. Nobody gonna change the situation for you. You have to know that you have a problem and you have to know that you have to improve that. You have to change that. I gonna keep working on it.
Hopefully the clay helps. Is obvious that if I am able to win my matches on clay, to feel my game confident there, then the doubts are less.
Q. With the clay season coming up now, are you looking forward to that as an opportunity for you turning your season around, hopefully getting some confidence going into the last stretch of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Shaking head.) I am not American. I cannot understand you if you speak that fast. (Laughter).
Q. I will repeat the question. With the clay season coming up, do you feel like now with the clay season coming up do you feel it’s an opportunity for you to –
RAFAEL NADAL: You still doing the same. (Laughter). You are like me on court today.
Q. With the clay court, the clay season, Barcelona, Madrid, French Open, clay court season coming up, do you feel it’s a chance for you to get your confidence back and play better and hopefully turn around your season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every tournament is a chance for me. I don’t have nothing to lose. At this point of my career I won enough things to say I don’t need to win more, but I want to do it. I want to keep competing well. I want to keep having the feeling that I can be competing for every tournament I gonna play, and I have the motivation to do it.
Obviously clay is surface that I had some success, and I hope to be ready for it again.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. It seemed you found a way in the second set, and then it totally went away in the third. What was the sensation today? How can you explain how it went?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, in general, I played some good games at the beginning, bad games at the end of the second set; some good games on the second; not bad at the beginning of the third.
But he played well the third, so he deserved to win more than me without any doubt tonight. Just congratulate him for the victory.
Q. Do you feel that you haven’t been able to build up much momentum this season?
RAFAEL NADAL: It’s not the question of tennis. The thing is the question of being enough relaxed to play well on court. Something that if I tell you one month ago or one month and a half ago I didn’t have the game.
Today my game in general improved since a month and a half. But at the same time, still playing with too much nerves for a lot of moments, in important moments, still playing with a little bit of anxious on that moments.
For example, in the 4-3 in the first set, and then in the 5-4, 30-Love. Something that didn’t happen a lot during my career. I have been able to be under control, control my emotions during, let’s say, 90%, 95% of my matches of my career, something that today is being tougher to be under self-control. But I gonna fix it. I don’t know if in one week, in six months, or in one year, but I gonna do it.
Q. You obviously had quite a few issues last year. I think your wrist, your back, and the appendicitis. I’m just wondering if you’re finding it as easy to trust your body perhaps after those problems last year.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. Is it an issue maybe trusting your body this year after all the physical problems last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. The physical problems are past. I am on competition. I’m playing weeks in a row. Is not an excuse.
What happened last year, yes, the first weeks of the season obviously all the problems that I had didn’t help, but talked enough about these kind of things. Is different story today.
As I said before, feeling much more comfortable in my tennis, practicing well, much better than in Australia, much best than Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. But still playing on competition, you know, feeling more tired than usual, feeling that I don’t have this self-confidence that when I hit the ball I gonna hit the ball where I want to hit the ball, to go for the ball running and knowing that my position will be the right one.
All these are small things that are difficult to explain. One of the tougher things have been fixed, that is the game, in my opinion. Now I need to fix again the nerves, the self-control on court. That’s another issue.
Is not a tough issue to fix, but I gonna keep trying. I am trying my best. I am practicing with the right attitude, I think. I arrive in an important part of the season for me. I didn’t want arrive to that part of the season with that loss of today, obviously, but that part of the season arrives.
It’s the next for me, and I am excited. I am enough motivated to keep working hard, and that’s what I gonna do. The tournaments that are coming are tournaments that are historically good tournaments for my game, good tournaments for my confidence.
Is true if I’m not able to control all these things, I don’t gonna to have the possibility to compete well and have have success on that events.
But still with confidence that I can do it.
Q. I think it’s very interesting you’re talking about nerves and self-control. I mean, you seem like you have won so many big matches in your career that you always seem to have that confidence and that swagger about you. Why do you think this has happened? When did you start feeling that way?
RAFAEL NADAL: It happened when I came back. Beginning of the season I am playing with, you know, all these feelings that for moments are new. You know, I am not saying that didn’t happen in the past because happened, but happened for a very small — for one point, two points.
