Nadal News 2.0
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clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
vernonbc
Legend
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
haqq777
Legend
Nice. Who was he playing in practice?
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm wondering about that too.
haqq777
Legend
It was Casper Ruud. I just checked @creamola_fm timeline on Twitter. Casper lost in final round of qualifying at Madrid so I am guessing he was still around before flying for Rome (his next tournament). He is also RNA family.
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
From Rafa's presser
"You were sick Sunday, how are you?"
"It has been a complicated week. I got up with a stomach virus on Sunday. I had to go home. The positive is that today (Tuesday) I was able to train and I hope it will go even better tomorrow (Wednesday, the day of his entry in the fight against Felix Auger-Aliassime) . But I still do not have very positive sensations in the body. It is true that when you get out of this, the body is a little weaker, there is more risk. But it's a very important tournament for me so I hope to be ready."
"You were sick Sunday, how are you?"
"It has been a complicated week. I got up with a stomach virus on Sunday. I had to go home. The positive is that today (Tuesday) I was able to train and I hope it will go even better tomorrow (Wednesday, the day of his entry in the fight against Felix Auger-Aliassime) . But I still do not have very positive sensations in the body. It is true that when you get out of this, the body is a little weaker, there is more risk. But it's a very important tournament for me so I hope to be ready."
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
They should have also mentioned 50 straight sets won on clay.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Octo not coming back? Hasn't been around since Nadal's semi in MC. Not like her to miss so much of the most important part of the season for Rafa.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
clayqueen
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm a bit worried about her. Hope she's OK. She's not posting on another forum I'm on either.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
Yugram
Legend
Some pure classic from Rafa
vernonbc
Legend
The crowd gave Rafa a loud and long standing ovation when he went to be interviewed by Alex Corretja. I agree with Rafa - his best clay match this year. You could just see his confidence growing.
vernonbc
Legend
I know this isn't about Rafa but it's so touching and good, I have to post it. We'll miss you Daveed.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149504
May 9, 2019
David Ferrer
Madrid, Spain
A. ZVEREV/D. Ferrer
6-4, 6-1
(Applause)
DAVID FERRER: My last press conference as a professional tennis player.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. You were winning at the beginning, but you were forced to retire, right?
DAVID FERRER: No, no, not at all. I was very tired. It is true, I started the game playing well, playing with a break, but yesterday I finished the match dehydrated, physically very, very tired. And to win against Zverev you have to be in full condition, you have to be very fit, that is the reality.
And it's a reality that physically I cannot play more than two straight matches at the level that I would like to play and that is another symptom that says that my life as a tennis player is finishing. But I have been very lucky to be able to choose the moment, the place, and to share it with all of you and with all the people that I love.
Q. What came through your mind when this tournament was saying goodbye to you?
DAVID FERRER: Well, lots of things. It's been a very emotional night. It's been completely different to any other important moment in my life that I have experienced previously. I was not expecting it.
The reality has been more than fiction, I never had expected a goodbye or farewell like today. I tried to play at a high level during the last year, but like a day like today, people at work tomorrow, everyone stays here to support me and that is something that I will only have half in my mind and in my heart. It's something I will never forget.
Q. If they told you when you were 17 that you were going to live like you live today, what would you think?
DAVID FERRER: No, I would never be able to think I was going to finish my career in such a successful way and nevertheless, I have experienced a lot of things. It is the best thing that has happened in my life.
I have lived a lot of things, thanks to tennis, both tennis and personally. My child was born a few years ago. I won two Davis Cup with my colleagues, but the farewell today has been amazing.
It's the only match that I have lost and I'm not very sad, you know. Whenever I lost a match in the past, I left very sad. Today I'm not sad (smiling). Today is a day that I want to enjoy and I'm very happy to be able to enjoy a day like today.
