4/28/2015
4/23/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference #R3 Barcelona Open 2015 (in English)
“I played a bad match, there is no question about it. I wasn’t able to be aggressive, I made more mistakes than usual and wasn’t able to make the most of the advantage that I had at some points”.
“Right now all I can do is accept a situation that is obviously a serious blow, especially after the confidence I gained in Monte-Carlo. I can either accept this or die, and since I want to keep playing I can only learn from this experience and work even harder. All I can say is that I need to improve and I’ll do everything I can do be back on my feet again”.
“I don’t know what’ll happen in the future. Last week was extremely positive whereas this one was just the opposite. I have to begin again and try to get to the level I had in Monte-Carlo. I beat Ferrer and although I lost against Djokovic, I felt really confident”.
“As of now there is absolutely no hope. I want to thank all my fans, everyone who has supported me, the brilliant organization… This is one of the best ATP 500 tournaments and this club is definitely one of the best clubs in the whole world. The only message of hope I can give is that I’ll keep working”.
“I hope all the ups and downs will eventually come to an end and that I’ll be able to keep up with a good level. Sadly I wasn’t able to do so today…”.
“Fognini played well, I mean he won the match because he deserved it and it’s obvious I didn’t. I couldn’t push him back so I just want to congratulate him”.
“I have to work hard to be better at defending and attacking. Both my forehand and backhand were awful, I just didn’t hit the ball with strength. My strength comes from my forehand and if my forehand is vulgar my way of playing is vulgar… my forehand was in no way worthy of my ranking and my career. I am deeply ashamed and frustrated, such a performance cannot happen again”.
“It’s not a matter of anxiety, it’s a matter of technique. I’m obviously going to get nervous if I don’t hit the ball the way I should”. “I am the one who wins or loses, the racket is just a help. I’m very grateful to Babolat for their contribution and I can assure you the racket had nothing to do with today’s defeat”.
“When you play with really small margins it’s extremely easy to lose because the match is decided in just a few balls. I should have made a difference before instead of waiting until the end of the second set”.
“Today was a bad day. I am convinced I’ll get to my best level soon”.
http://www.barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com/sites/default/files/audios/pdf/rafa_nadal_4.pdf
“I played a bad match, there is no question about it. I wasn’t able to be aggressive, I made more mistakes than usual and wasn’t able to make the most of the advantage that I had at some points”.
“Right now all I can do is accept a situation that is obviously a serious blow, especially after the confidence I gained in Monte-Carlo. I can either accept this or die, and since I want to keep playing I can only learn from this experience and work even harder. All I can say is that I need to improve and I’ll do everything I can do be back on my feet again”.
“I don’t know what’ll happen in the future. Last week was extremely positive whereas this one was just the opposite. I have to begin again and try to get to the level I had in Monte-Carlo. I beat Ferrer and although I lost against Djokovic, I felt really confident”.
“As of now there is absolutely no hope. I want to thank all my fans, everyone who has supported me, the brilliant organization… This is one of the best ATP 500 tournaments and this club is definitely one of the best clubs in the whole world. The only message of hope I can give is that I’ll keep working”.
“I hope all the ups and downs will eventually come to an end and that I’ll be able to keep up with a good level. Sadly I wasn’t able to do so today…”.
“Fognini played well, I mean he won the match because he deserved it and it’s obvious I didn’t. I couldn’t push him back so I just want to congratulate him”.
“I have to work hard to be better at defending and attacking. Both my forehand and backhand were awful, I just didn’t hit the ball with strength. My strength comes from my forehand and if my forehand is vulgar my way of playing is vulgar… my forehand was in no way worthy of my ranking and my career. I am deeply ashamed and frustrated, such a performance cannot happen again”.
“It’s not a matter of anxiety, it’s a matter of technique. I’m obviously going to get nervous if I don’t hit the ball the way I should”. “I am the one who wins or loses, the racket is just a help. I’m very grateful to Babolat for their contribution and I can assure you the racket had nothing to do with today’s defeat”.
“When you play with really small margins it’s extremely easy to lose because the match is decided in just a few balls. I should have made a difference before instead of waiting until the end of the second set”.
“Today was a bad day. I am convinced I’ll get to my best level soon”.
http://www.barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com/sites/default/files/audios/pdf/rafa_nadal_4.pdf
Rafa #Nadal press conference #R2 Barcelona Open 2015 (in English)
“The first six points were crucial. His services were great and it took me a while to be on my feet but then I played a good second set. I played a solid match, though I wouldn’t say it was easy. I think it’s important to react on time and that’s what I did”.
“I did good things and bad things during the match but given the fact Almagro beat me last year I have reasons to be confident. I think I kept a good rhythm but perhaps I need more strength and aggressiveness”.
“I obviously need to improve but I didn’t go through ups and downs so I’ve got a good feeling, just as I did last week”.