Happened, and then (snapping fingers) I’m able to say, Okay, I am here. But now, for example, happened for, you know, 3-All break point, more or less easy forehand. That was a very important point for me, but shouldn’t be that important, you know. I lost that point, and then affects to the next game. I am playing with the next game with more nerves. Then I had the break back, 30-Love, and then again I miss a forehand. That created me doubts again.
So a little bit on and off, on and off too much. That’s something that didn’t happen in the past, no?
I’m trying to be honest. I am saying the things that I feel today. But at the same time, I tell you that I have been able to able to change a lot of situations, a lot of negative situations in my career, and I want to do it again. Gonna work to do it again. I am confident that I can do it. I don’t know if I gonna do it, but I hope I can.
Q. Have you ever felt this kind of nervousness or lack of self-confidence before in your career?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said yes. I said before yes. But not for, let’s say, four games in a row, no? Happened for two points and then I was able to be back and to forget about that two mistakes. Now takes a little bit more time.
For example, I was able to be back on the match today, but between 5-3, 4-3, and 2-1, break point for him, I was not there, you know. And I was not there not because I didn’t want to be there, no? Because I was with negative attitude being there.
Because I was playing with too much nerves. I was anxious on court. It’s not the thing that, you know — well, is not like maybe some players happen that four games because they lost the concentration and they didn’t have the right attitude there. Is not my case, no? Is not my case.
I wanted to be there. I tried in every point, but I was not able to relax myself, calm myself, say I’m going to play my tennis now.
Q. As this is a problem in your head, if you like, have you thought about consulting a sports psychologist? Many top golfers say the sports psychologists were very, very important in recapturing their game and getting over these problems. Are you thinking about doing that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Seriously, I said a lot of times in my career that tennis is not a big deal in life. (Smiling.) You know, medical treatment you need when you have problems. Outside of the tennis world when you have some problems in your life, is a good help that you visit a professional that can help you to improve your quality of life.
Is sport, is game. That’s not that much important. But I don’t know. I didn’t think about. Is something that I need to fix for myself and with my team. I need the help of my team, too.
But especially I need the help of myself. That’s what I am trying to do. Nobody gonna change the situation for you. You have to know that you have a problem and you have to know that you have to improve that. You have to change that. I gonna keep working on it.
Hopefully the clay helps. Is obvious that if I am able to win my matches on clay, to feel my game confident there, then the doubts are less.
Q. With the clay season coming up now, are you looking forward to that as an opportunity for you turning your season around, hopefully getting some confidence going into the last stretch of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Shaking head.) I am not American. I cannot understand you if you speak that fast. (Laughter).
Q. I will repeat the question. With the clay season coming up, do you feel like now with the clay season coming up do you feel it’s an opportunity for you to –
RAFAEL NADAL: You still doing the same. (Laughter). You are like me on court today.
Q. With the clay court, the clay season, Barcelona, Madrid, French Open, clay court season coming up, do you feel it’s a chance for you to get your confidence back and play better and hopefully turn around your season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every tournament is a chance for me. I don’t have nothing to lose. At this point of my career I won enough things to say I don’t need to win more, but I want to do it. I want to keep competing well. I want to keep having the feeling that I can be competing for every tournament I gonna play, and I have the motivation to do it.
Obviously clay is surface that I had some success, and I hope to be ready for it again.
3/28/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #R2 at #MiamiOpen 2015 (Transcript)
Q. How were the conditions today on court? Were they like Indian Wells?
RAFAEL NADAL: It was fine. The real thing is the wind was really high. Very difficult to find a positive feeling on court. But in general I think I played a solid match. I played well. I had a good movement. I think I moved myself quick for moments, and when I had to put the balls in and play with no mistakes - that was the idea today with that very tough conditions - I did, I think. For some moments I went for the points. I worked well with my forehand. I had some good winners. Yeah. I'm happy the way that I played. Sure, second round against I don't know yet, but Almagro was not an easy opponent for the first round. I am happy for that.
Q. How does the ankle feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am well, no? I had just a little bit, how do you say, small (from translation) torn in the beginning, so it was going to be tough. The day after I had pain, but after two days I improved 50% and stays the same. It's not limiting my movements.
Q. With the weather outside right now, there are like 50-miles-an-hour winds. Were you happy you were able to get the match in and get out of here before the storm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I played with a lot of wind, too. I don't know if that much. Probably not that much, but was enough. Yeah, sure is important to finish the match before the storm arrived, but I think we play with not easy conditions. But that can happen here in Miami. It's nothing new.