Q. You have received a lot of support from everyone, a lot of love and it is all related to this tennis world. Thanks to everything that you have given for the sport. I wanted to ask you what message do you leave to all the people, to all the young generations, to all the young players who dream with living a career like yours? A lot of them are inspired by you.
DAVID FERRER: Everyone has to pursue their own path and a way of working out things. In my case, at the end, what I learned is that normally you learn from defeats, from the losses, the tough moments, because you have to miss a lot of time, you have to taste defeat, you have to stand up and continue and keep on working. That was what was driving me to be the tennis player that I am today.
And to accept the tough and frustrating moments and face them and recover. And to pursue your dreams, but not one or two, or three days, but you have to do it all of your career. I would like to always be remembered for my personality, the way I am personally. I think I am a good person to the very last day of my existence.
Q. If in a couple of years your son asks you how do you play, can you show me a match?
DAVID FERRER: I wouldn't show him today's match. I would show him the finals in the Davis Cup because they were very emotional matches, really good matches.
When I won in Paris for example, or the match that I won against Tomas Berdych in the Prague final 2018, I think, 2008. I think it was the best moment in my career, yes.
Q. If you were to speak with the David that was 14 years old, what would today's David say to that 14-year-old after your career?
DAVID FERRER: Well, I would tell him that just to try to be himself and to pay attention to all the important aspects in life. Many things happen. Just live with the pressure. And many things happen that you don't realize and realize how to live with the pressure, learn about the mistakes of the past and to be able to draw a future and always try to be positive. I will tell him so many things that I would never finish.
At the end, the most important thing is that he has to learn to live the present, to know that there are tough days, good days, sad days and that's part of life.
You are not going to be always happy and that is something normal. And once you understand that, I think that everything is much easier and smoother.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. You said you didn't expect to have a big farewell like this. I'm wondering, having listened to all the tributes, what do you think your legacy in the sport is going to be?
DAVID FERRER: I don't know exactly. I fight until last point. Maybe that. But it was a pleasure. I love this game, this sport, it's part of my life.
I finished my career when I want to finish, the moment that I want. I am a lucky man. I have to say thanks to everybody that helped me to finish like that.
Q. I wanted to ask you in particular about Roland Garros as a tournament, what it means to you and your career and what are your happiest memories from there?
DAVID FERRER: It was a very important moment of my career because it was my first and only final of a Slam. But I have had very good moments in my career. I cannot say only that moment because in 2012 it was my best year as professional tennis player when I won Paris-Bercy.
And finally, the most happy for me is finish here tonight, finish here in Madrid with my people, my family, my close friends, everybody that helped me a lot. Not only in my tennis, in my life, so tonight for me is a special day and the moment that I think I never forget.
Q. After you announced that you were retiring at last year's US Open, how did you spend the six months emotionally and physically?
DAVID FERRER: I didn't expect nothing because my coach, he was be ready to be competitive this year, play the tournaments that I wanted and finally it was better because, you know, I did a very good game. I play very good tennis. And you know I finished my career better than I expect so it was a good decision to finish here in Madrid and to finish this year 37 years old and playing good tennis. As I said before, I'm a lucky man.
(Applause)
David Ferrer
Madrid, Spain
A. ZVEREV/D. Ferrer
6-4, 6-1
(Applause)
DAVID FERRER: My last press conference as a professional tennis player.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. You were winning at the beginning, but you were forced to retire, right?
DAVID FERRER: No, no, not at all. I was very tired. It is true, I started the game playing well, playing with a break, but yesterday I finished the match dehydrated, physically very, very tired. And to win against Zverev you have to be in full condition, you have to be very fit, that is the reality.
And it's a reality that physically I cannot play more than two straight matches at the level that I would like to play and that is another symptom that says that my life as a tennis player is finishing. But I have been very lucky to be able to choose the moment, the place, and to share it with all of you and with all the people that I love.
Q. What came through your mind when this tournament was saying goodbye to you?
DAVID FERRER: Well, lots of things. It's been a very emotional night. It's been completely different to any other important moment in my life that I have experienced previously. I was not expecting it.
