Who is the most humble Goat contender? and why?
- Thread starter llort
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BrooklynNY
Hall of Fame
No I'm not high, b/c at this moment, 16 > 9, 285 wks #1 > 60(?), 4 YEC > 0 YEC. He belongs in tier II great whether if you like it or not. We don't give out imaginary GS or any titles in the future(unless you want to be a ****). Do you?
I'll wait til tomorrow and double check if my comparison is correct, then we'll know who's really high.
I'm high and it still makes sense. :|
I agree, but I do think that he is on his way to reaching top tier status.
Ah? Federer has also said the very same thing.
That said, that's not even a humble statement but simply a fact which can be derived through logical thinking.
Lastly, some of us don't even see humility as a good quality in sports.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
No, only Rafa.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Of course he admits to playing good. Very often. But it's not an absolute, it's not "being good" as some kind of immutable truth, things can change in tennis, fast. As a Fed fan you should know that...
P_Agony
Banned
"Oh, Robredo is very dangerous, no? Very strong backchand and forechand no? For sure I will need to play my best to beat chim, no?"
Then he goes on to win something like 6-1 6-0. I'm all for giving your opponent credit, but downplaying your chances like Nadal does very often and talking about other players like their GOATs and then beating them with ease is just being dishonest.
P_Agony
Banned
No I'm not high, b/c at this moment, 16 > 9, 285 wks #1 > 60(?), 4 YEC > 0 YEC. He belongs in tier II great whether if you like it or not. We don't give out imaginary GS or any titles in the future(unless you want to be a ****). Do you?
I'll wait til tomorrow and double check if my comparison is correct, then we'll know who's really high.
Rafa will very likely reach tier I given how much time he still has to keep improving and winning even more slams and MS titles. I think Rafa can end up with about 20 slams.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
His behavior was never justified, as he was incapable of winning the Grand Slam, thus his own psychological stroke-off had no bearing on reality.
True.
President of Serve/Volley
Semi-Pro
Pete Sampras.
borg number one
Legend
All these players are very sure of their respective abilities. They don't think they should lose if playing really well. So, in my opinion, all these guys are supremely confident on a tennis court.
Overall, I think Laver and Borg have been the most humble about their very significant accomplishments and contributions to the Game. Meanwhile, Sampras did not strike me as being quite so modest as either Laver or Borg and Federer has definitely not been modest about his accomplishments.
I think Nadal is in a different situation than the other players mentioned. He's just recently been thought of as perhaps one of the greatest players ever. So, this is new territory for him and he feels deeply honored to be in the discussion now. I do think he's a very humble guy that stays focused on how much he can still do and what he can improve on. It's just how he's wired. He's quite humble and modest in my opinion. I also recognize that perhaps Nadal does this somewhat strategically.
Since Federer drew so much attention for basically being proclaimed in about 2007 as perhaps the "greatest" ever (something he encouraged quite a bit), he stayed as the media target with the most expectations. Meanwhile, Nadal went about his business, in my opinion, realizing all along that he was every bit as good or perhaps better than Roger Federer on any surface.
Borg and Laver were/are modest and humble both in their speech and actions on a court (lack of "gamesmanship" for lack of a better term). Meanwhile, Nadal is modest and humble, but primarily in his speech only. Sampras let his "racquet do the talking" by and large, but he could be slightly arrogant during press conferences at times, and I don't really hold that against him. By and large, the guy was very modest as well. Once he caught Roy Emerson's total of 12 majors, I think it was the media more than him that really encouraged "greatest" talk. I don't think that was the same dynamic that was at play with Federer. He was very modest, I thought in about 2003-2004, but something seemed to slowly change. Now, I can't say Federer is that modest either on the court or in his speech. He used to be, but by about 2007 or so, he really changed when it comes to this department.
A lot of this is media driven though, and not just Federer himself. Federer has some big sponsors, and the Tour itself depends on the interest of the general public, so there was money to be made by proclaiming that tennis fans could have a chance to witness the greatest player ever. That fills seats and gets people to watch their televisions. It also gets more return for advertising dollars spent.
Overall, I think Laver and Borg have been the most humble about their very significant accomplishments and contributions to the Game. Meanwhile, Sampras did not strike me as being quite so modest as either Laver or Borg and Federer has definitely not been modest about his accomplishments.
I think Nadal is in a different situation than the other players mentioned. He's just recently been thought of as perhaps one of the greatest players ever. So, this is new territory for him and he feels deeply honored to be in the discussion now. I do think he's a very humble guy that stays focused on how much he can still do and what he can improve on. It's just how he's wired. He's quite humble and modest in my opinion. I also recognize that perhaps Nadal does this somewhat strategically.