Q. You won almost all of the big points, like the break points off of your serve and his serve. Were you aware of that and happy with that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yes, I think I did the things well when I had to do. I played with no mistakes in the important points. You know, last week I had a lot of opportunities in that match in quarterfinals. It's true that I didn't have a lot of mistakes; he played well. But I lost the opportunities to convert, and it's important to change the dynamic of these things quick. Doing it in this match is important for me.
Q. The conditions here are so different than the conditions in Indian Wells. What do you prefer?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, doesn't matter, no? I think is true that play with less humidity is easier for the body. Is true during my career I had more success in Indian Wells than here. I think I won three times, played another final, and couple of semifinals. Is true that Indian Wells has been a tournament that worked better historically for my game. I think the bounces are higher. But here I played four finals, another quarterfinals. I cannot say a tournament that I don't like. I like play here. I like the conditions. Is true that there is some days that can be very humid and hard for the body, but in general they are the conditions I like to play tennis. Sea level, hot, no? No problem to play tennis. I like.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
RAFAEL NADAL: The court in Miami I think is the same than since 10 years, since I came here. I don't see difference with the court, no? The ball is heavier here than in Indian Wells for the humidity, so the ball flies is little bit slower through the air. That's it.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
http://www.miamiopen.com/
Q. How were the conditions today on court? Were they like Indian Wells?
RAFAEL NADAL: It was fine. The real thing is the wind was really high. Very difficult to find a positive feeling on court. But in general I think I played a solid match. I played well. I had a good movement. I think I moved myself quick for moments, and when I had to put the balls in and play with no mistakes - that was the idea today with that very tough conditions - I did, I think. For some moments I went for the points. I worked well with my forehand. I had some good winners. Yeah. I'm happy the way that I played. Sure, second round against I don't know yet, but Almagro was not an easy opponent for the first round. I am happy for that.
Q. How does the ankle feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am well, no? I had just a little bit, how do you say, small (from translation) torn in the beginning, so it was going to be tough. The day after I had pain, but after two days I improved 50% and stays the same. It's not limiting my movements.
Q. With the weather outside right now, there are like 50-miles-an-hour winds. Were you happy you were able to get the match in and get out of here before the storm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I played with a lot of wind, too. I don't know if that much. Probably not that much, but was enough. Yeah, sure is important to finish the match before the storm arrived, but I think we play with not easy conditions. But that can happen here in Miami. It's nothing new.
Q. You won almost all of the big points, like the break points off of your serve and his serve. Were you aware of that and happy with that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yes, I think I did the things well when I had to do. I played with no mistakes in the important points. You know, last week I had a lot of opportunities in that match in quarterfinals. It's true that I didn't have a lot of mistakes; he played well. But I lost the opportunities to convert, and it's important to change the dynamic of these things quick. Doing it in this match is important for me.
Q. The conditions here are so different than the conditions in Indian Wells. What do you prefer?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, doesn't matter, no? I think is true that play with less humidity is easier for the body. Is true during my career I had more success in Indian Wells than here. I think I won three times, played another final, and couple of semifinals. Is true that Indian Wells has been a tournament that worked better historically for my game. I think the bounces are higher. But here I played four finals, another quarterfinals. I cannot say a tournament that I don't like. I like play here. I like the conditions. Is true that there is some days that can be very humid and hard for the body, but in general they are the conditions I like to play tennis. Sea level, hot, no? No problem to play tennis. I like.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
RAFAEL NADAL: The court in Miami I think is the same than since 10 years, since I came here. I don't see difference with the court, no? The ball is heavier here than in Indian Wells for the humidity, so the ball flies is little bit slower through the air. That's it.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
http://www.miamiopen.com/
3/27/2015
3/22/2015
3/20/2015
Rafa #Nadal Press conference after #R4 in IW (Transcript) Indian Wells 2015
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You have a great run in the tournament so far. Can you talk about the way you're playing and how you're feeling out here at Indian Wells this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think last couple of weeks I felt that I was playing better. In Rio de Janeiro is true I lost a match I didn't have to lose, but I was not playing bad.
In Buenos Aires I played some good matches. That's important for me. Here I think I played very good first match, then the second round was tough yesterday. I feel that I did what I have to do to win, but could play better than what I did.