The reality has been more than fiction, I never had expected a goodbye or farewell like today. I tried to play at a high level during the last year, but like a day like today, people at work tomorrow, everyone stays here to support me and that is something that I will only have half in my mind and in my heart. It's something I will never forget.
Q. If they told you when you were 17 that you were going to live like you live today, what would you think?
DAVID FERRER: No, I would never be able to think I was going to finish my career in such a successful way and nevertheless, I have experienced a lot of things. It is the best thing that has happened in my life.
I have lived a lot of things, thanks to tennis, both tennis and personally. My child was born a few years ago. I won two Davis Cup with my colleagues, but the farewell today has been amazing.
It's the only match that I have lost and I'm not very sad, you know. Whenever I lost a match in the past, I left very sad. Today I'm not sad (smiling). Today is a day that I want to enjoy and I'm very happy to be able to enjoy a day like today.
Q. You have received a lot of support from everyone, a lot of love and it is all related to this tennis world. Thanks to everything that you have given for the sport. I wanted to ask you what message do you leave to all the people, to all the young generations, to all the young players who dream with living a career like yours? A lot of them are inspired by you.
DAVID FERRER: Everyone has to pursue their own path and a way of working out things. In my case, at the end, what I learned is that normally you learn from defeats, from the losses, the tough moments, because you have to miss a lot of time, you have to taste defeat, you have to stand up and continue and keep on working. That was what was driving me to be the tennis player that I am today.
And to accept the tough and frustrating moments and face them and recover. And to pursue your dreams, but not one or two, or three days, but you have to do it all of your career. I would like to always be remembered for my personality, the way I am personally. I think I am a good person to the very last day of my existence.
Q. If in a couple of years your son asks you how do you play, can you show me a match?
DAVID FERRER: I wouldn't show him today's match. I would show him the finals in the Davis Cup because they were very emotional matches, really good matches.
When I won in Paris for example, or the match that I won against Tomas Berdych in the Prague final 2018, I think, 2008. I think it was the best moment in my career, yes.
Q. If you were to speak with the David that was 14 years old, what would today's David say to that 14-year-old after your career?
DAVID FERRER: Well, I would tell him that just to try to be himself and to pay attention to all the important aspects in life. Many things happen. Just live with the pressure. And many things happen that you don't realize and realize how to live with the pressure, learn about the mistakes of the past and to be able to draw a future and always try to be positive. I will tell him so many things that I would never finish.
At the end, the most important thing is that he has to learn to live the present, to know that there are tough days, good days, sad days and that's part of life.
You are not going to be always happy and that is something normal. And once you understand that, I think that everything is much easier and smoother.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.
Q. You said you didn't expect to have a big farewell like this. I'm wondering, having listened to all the tributes, what do you think your legacy in the sport is going to be?
DAVID FERRER: I don't know exactly. I fight until last point. Maybe that. But it was a pleasure. I love this game, this sport, it's part of my life.
I finished my career when I want to finish, the moment that I want. I am a lucky man. I have to say thanks to everybody that helped me to finish like that.
Q. I wanted to ask you in particular about Roland Garros as a tournament, what it means to you and your career and what are your happiest memories from there?
DAVID FERRER: It was a very important moment of my career because it was my first and only final of a Slam. But I have had very good moments in my career. I cannot say only that moment because in 2012 it was my best year as professional tennis player when I won Paris-Bercy.
And finally, the most happy for me is finish here tonight, finish here in Madrid with my people, my family, my close friends, everybody that helped me a lot. Not only in my tennis, in my life, so tonight for me is a special day and the moment that I think I never forget.
Q. After you announced that you were retiring at last year's US Open, how did you spend the six months emotionally and physically?