“Every player has his own values, his way to understand this sport. I have never complained about time or something the other player might have said. These last few weeks it looks like it’s more important whether a player takes 5 more seconds to serve than if he breaks a racket or says something inappropriate”.
“I was winning 63 51 so I wouldn’t say I was nervous at the end of the match, I mean if you are nervous when you are winning by this much you definitely have a problem.
My tennis is great when I hit the ball with a drive, and it’s even better when my backhand is on point. My drive could have been better today but since it was my first match I’m satisfied with my performance”.
“Rublev is a good player and I guess he has great chances of becoming someone big in this sport but I don’t know how things are going to be so I can’t say whether he is going to be the next Federeror Nadal... but I guess someday someone will have to take over and he could be that person”.
“I didn’t talk to Fernando after his match against Rublev and I’m not going to be the one complaining about the younger generation. They have different manners that may seem odd to us but that’s the way it is. As long as it’s legal every player is free to behave to way he wants”.
“I’m in the third round of the tournament so I’m not thinking about the final, just about tomorrow’s match: Rublev is young
and has nothing to lose and Fognini already beat me in Rio. Fognini is extremely fast and makes difficult things look so easy.
He can play at such a high level but then sometimes not so much... I guess he goes through some ups and downs, but either way he is such a tough rival given the fact he already beat me”. (via Barcelona Open)
“The first six points were crucial. His services were great and it took me a while to be on my feet but then I played a good second set. I played a solid match, though I wouldn’t say it was easy. I think it’s important to react on time and that’s what I did”.
“I did good things and bad things during the match but given the fact Almagro beat me last year I have reasons to be confident. I think I kept a good rhythm but perhaps I need more strength and aggressiveness”.
“I obviously need to improve but I didn’t go through ups and downs so I’ve got a good feeling, just as I did last week”.
“Every player has his own values, his way to understand this sport. I have never complained about time or something the other player might have said. These last few weeks it looks like it’s more important whether a player takes 5 more seconds to serve than if he breaks a racket or says something inappropriate”.
“I was winning 63 51 so I wouldn’t say I was nervous at the end of the match, I mean if you are nervous when you are winning by this much you definitely have a problem.
My tennis is great when I hit the ball with a drive, and it’s even better when my backhand is on point. My drive could have been better today but since it was my first match I’m satisfied with my performance”.
“Rublev is a good player and I guess he has great chances of becoming someone big in this sport but I don’t know how things are going to be so I can’t say whether he is going to be the next Federeror Nadal... but I guess someday someone will have to take over and he could be that person”.
“I didn’t talk to Fernando after his match against Rublev and I’m not going to be the one complaining about the younger generation. They have different manners that may seem odd to us but that’s the way it is. As long as it’s legal every player is free to behave to way he wants”.
“I’m in the third round of the tournament so I’m not thinking about the final, just about tomorrow’s match: Rublev is young
and has nothing to lose and Fognini already beat me in Rio. Fognini is extremely fast and makes difficult things look so easy.
He can play at such a high level but then sometimes not so much... I guess he goes through some ups and downs, but either way he is such a tough rival given the fact he already beat me”. (via Barcelona Open)
4/20/2015
4/19/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #SF at #MonteCarlo 2015(Transcript)
Rafael Nadal
18/04/15
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
N. DJOKOVIC/R. Nadal
6‑3, 6‑3
6‑3, 6‑3
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. It is a defeat, but is not a terrible defeat.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I think I played well for moments. Remain to be played a little bit more. As I say yesterday, maybe I don't know if was too early. I was able to play at the right level for moments to compete against very, very tough player, best player of the world like Novak is today.
But I get a little bit tired and little bit too early. Then when you get little bit tired, you play little bit shorter. Then is impossible against him, no?
If I'm able to play like the beginning for three hours, I can do it, then is a different story, no?
But in general, I think I was not that far. For moments I was playing at very high level. Him, I think he played great. Just congratulate him for the way that he's playing, the way that he's winning almost every match of the year.
For me is a very positive week ‑ the most positive week of the season, without any doubt. I think if I am able to keep doing that in the next tournament in Barcelona, that I have a tough draw, I will say that I am very well again.
The way that I played yesterday and for moments today is the way that I want to play. Just with more matches playing like this, I will be enough confident to play. That level will not be the exception, will be the normal thing. That is the thing that I need to make happen.
But in general, from where I came one week ago, two weeks ago, after what happened in Miami, I go to the next tournament with the feeling that I make a big improvement in my game, in my mental part.
I hope this tournament is a key moment for my season.
Q. Do you think the game at 3‑All in the first set was kind of a turning point because you started very well. This game was super long, amazing.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, that game was very important. Yes, is true. I had a breakpoint that he played unbelievable. That's it.