Today I think I played a solid match against a tough opponent like Simon that is not easy tactically how to play. Tactically I think I played a very positive match.
In general, I played solid. Only two bad games with my serve I played bad. Made few mistakes, especially with the 1‑0; and then 5‑2, 30‑Love, 30‑15, one mistake, unbelievable mistake.
But for the rest I played solid. I played with not many matches waiting for the opportunity to go for the point, and I went for the point when I had to do it. Happy the way I played. It was an important victory for me, for sure.
Q. When you win a first set and you go down 2‑Love beginning of the second set, is your mindset, I've got to get after him right here? I've got to turn this around right here? Is that the whole important turning point of that match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, obviously when he has a break, 2‑love, then is a big change if you are able to have the break back, because 2‑1 is a big different than 3‑Love, no?
3‑Love you see the set ‑‑ you lost half of the set like this. (Snapping fingers.) Lucky I played a good few points in that game to have the break back. Is true that he make an important double point on break point.
I was there mentally waiting for the opportunity. The good thing is after playing a bad game with my serve I was able to be completely focused and mentally ready to be back and ready for the next game.
Q. And when you do that, do you see him let down? You come back 2‑2, 3‑2, do you see him let down mentally? Do you feel it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, no, I don't feel it. I play point by point. I know I need to be ready for everything.
He's a player that is tough, because sometimes you feel that you have the match under control, but, you know, he's able to be back. He's able to play very well in defending positions. And then from defending position, he's able to come back and have the control of the point.
He's not an easy opponent. He's a tough one. He started the season well. He's No. 10 in the race, 11. Is a good victory for me.
Q. The conditions were different today than yesterday. How does that affect the way you played?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, the conditions were much slower today. The other day the ball make big change with the weather conditions. Ball today was softer, bigger.
The whole day yesterday was very small and very hard. No control. Today you have more control of the ball.
Q. How hard is to your body is to play singles and one hour later return to the court to play doubles?
RAFAEL NADAL: Then I don't play tomorrow, so is something that I'm not doing very often, you know. In this tournament only happen today, and is something that I should be ready for it. (Smiling.)
Q. You have always credited yourself on pretty high first‑serve percentage. Today your first serve was up 126, 127 miles an hour. Were you trying to get a little bit more?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, we are working to try to serve a little bit better, trying to serve a little bit bigger. Always the serve, if you are not Raonic, Karlovic, Isner, these kind of players, Federer, these kind of players that has the serve.
The serve is one of the most important things of the game. The serve is a part of the confidence too. When you are relaxed, when you play with that confidence, the serve goes better.
Q. Speaking of him, you've got Raonic next. Your thoughts on his serve and his game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, obviously he's an opponent that you don't want to play against because he's an opponent that you play under a lot of pressure everything, every point. You know, every point has a lot of value. You cannot lose your concentration in no one moment with your serve.
You know, what happened today with my serve twice cannot happen next day if I want to have any chance. And then the return is very difficult to have points, no? Then he's able to play very aggressive from the baseline.
So will be a very tough match. I know that. I know I need to be at my 100% to have any chance, and that I gonna try.
Q. What is your thought on Wayne Odesnik and his 15‑year suspension?
RAFAEL NADAL: 15 years suspension?
Q. 15 years for his second doping violation.
RAFAEL NADAL: When he had a second doping violation?
Q. Today.
RAFAEL NADAL: Today?
Q. Just how that maybe tries to clean up the sport.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, if somebody is not doing the right thing, he's obviously ‑‑they cannot be playing, you know. I didn't have enough information to have an opinion of that. I really don't know about him, so it's difficult to say one or another thing.
But obviously when that happens twice, you don't deserve to be on the tour.
Q. You're saying two matches today, singles, doubles; tomorrow you've got the day off. What sort of things do you do on your day off?
RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe I gonna ‑‑well, I gonna practice, for sure. I gonna practice for a while and try to keep working well on the things that I am working, and maybe I gonna play some golf tomorrow.
It's a day off. Is a good day to relax and to have fun. Weather here is normally great. I don't know if it's rain tomorrow or not, but probably not.
If rain here, the rain is not very often. Just try to be with calm with the team, enjoying the day. It's always very important this tournament that if you are not losing early, because if you lose early, as I did last year, then is big period of time between here and Miami that you get tired without being on competition, no?