DAVID FERRER: I didn't expect nothing because my coach, he was be ready to be competitive this year, play the tournaments that I wanted and finally it was better because, you know, I did a very good game. I play very good tennis. And you know I finished my career better than I expect so it was a good decision to finish here in Madrid and to finish this year 37 years old and playing good tennis. As I said before, I'm a lucky man.
(Applause)
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149504
vernonbc
Legend
Finally, a transcription of a post match presser. I'll post the link but I really felt for him after this comment after his match against FAA. So much is expected of him, especially on clay, and we forget that he's human and can have periods of depression just like the rest of us ordinary people. After all he's gone through in his career, it's really amazing that he's come back and climbed back to the top on so many occasions.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149494
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's just a personal feeling. As I say, the other day after Indian Wells mentally I went down, I had a drop down, a big drop down after what happened to me.
You know, I had different struggles like in Acapulco where I was not able to train for five days. Then I recovered. I was playing quite well in Indian Wells and a few things have happened. I had to stop once again for two weeks. I had to try to recover and mentally.
I had a complicated moment, I had a drop down. It was really complicated for me to come back to be able to stay fit and to recover that energy that I need to play. And right now I think I have it again.
So, this is the joy that I need, the joy that I need to do things and this is what gives you the drive and the passion to do things and then fix my work or not.
Right now, I have the possibility during these next two weeks to do something good and before, I didn't have this opportunity.
And normally, when you have the capacity, this is what makes the difference, to have the energy and the joy and the attitude to be able to try to do it and then you have some better times and worse times. This is just part of a sportsman's life.
But I think that right now, I have the drive and the option and the will to do it. Two weeks' ago, I didn't have the energy. Right now, I have that energy to do the things real good.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149494
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's just a personal feeling. As I say, the other day after Indian Wells mentally I went down, I had a drop down, a big drop down after what happened to me.
You know, I had different struggles like in Acapulco where I was not able to train for five days. Then I recovered. I was playing quite well in Indian Wells and a few things have happened. I had to stop once again for two weeks. I had to try to recover and mentally.
I had a complicated moment, I had a drop down. It was really complicated for me to come back to be able to stay fit and to recover that energy that I need to play. And right now I think I have it again.
So, this is the joy that I need, the joy that I need to do things and this is what gives you the drive and the passion to do things and then fix my work or not.
Right now, I have the possibility during these next two weeks to do something good and before, I didn't have this opportunity.
And normally, when you have the capacity, this is what makes the difference, to have the energy and the joy and the attitude to be able to try to do it and then you have some better times and worse times. This is just part of a sportsman's life.
But I think that right now, I have the drive and the option and the will to do it. Two weeks' ago, I didn't have the energy. Right now, I have that energy to do the things real good.
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
vernonbc
Legend
Rafa's pre-tourney presser. Sheesh they must get tired of being asked the same old banal questions over and over again.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149602
May 13, 2019
Rafael Nadal
Rome, Italy
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How do you feel without to win a tournament in this season? It didn't happen from a long time ago, this time of the season.
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel good. Is true that I didn't win a title, but is true that my feeling is, for example, maybe in 2015 I won Buenos Aires, I think, but the feeling is much better.
Sometimes winning a title or not doesn't make a big difference, no? I didn't win a title. It's true I missed a couple of tournaments. At the same time is true that when I was playing, I was close to win it. I didn't play enough good to win, but I didn't play very bad. I am there.
I have been in three semifinals in a row. Well, four semifinals in a row, since Indian Wells. But that's it. That's tennis: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
Is true that I lost a couple of matches that playing good probably I will win. But that's how it works. If you don't play enough good, then the opponent is good, too. The matches that I lost, I deserved to lose.
Only one, my opinion, I deserved to win that I lost. Against Kyrgios in Acapulco. The rest of the matches I lost I deserve to lose.
Here to try my best another week.
Q. Do you feel you've recovered physically from the virus of Madrid or are you maybe lacking energy?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am good. I am good. I am feeling good. I'm happy to be back here in Rome. I take a day off yesterday. I had a good sleep tonight. Just excited to be back in this special place for me. Try to have a good practice this afternoon, and let's see if I am ready to compete at the level that I want to do.