Was 6‑3, 6‑3, but can't be much closer. I know that. I think he knows that, too. Everybody knows that. 3‑All in the second, 40‑Love for me, too, for 4‑3, and let's see.
But today was 6‑3, 6‑3. Just congratulate the opponent, congratulate Novak, accept. I know without a doubt if I'm able to keep going the same way that I was doing this week, I going to have my chances.
Q. Just looking at the numbers of this match, I notice that he played 12 winning forehands, and you just six.
RAFAEL NADAL: David or Novak?
Q. Yes, Novak. On the unforced errors with the forehand, you made 14 and he made nine. I want to know if you had the feeling that your forehand was today a little more problem than other times or not?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I was hitting great the forehand. I had some mistakes when I lost little bit the intensity of my legs. When I was the right intensity, when I was playing with the right intensity in my legs, I was able to control the point all the time.
But when I lose little bit that speed, that extra movement on my legs, he's a fantastic player, no? He's phenomenal the way that he can move the ball to everywhere. If he take advantage from inside the court, you are dead. That's what happened, no?
I had more mistakes, yes. I had less winners than him, yes. But at the beginning of the match, I was having enough winners with my forehand. I was having enough times the control of the point. That's the way that I need to play.
No, I think was more in terms of movements. The forehand, in particular, I am happy the way the forehand moves. I was able to play, again, with that high topspin, changing directions.
Remain little bit more, but definitely I think the forehand is close to be back.
Q. How do you explain the drop in intensity? The fact that you are not used to playing big games since the beginning of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Probably. And I play a very tough match yesterday. We cannot forget that I get injury last year for six months. So for six months I didn't play no one match of intensity because when I came back I played three tournaments ‑ well two tournaments. Shanghai we cannot count. The rest of the tournaments is the first come back after four months. Is difficult to have a feeling on that.
Then Basel, having that appendicitis, probably is like I was not playing also. So six months without. I started the season without playing that kind of level matches. Only once for me. That was Indian Wells against Raonic. That is a different story, different style, different thing. But was a long match, high‑level match, only that one. Then yesterday, before yesterday, two more. That's it. Today another one. Even if it was 6‑3, 6‑3, the level of intensity and the level of tennis has been high again.
That's what I need. I am sure that if I am able to keep going, as I said before, in Barcelona, keep playing at that level, I will have a chance to be competitive again. If that happens, will be a big improvement for the season.
Q. Don't you think that the change of racquet at this stage of the season affected your game at all?
RAFAEL NADAL: Positive or negative?
Q. I'm asking you.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I played the best tournament of the season this week, so I don't believe. If I am having mistakes, it's me, it's not the racquet. I was having mistakes with the racquet that I was playing all my career the last couple of months.
The racquet is helping me. But the most important thing, what's helping me really, is I am with the motivation, the right motivation, to play tennis, the right motivation to work hard every day, and with the right attitude. That's why I was able to play better this week than the previous week.
I am working hard since I came back. But, you know, everything is a process. Arrives the moment that is a very important moment in my season, and I need to make that click that I need to be competitive again at 100%. This week was the first very positive news of my game after my comeback in the beginning of the season.
So the racquet, I don't need to talk about the racquet. The racquet worked well. I was able to play at a very high level with that racquet.
Q. Compared to last year's French Open final, do you think Novak has changed a little bit his way of playing on clay, or was it the same player you faced last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, I don't know. I am not in condition to answer that. Let's see how the things are improving during the whole clay court season.
Always when somebody wins against the others, and the opposite is always the same thing: the opponent changed something. Novak was able to beat me in 2013 here in the final, too. He beat me in Rome last year, too.
He's a fantastic player. He can beat me all the time. But I am confident that if I am able to keep playing at that level for more matches, I will have my chances in the next couple of weeks. I going to try it.
Q. How much would you be surprised if tomorrow Berdych is going to beat Djokovic?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, one player is winning everything. That player lose, always going to be a surprise.
Q. But for you.
RAFAEL NADAL: I answered you. I don't know how much. Oh, what a surprise! I don't going to be like this (laughter).
But Berdych is a fantastic player. He's playing very consistent. Almost in every tournament he is there fighting for the final rounds. But is obvious that Novak is the favorite.
Q. You said yourself in the beginning that Novak is winning pretty much every match at the moment. He's won the only Grand Slam, all the Masters, on his way to another here. Is it possible for one player to win all the Masters and all the slams in one season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes.
Q. Do you think it's possible in this season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, always is possible. Difficult, but possible (smiling).
Q. Will you be 100% for Paris, 100% fit?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen in three weeks, one month. I cannot predict the future. I am not that arrogant to say yes because tomorrow anything can happen in life. You have to respect all the things that can happen in this life to answer yes or no.