It's important to keep winning matches.
Via FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You have a great run in the tournament so far. Can you talk about the way you're playing and how you're feeling out here at Indian Wells this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think last couple of weeks I felt that I was playing better. In Rio de Janeiro is true I lost a match I didn't have to lose, but I was not playing bad.
In Buenos Aires I played some good matches. That's important for me. Here I think I played very good first match, then the second round was tough yesterday. I feel that I did what I have to do to win, but could play better than what I did.
Today I think I played a solid match against a tough opponent like Simon that is not easy tactically how to play. Tactically I think I played a very positive match.
In general, I played solid. Only two bad games with my serve I played bad. Made few mistakes, especially with the 1‑0; and then 5‑2, 30‑Love, 30‑15, one mistake, unbelievable mistake.
But for the rest I played solid. I played with not many matches waiting for the opportunity to go for the point, and I went for the point when I had to do it. Happy the way I played. It was an important victory for me, for sure.
Q. When you win a first set and you go down 2‑Love beginning of the second set, is your mindset, I've got to get after him right here? I've got to turn this around right here? Is that the whole important turning point of that match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, obviously when he has a break, 2‑love, then is a big change if you are able to have the break back, because 2‑1 is a big different than 3‑Love, no?
3‑Love you see the set ‑‑ you lost half of the set like this. (Snapping fingers.) Lucky I played a good few points in that game to have the break back. Is true that he make an important double point on break point.
I was there mentally waiting for the opportunity. The good thing is after playing a bad game with my serve I was able to be completely focused and mentally ready to be back and ready for the next game.
Q. And when you do that, do you see him let down? You come back 2‑2, 3‑2, do you see him let down mentally? Do you feel it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, no, I don't feel it. I play point by point. I know I need to be ready for everything.
He's a player that is tough, because sometimes you feel that you have the match under control, but, you know, he's able to be back. He's able to play very well in defending positions. And then from defending position, he's able to come back and have the control of the point.
He's not an easy opponent. He's a tough one. He started the season well. He's No. 10 in the race, 11. Is a good victory for me.
Q. The conditions were different today than yesterday. How does that affect the way you played?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, the conditions were much slower today. The other day the ball make big change with the weather conditions. Ball today was softer, bigger.
The whole day yesterday was very small and very hard. No control. Today you have more control of the ball.
Q. How hard is to your body is to play singles and one hour later return to the court to play doubles?
RAFAEL NADAL: Then I don't play tomorrow, so is something that I'm not doing very often, you know. In this tournament only happen today, and is something that I should be ready for it. (Smiling.)
Q. You have always credited yourself on pretty high first‑serve percentage. Today your first serve was up 126, 127 miles an hour. Were you trying to get a little bit more?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, we are working to try to serve a little bit better, trying to serve a little bit bigger. Always the serve, if you are not Raonic, Karlovic, Isner, these kind of players, Federer, these kind of players that has the serve.
The serve is one of the most important things of the game. The serve is a part of the confidence too. When you are relaxed, when you play with that confidence, the serve goes better.
Q. Speaking of him, you've got Raonic next. Your thoughts on his serve and his game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, obviously he's an opponent that you don't want to play against because he's an opponent that you play under a lot of pressure everything, every point. You know, every point has a lot of value. You cannot lose your concentration in no one moment with your serve.
You know, what happened today with my serve twice cannot happen next day if I want to have any chance. And then the return is very difficult to have points, no? Then he's able to play very aggressive from the baseline.
So will be a very tough match. I know that. I know I need to be at my 100% to have any chance, and that I gonna try.
Q. What is your thought on Wayne Odesnik and his 15‑year suspension?
RAFAEL NADAL: 15 years suspension?
Q. 15 years for his second doping violation.
RAFAEL NADAL: When he had a second doping violation?
Q. Today.
RAFAEL NADAL: Today?
Q. Just how that maybe tries to clean up the sport.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, if somebody is not doing the right thing, he's obviously ‑‑they cannot be playing, you know. I didn't have enough information to have an opinion of that. I really don't know about him, so it's difficult to say one or another thing.
But obviously when that happens twice, you don't deserve to be on the tour.
Q. You're saying two matches today, singles, doubles; tomorrow you've got the day off. What sort of things do you do on your day off?
RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe I gonna ‑‑well, I gonna practice, for sure. I gonna practice for a while and try to keep working well on the things that I am working, and maybe I gonna play some golf tomorrow.
It's a day off. Is a good day to relax and to have fun. Weather here is normally great. I don't know if it's rain tomorrow or not, but probably not.
If rain here, the rain is not very often. Just try to be with calm with the team, enjoying the day. It's always very important this tournament that if you are not losing early, because if you lose early, as I did last year, then is big period of time between here and Miami that you get tired without being on competition, no?
It's important to keep winning matches.
Via FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
3/19/2015
Rafa #Nadal Press conference after R3in IW (Transcript) Indian Wells 2015
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.Q. You spoke about the conditions on the court. What was affecting you out there?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, the conditions are very changing during the day, and during the night here is big difference. For me it was the first day I was able to play a match during the day, so the ball was much weaker.
With a normal ball during day and night there is differences, but with that ball is completely dramatic how the things change, no? That ball don't have feelings. During the day especially the ball is very, like you are touching a stone. There is no feeling for the ball.
I see a lot of player having a lot of mistakes from a lot, you know, mistakes not just for a while, just for one meter or two meters, and that's not good for our sport.
But that's what we have today. We have that ball. I think ATP and fans deserve a better ball to have a better show.
But I am playing well. I'm practicing very well every day. Playing good match the other night. Today I play with a little bit more mistakes, but having the feeling that I am able to do it well.
I feel confident that I am playing much better than one month and a half ago. I feel closer to be what I am, what I want to be, and it's a positive victory for me, another victory. Every victory is important victory for me. Already six matches in a row winning, and that's a good number.
I am confident, and I hope that tomorrow I can play a good match.
Q. Considering the fact that you lost last year in this round, does it give you a sense of relief making it through this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Last year is 2014; we are in 2015. We cannot think about what happened last year in every round and in every tournament. Every year is different.
For me that tournament is a tournament that in the past was very positive for me. I played a lot of good tournaments here, good results, a lot of times in advancing rounds.
I like playing here. I love the players. I love the organization. I love the fans here. I feel very comfortable, no?
I happy to be in the fourth round. Fourth? Yeah. Third for me, fourth for the tournament. That's positive news for me, winning two matches. Tomorrow I have a tough match against Simon. He's tough a good player. He started playing the season well.
He's a player that gives you a little bit more rhythm than Donald Young. Donald Young played very aggressive today with strange mistakes, winners, so was not easy to manage how to play really the match.
I was able to find solutions. It's true that I had few mistakes with my serve. But then with positive attitude in the next game, I was able to have breaks, too.
Q. Do you prefer the drier conditions here? Can you give a comparison with Melbourne and here related to fatigue, cramping?
RAFAEL NADAL: Obviously the dry conditions, even if it's warm, are better for playing tennis and for the health of the players are better. Extreme conditions are obviously not ideal to practice high intensity of sport or professional sport.
Rio was very hard this year. Last year was positive. Was hard, but not that hard. This year was amazing, the humidity.
Here always is a little bit warmer here than a few years ago. I think this year during the night normally is colder here, and this year I feel that is not cold.
But the conditions here to play tennis, for me, is difficult to find a place with better conditions.
Q. Gilles hasn't won against you, Djokovic, or Federer since 2008. Do you think he's more dangerous than five or six years ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: He won against Andy Murray, no, few times ago? He had good start of the year, I think. He had good result in indoor, too. In where? Marseilles. He won?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: He won the tournament? Yeah. Was tough final against Monfils, no? I don't really remember who won.
But he is playing well. He had a good beginning of the season. Is true he had some problem in his neck last couple of years, no? He had some injuries there.
So he's playing with injuries, with pain, with no continuity is very difficult for everybody. He's healthy now. He's playing well. He's a very dangerous player.
Q. Issues with the balls on the tour are not new. Is there anything players can do about it, or just accept and deal with it?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think the players said what they have to say. Is not new. Something that happens since a while. I didn't understand very well, because the brand that is making that ball they say now is a new ball, but still bad and I don't understand why.
Because if it's a new brand creating new ball, you can understand that they make not a bad ball. But the same brand five years ago had a great ball, very good ball. Is difficult to understand why today they are not able to do it.