Q. Your Uncle Toni said he never wanted to get money from you, but for him the priority was to be honest with you in difficult and happy times. How did you react to this choice by Toni?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry, is not an answer that I want to talk about it now. Was not exactly like this. That's it. That's internal things that I don't want to talk about it.
Doesn't matter if you pay your coach or not. Is about the player. If the player is enough smart to let the coach do his job, or if you are not enough smart, doesn't matter if you pay or you don't pay. You will not make feel the coach freedom enough to tell you the true in every single moment.
In my opinion, with all the coaches that I have been, they always felt free to tell me if I am playing bad, if I am playing terrible, or if I am doing one negative thing or another good thing.
I don't feel that no one coach that I had in my career have been afraid of telling me the true or be honest with myself for fear of his job. That's not my case. I never fired no one.
Q. Novak will be trying to go for his fourth consecutive Grand Slam at Roland Garros. Sum up what it's been like to have the great rivalry you have with him, what it's like to face him across the net.
RAFAEL NADAL: We talked about this one thousand of times. It's every year, every week the same.
We just have been together during the last 10 years fighting for the most important moments, with Novak, with Roger. Is great to be part of this good moment of our sport. He's a great competitor. He did a lot of great things.
We'll see. I hope to face him in Roland Garros. Will be great news.
Q. In the season just Roger, Novak and one other I think won two tournaments. It means anything at this moment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. In the season, just three players won two tournaments until now. It means anything, or changing situation?
RAFAEL NADAL: What means is difficult win a tournament.
Q. It's always difficult, but it means something is changing, the situation at the top level of players, or not?
RAFAEL NADAL: Roger is 37, I am almost 33, Novak is 32 already. That's what all it means. Win the things we have been winning the last 14, 15 years, I think is something that didn't happen very often in the history of our sport. That means is something difficult.
Q. Did you have a chance to look at the draw? What do you think about your draw here? Are you looking forward to maybe meet Roger in the semifinal?
RAFAEL NADAL: I have plenty work to do. I have Chardy or Gasquet in the first round. That's my draw. The rest of the things for me doesn't matter now.
Rafael Nadal
Rome, Italy
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How do you feel without to win a tournament in this season? It didn't happen from a long time ago, this time of the season.
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel good. Is true that I didn't win a title, but is true that my feeling is, for example, maybe in 2015 I won Buenos Aires, I think, but the feeling is much better.
Sometimes winning a title or not doesn't make a big difference, no? I didn't win a title. It's true I missed a couple of tournaments. At the same time is true that when I was playing, I was close to win it. I didn't play enough good to win, but I didn't play very bad. I am there.
I have been in three semifinals in a row. Well, four semifinals in a row, since Indian Wells. But that's it. That's tennis: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
Is true that I lost a couple of matches that playing good probably I will win. But that's how it works. If you don't play enough good, then the opponent is good, too. The matches that I lost, I deserved to lose.
Only one, my opinion, I deserved to win that I lost. Against Kyrgios in Acapulco. The rest of the matches I lost I deserve to lose.
Here to try my best another week.
Q. Do you feel you've recovered physically from the virus of Madrid or are you maybe lacking energy?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am good. I am good. I am feeling good. I'm happy to be back here in Rome. I take a day off yesterday. I had a good sleep tonight. Just excited to be back in this special place for me. Try to have a good practice this afternoon, and let's see if I am ready to compete at the level that I want to do.
Q. Your Uncle Toni said he never wanted to get money from you, but for him the priority was to be honest with you in difficult and happy times. How did you react to this choice by Toni?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry, is not an answer that I want to talk about it now. Was not exactly like this. That's it. That's internal things that I don't want to talk about it.