The right answer is that we'll see. I will do all the things I can to be ready for Barcelona, then for Madrid, then for Rome, then for Paris, if I have the chance to do it. Every tournament is very important. We'll see what's going to happen.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
4/18/2015
4/17/2015
Rafa #Nadal press conference after #R2 at #MonteCarlo 2015(Transcript)
Rafael Nadal
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
R. NADAL/L. Pouille
6‑2, 6‑1
6‑2, 6‑1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. With today's win you are 27‑3 against a guy who is born in the '90s. All your losses against guys born in the '90s came in the last six months.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know exactly which players are from '90s. But obviously my opponent of today, Lucas, he has everything to be a good player: good serve, very good shots from the baseline, he know how to play the points, good rhythm of legs. Sure he will has good chances to be in a high position of ranking.
He's young. I think he has a very high level. Yesterday he win against a player who came here playing very well, playing quarterfinals in Miami. So was a great win. And I think today he didn't play bad. I think I played a very solid match.
But I see the match that was a tough one, but I played little bit better than what I was doing before.
Q. Have you changed your racquet or the strings recently?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I heard about somebody write that I change my strings. My strings are the same. I changed my racquet, not the strings.
Q. Why did you change the racquet?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, honestly, we were thinking about before the season start. But was not enough time to prepare the racquet for before the season start. So now the racquets are ready. I practiced with them in Mallorca since I came back from Miami.
Is a little bit of change. I really didn't change the racquet since very, very long time ago, since I don't remember when. But is a change to try to have little bit more spin. The holes between the strings are a little bit bigger than the other racquet. We decided to change the racquet to try to increase little bit the spin again.
Is true that with this new racquet, probably I have less control. Not today. In theory I have less control. In theory I have more power and more spin, so...
But what I am trying to find with the new racquet always is a change. Always risks when you change things. But I like the racquet. I will continue playing with that racquet.
Q. Do you think it is more difficult today for players who are 19, 20, 21, to break through on clay especially than when you were that age, when you and Novak and Andy and others were that age? Is it more difficult today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Why?
Q. I wonder because maybe on clay it is harder to win points. Players now seem to be more physical, quicker, stronger. Does that make it more difficult for young players to break through?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am not agree. When I arrived here, when I was younger than this generation, Coria, Nalbandian, Hewitt, Federer, Safin, Roddick, they have been young players when I arrived there. They have been 23, 24. They still young. So always seems like is very difficult when I arrived here.
I thought is almost impossible be there because there is all these players that they are there, and they are young. Will be a big, big challenge to go there.
At the end you are there, you have the level to be there. Is not tougher now or more difficult. Is a thing of level. If you have the level, you can be there.
Is true that what happened the last eight years on tennis, few players have been more solid and regular than probably the rest of the history of our sport. That's a real thing.
But the real thing, too, is Roger has I don't know how many years old, but is not young anymore. I am not young anymore. Novak is a little bit younger than the two. We are not anymore 23, 22.
So is a thing of level. If they are able to keep playing well, to keep improving, having matches on tour, in months or years, they will be there.
Q. There is no reason why someone who is 19 or 20...
RAFAEL NADAL: The reason that you say, I do not agree. Maybe because other facts I don't want to say. But is not because the players are more physical today. Is more level of tennis than another thing.
Q. You were very solid today. How much confidence does it give you, a match like today?
RAFAEL NADAL: I was practicing well before the tournament start. Had a good five days of practice here in Monte‑Carlo that I felt well. Always the competition is more important.
After what happened in Miami, sure is a test always a match that you play after what happened there. Was a good test for me. I repeat: the result is easy, but the match was not easy and the opponent was not easy. I was able to win with a very positive score.
I don't know how many unforced errors I did during the whole match, but for sure almost no one. I played with the right mentality, the right concentration. I didn't have mistakes in a row. That's something that happened the last couple months with me. I was able to play a few games good, then I played one game that I have four mistakes in a row or three mistakes in a row, something that I need to change that. Historically I am a player that I am a regular player, I can have mistakes, but not three in a row.
I am working on that to fix that. Today I fixed. Today I play solid. Today I play with no mistakes in a row. I play aggressive when I have to play aggressive. I hit some good passing shots than the last couple months, a thing that I haven't been doing very well.
I don't know what going to happen tomorrow. But today I go back to the hotel with fantastic feeling because I play probably the best match of the year for me.
Q. You may have to play John Isner tomorrow. What do you remember of the match you played in Roland Garros when you were down two sets to one? Also is this surface better for you because it's less quick probably than Roland Garros?
RAFAEL NADAL: I remember the match, yes. The surface is not slower than one in Roland Garros one. The court is smaller. That makes the conditions always a little bit faster than when the court is bigger.
He is a very dangerous player in any surface because his serve works well in clay, hard, indoor, everywhere.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
4/14/2015
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