Q. A few nights ago you came off the practice court and you were talking with some people in the field. There were hundreds of people in the dark waiting for you to come and screaming your name. I was wondering, at what point in your life, in your career, did you realize, This is normal for me? I'm standing here having a conversation and everybody is screaming, Rafa, Rafa? And also, when you go over to sign, is it difficult to make a decision, knowing that it will take a long time or that no matter how many things you sign there will still be people who don't get signatures? Talk to me about that a little.
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, when I can, before the days that I am not playing, I trying to sign as much as I can.
I remember the previous day before, before I start the singles, I practiced 6:00 to 8:15. I stayed for 20 minutes signing as many people as possible for me no?
Is true that is not possible to make everybody happy, but what is in my hands is try to make as many possible people and ‑ especially the kids ‑ happy, no?
Because I understand an autograph or photograph is much more important for a kid than for other persons, no?
So I try to do my best. Never will be normal for me when the people are screaming my name. I know is a situation that happened for a while since I started to be a good player, probably, since 2004, but especially after 2005.
I know that's for a couple of years. I know that's not gonna happen in ten years. So just accept that in a special situation, trying to enjoy as much as I can of that situation, try to say thanks everybody for the love and for the support that they give me.
Is a special thing, I think. Is a thing that not a lot of people have the chance to enjoy or live that situation, and I always appreciate so much the support and the love of the people, all the positive energy that the people brings me.
Helps me a lot on the low moments, on the bad moments. That's it. I try to be normal, try to understand that's gonna change in a couple of years and try to be very, very normal during all my life.
Q. As you know, everybody no doubt knows you are a Real Madrid fan. After four days there is a El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. What can you tell me about this game and your expectation for this soccer game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, as always, is an important match and especially with the situation that both teams are right there with one‑point difference. Will be a very important three points for Real or Barcelona. Is true the dynamics are a little bit better from Barcelona, but is true that Real Madrid has a great team.
I think they arrive to that match with a little bit less pressure, because the last couple of results haven't been perfect for my team. But let's see, you know. Barcelona is doing great. He has amazing players, great team, playing at home. Barcelona is favorite.
But as a Real Madrid fan, I am always confident that my team will play a great match and have a chance for the three points and be in the first position again.
Q. How is it today playing a left hander, playing another left hander particularly in these conditions, because Donald is lefty?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, as I said before, it is a little bit strange because there is not two points equal. One point he played with mistake and another point he played a great winner. Then he was serving serve and volley and then he played slower, so was not a very logical match.
But I did what I had to do to be through. Winning in straight sets, I'm happy with that situation. I need to serve a little bit better tomorrow as I did the first day. Let's try.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
3/17/2015
Rafa #Nadal Press conference after R2 in IW (Transcript) Indian Wells 2015
Q. Stan, after his loss, said the conditions were really tough here because the ball is flying. It seems you are not disturbed at all by those conditions. Can you explain how it's playing out there?RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the conditions are good to play. No wind, nothing. Is the ball. The ball is still not very well, no? Still problem with the same ball. We need to change that, because highest level of tennis deserve highest quality of ball. This ball is not the highest quality.
So what Stan said probably was that, talking about that.
But in general, the conditions and the tournament is, without a doubt, one of the best of the year. It's unbelievable, everything about what's happening here the last couple of years, the way that the tournament improves, how big is, all the facilities for the crowd, for the players.
A lot of stadiums are difficult to imagine a tournament away from Grand Slams improving that much, so just can say thanks to all the organization, everybody who makes possible that, to create an event like this. Especially to Larry Ellison. It's great to have him on our tour supporting our sport.
It's amazing all the things that's happening here. I think the crowd is one of the highest crowds on the world.
Q. Was he a pretty good first opponent for you in terms of the pace he gave you, the kind of stuff he threw at you? Is this a good way to start with this kind of player?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, he's an aggressive player. I think I played well. I think I played solid match to be the first match. I'm very happy the way I played. I played with not many mistakes, winning a good percentage of points with my serve.
One very important thing for me are the movements, and I think I moved myself a little bit quicker tonight than what I was doing one month ago.
So in general, I was able to defend some points well, to have some good passing shots, have some winners, some good shots down the line with my forehand. That's always give me a lot of confidence. So I have to be happy with the way I played tonight.
Q. You are also playing doubles here. I was wondering what adjustments you have to make going from singles to doubles and what skills it requires, which maybe you don't use as much in singles.