Doesn't matter if you pay your coach or not. Is about the player. If the player is enough smart to let the coach do his job, or if you are not enough smart, doesn't matter if you pay or you don't pay. You will not make feel the coach freedom enough to tell you the true in every single moment.
In my opinion, with all the coaches that I have been, they always felt free to tell me if I am playing bad, if I am playing terrible, or if I am doing one negative thing or another good thing.
I don't feel that no one coach that I had in my career have been afraid of telling me the true or be honest with myself for fear of his job. That's not my case. I never fired no one.
Q. Novak will be trying to go for his fourth consecutive Grand Slam at Roland Garros. Sum up what it's been like to have the great rivalry you have with him, what it's like to face him across the net.
RAFAEL NADAL: We talked about this one thousand of times. It's every year, every week the same.
We just have been together during the last 10 years fighting for the most important moments, with Novak, with Roger. Is great to be part of this good moment of our sport. He's a great competitor. He did a lot of great things.
We'll see. I hope to face him in Roland Garros. Will be great news.
Q. In the season just Roger, Novak and one other I think won two tournaments. It means anything at this moment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. In the season, just three players won two tournaments until now. It means anything, or changing situation?
RAFAEL NADAL: What means is difficult win a tournament.
Q. It's always difficult, but it means something is changing, the situation at the top level of players, or not?
RAFAEL NADAL: Roger is 37, I am almost 33, Novak is 32 already. That's what all it means. Win the things we have been winning the last 14, 15 years, I think is something that didn't happen very often in the history of our sport. That means is something difficult.
Q. Did you have a chance to look at the draw? What do you think about your draw here? Are you looking forward to maybe meet Roger in the semifinal?
RAFAEL NADAL: I have plenty work to do. I have Chardy or Gasquet in the first round. That's my draw. The rest of the things for me doesn't matter now.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149602
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Rafa's pre-tourney presser. Sheesh they must get tired of being asked the same old banal questions over and over again.
May 13, 2019Rafael NadalRome, ItalyTHE MODERATOR: Questions, please.Q. How do you feel without to win a tournament in this season? It didn't happen from a long time ago, this time of the season.RAFAEL NADAL: I feel good. Is true that I didn't win a title, but is true that my feeling is, for example, maybe in 2015 I won Buenos Aires, I think, but the feeling is much better.Sometimes winning a title or not doesn't make a big difference, no? I didn't win a title. It's true I missed a couple of tournaments. At the same time is true that when I was playing, I was close to win it. I didn't play enough good to win, but I didn't play very bad. I am there.I have been in three semifinals in a row. Well, four semifinals in a row, since Indian Wells. But that's it. That's tennis: sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.Is true that I lost a couple of matches that playing good probably I will win. But that's how it works. If you don't play enough good, then the opponent is good, too. The matches that I lost, I deserved to lose.Only one, my opinion, I deserved to win that I lost. Against Kyrgios in Acapulco. The rest of the matches I lost I deserve to lose.Here to try my best another week.Q. Do you feel you've recovered physically from the virus of Madrid or are you maybe lacking energy?RAFAEL NADAL: No, I am good. I am good. I am feeling good. I'm happy to be back here in Rome. I take a day off yesterday. I had a good sleep tonight. Just excited to be back in this special place for me. Try to have a good practice this afternoon, and let's see if I am ready to compete at the level that I want to do.Q. Your Uncle Toni said he never wanted to get money from you, but for him the priority was to be honest with you in difficult and happy times. How did you react to this choice by Toni?RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry, is not an answer that I want to talk about it now. Was not exactly like this. That's it. That's internal things that I don't want to talk about it.Doesn't matter if you pay your coach or not. Is about the player. If the player is enough smart to let the coach do his job, or if you are not enough smart, doesn't matter if you pay or you don't pay. You will not make feel the coach freedom enough to tell you the true in every single moment.In my opinion, with all the coaches that I have been, they always felt free to tell me if I am playing bad, if I am playing terrible, or if