RAFAEL NADAL: I would love to play for doubles. Doubles are great for practice for singles players. Playing doubles you practice the serve. You can return a little bit more aggressive. You practice the volley. You practice the movements on the volley. You know, how to go, how to volley tough shots, the speed on the legs, on that movements.
Is great practice, the doubles, for singles player. The thing is, in my case, with all the things that happened to me, it's difficult to play all the doubles that I would love to do, you know.
But I am happy I try to play always doubles. When I am playing doubles I try to do it with good friends. Here with Pablo, we are enjoying. We have fun. We go on court and we try our best, but can win, can lose. It's a little bit different than singles. We play more relaxed and works a lot. Helps.
Q. Talking about doubles, your next match you are playing Marc, and you guys won here twice together. Can you talk a little bit about that doubles match since you are playing someone you have been very successful with here at this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he doesn't want to play with me anymore, so... (Laughter.)
Q.What happened?
RAFAEL NADAL: I need to play with ‑‑I need to play against him now. (Smiling.)
Well, I want all the best for Marc. He's one of my closest friends, probably my closest friend on tour. It's not a comfortable situation the match of tomorrow, but at the end we are professionals. We are going to try our best both of us.
We are in the same room here, so we sleep in different beds but together. (Laughter.) And that's it. That's the sport. For the first time in our career we gonna play against each other, and hope ‑‑ we are going to try our best and hope it will be a good match.
Q. You and Borg have more French Opens in the Open era by far. We know how Federer has done against you. How do you think Federer would have done against someone like Borg, and how do you think he will be viewed as a clay‑court player when he's done?
RAFAEL NADAL: We cannot compare eras now. Bjorn Borg has been an unbelievable dominant player for a long time. What he did was amazing, on clay, on grass, everywhere. So he's a great champion.
Roger Federer is an amazing champion, too. He's a fantastic player, clay‑court player. You know, a player who was able to play 2006, 2007, 2008, finals, then winning 2009, and then playing the final again 2011.
Semifinals 2005...
You know, I don't see a lot of players that have been in all that final rounds of French Open in a row, so that says that Roger is one of the best clay‑court players of the history probably.
Q. There is some younger players coming up on tour now. You have played some of them.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. There are younger players coming up on tour now. You have played some of them. I was wondering, when you look at them play, do you recall yourself at that age, and how do you compare yourself now with when you were that age?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't see myself there. (Smiling.)
Different characters, different ways to understand the sport, so is a new era. The new era is new players are good for sport, are good for fans.
The ball goes quicker now than before. I don't know if that's good for the fans or not. I don't see the highest applause of the year are not an ace or one serve and forehand winner. Normally are big rallies, big points. Seems like that will be difficult with the new generations the way that the ATP manage how to run the sport for the last couple of years.
But is great to have new faces. There is a lot of, now, new faces on the tour that for a while haven't been here, and that's a good news for our sport, for sure. Very good news.
Q. We know you enjoy your golf when you're here in the desert. Have you been able to play some golf here? If doubles helps your tennis, does golf help your tennis in any way?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the doubles not helps my golf, because playing doubles, playing doubles I play less golf, you know. Probably tomorrow I will have the chance to play golf and practice. Playing doubles I don't gonna play golf probably, so that's it, no?
I am here to play tennis. I enjoy playing golf when I have the chance. I had the chance to play couple of rounds of golf here before the tournament. I arrived one week before.
Is probably one of the best places in the world to play golf, and I really enjoy a lot doing that. I gonna play when I have the chance to play. Obviously my priority is try to practice tennis as much as I can and do all the right things to be ready for the tournament.
But is true that the golf relax me, you know. For me, you know, is very easy here to play golf. And, you know, in a lot of tournaments of the year, you know, the days off you practice, you come back to the room, you do all the recover, and then you are there reading the newspapers, reading things, findings things on Internet, and at the end you find again and again and again all the same things.
So playing golf that is here is a big help, because you finish the practice, you're going to play some holes, and that distracts your mind and you have fun. So I enjoy a lot.
Q. Donald Young. Your next opponent. Another lefty, American.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I think he improved a lot the last couple of years. He's playing very well. Winning a lot of matches. Could be a very tough opponent for me.
After tomorrow I hope to be ready for it.
Via FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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