I am doing one negative thing or another good thing.I don't feel that no one coach that I had in my career have been afraid of telling me the true or be honest with myself for fear of his job. That's not my case. I never fired no one.Q. Novak will be trying to go for his fourth consecutive Grand Slam at Roland Garros. Sum up what it's been like to have the great rivalry you have with him, what it's like to face him across the net.RAFAEL NADAL: We talked about this one thousand of times. It's every year, every week the same.We just have been together during the last 10 years fighting for the most important moments, with Novak, with Roger. Is great to be part of this good moment of our sport. He's a great competitor. He did a lot of great things.We'll see. I hope to face him in Roland Garros. Will be great news.Q. In the season just Roger, Novak and one other I think won two tournaments. It means anything at this moment?RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?Q. In the season, just three players won two tournaments until now. It means anything, or changing situation?RAFAEL NADAL: What means is difficult win a tournament.Q. It's always difficult, but it means something is changing, the situation at the top level of players, or not?RAFAEL NADAL: Roger is 37, I am almost 33, Novak is 32 already. That's what all it means. Win the things we have been winning the last 14, 15 years, I think is something that didn't happen very often in the history of our sport. That means is something difficult.Q. Did you have a chance to look at the draw? What do you think about your draw here? Are you looking forward to maybe meet Roger in the semifinal?RAFAEL NADAL: I have plenty work to do. I have Chardy or Gasquet in the first round. That's my draw. The rest of the things for me doesn't matter now.
http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=149602
Well he seems insistent that he's fit, and somewhat confident, so we will see.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
D
Deleted member 763024
Guest
Looks like that one stung. Who can’t wait for these two to meet again in a slam?
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
haqq777
Legend
Get your wings ready MN! This is set to be one tasty day.Epicness
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Azure
G.O.A.T.
Not so sure if these truck loads of matches are doing him any good. It's a dichotomous situation. He is a huge confidence player. He needs these matches to keep him ready for the big one but age has clearly caught up on him. These matches are making him exhausted such that he is unable to string two tiring matches back to back. Fortunately slams still have a day off in between.
Where's Octo really?
vernonbc
Legend
From @Stroppa_Del
Rafa talking to the world feed after his win over Basilashvili:
Great start, almost perfect across 2 matches, almost your best level? R: "Well, I played well, especially this afternoon, better than in the morning. Have been a perect day for me, no? Having this very particular day, with two matches."
"To able to win 2 matches like this is great news, so very happy for that. Looking forward tomorrow for another tough match." +
Your level compared to MC, Barcelona, Madrid? R: "I think, I said in Madrid, I've been improving every week. So tonight was another improvement I think"
"The movement have been better, I did better things with my forehand so it's a work of every day, I had some tough times, so I need time to recover, to feel that confidence, good feelings, you know have not been a perfect clay court season for me but you know being honest, I was in 3 semi finals so it's not a disaster so that's confidence, winning today, very positive to me" Verdasco, key to that match? R:"Will be a tough one, he won 2 matches today, everyone knows how dangerous he is if he plays well, hope to continue to play well"
Great start, almost perfect across 2 matches, almost your best level? R: "Well, I played well, especially this afternoon, better than in the morning. Have been a perect day for me, no? Having this very particular day, with two matches."
"To able to win 2 matches like this is great news, so very happy for that. Looking forward tomorrow for another tough match." +
Your level compared to MC, Barcelona, Madrid? R: "I think, I said in Madrid, I've been improving every week. So tonight was another improvement I think"
"The movement have been better, I did better things with my forehand so it's a work of every day, I had some tough times, so I need time to recover, to feel that confidence, good feelings, you know have not been a perfect clay court season for me but you know being honest, I was in 3 semi finals so it's not a disaster so that's confidence, winning today, very positive to me" Verdasco, key to that match? R:"Will be a tough one, he won 2 matches today, everyone knows how dangerous he is if he plays well, hope to continue to play well"