Since Federer drew so much attention for basically being proclaimed in about 2007 as perhaps the "greatest" ever (something he encouraged quite a bit), he stayed as the media target with the most expectations. Meanwhile, Nadal went about his business, in my opinion, realizing all along that he was every bit as good or perhaps better than Roger Federer on any surface.
Borg and Laver were/are modest and humble both in their speech and actions on a court (lack of "gamesmanship" for lack of a better term). Meanwhile, Nadal is modest and humble, but primarily in his speech only. Sampras let his "racquet do the talking" by and large, but he could be slightly arrogant during press conferences at times, and I don't really hold that against him. By and large, the guy was very modest as well. Once he caught Roy Emerson's total of 12 majors, I think it was the media more than him that really encouraged "greatest" talk. I don't think that was the same dynamic that was at play with Federer. He was very modest, I thought in about 2003-2004, but something seemed to slowly change. Now, I can't say Federer is that modest either on the court or in his speech. He used to be, but by about 2007 or so, he really changed when it comes to this department.
A lot of this is media driven though, and not just Federer himself. Federer has some big sponsors, and the Tour itself depends on the interest of the general public, so there was money to be made by proclaiming that tennis fans could have a chance to witness the greatest player ever. That fills seats and gets people to watch their televisions. It also gets more return for advertising dollars spent.
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No I'm not high, b/c at this moment, 16 > 9, 285 wks #1 > 60(?), 4 YEC > 0 YEC. He belongs in tier II great whether if you like it or not. We don't give out imaginary GS or any titles in the future(unless you want to be a ****). Do you?
I'll wait til tomorrow and double check if my comparison is correct, then we'll know who's really high.
Like it or not Nadal IS in tier1. So tell me why Federer was being called the greatest before he even reached dounle figures? Considering Nadal is better at the same GS number, please explain? He's got a rout h2h against the supposedly GOAT. Explain.
D
decades
Guest
Laver doesn't even entertain such questions.
Federer's attitude is refreshing as he does not come out with all the PC bulldust most players come out with perpetually. And he has done so while remaining remarkably modest and polite for his status in the game.
IMO Nadal, with all due respect to his achievements as a player, takes it a bit too far with the false modesty. It does not translate well to what people see on court from him. I agree that may be how he was taught by his uncle to always play down his chances but it begins to look a tad ludicrous when he is world no. 1 or 2 and winning majors perpetually.
On the whole I do think most people would prefer someone who is fairly honest to someone who comes off as even a tad disingenuous, whether that may be true or not.
Forgetting all the BS that is spoken about Federer on these boards by the ****s, I think the vast majority of fans around the world would agree Federer has walked the line between false modesty and outright arrogance very well during his time at the top of the game. He has found a balance that is and has been honest and respectful and modest the vast majority of the time.
IMO Nadal, with all due respect to his achievements as a player, takes it a bit too far with the false modesty. It does not translate well to what people see on court from him. I agree that may be how he was taught by his uncle to always play down his chances but it begins to look a tad ludicrous when he is world no. 1 or 2 and winning majors perpetually.
On the whole I do think most people would prefer someone who is fairly honest to someone who comes off as even a tad disingenuous, whether that may be true or not.
Forgetting all the BS that is spoken about Federer on these boards by the ****s, I think the vast majority of fans around the world would agree Federer has walked the line between false modesty and outright arrogance very well during his time at the top of the game. He has found a balance that is and has been honest and respectful and modest the vast majority of the time.
cigrmaster
Semi-Pro
Ivan, how old are you? You are still in high school ............right?
Omega_7000
Legend
It's true isn't it. He starts to praise his opponents & say how great they are when he wins, but as soon as he loses...I didn't play my best no? I wasn't physically fit no? There was pain in my knees no? I had a tear in my abdominal muscle no? I was tired after long season no? etc. etc. etc.
OddJack
G.O.A.T.
Nadal shows his real personality on the courts. Someone who would do anything to win. Bullying, time tricks, illegal coaching, swearing...
There is nothing humble about any of these. It's fake like his injuries during the match, goes away in a snap. And even when he talks like humble, it's actually toni talking.
There is nothing humble about any of these. It's fake like his injuries during the match, goes away in a snap. And even when he talks like humble, it's actually toni talking.
Tsonga#1fan
Semi-Pro
I picked Laver, a class man through and through. I could have just as easily said Nadal or even Borg for that matter.
ivan_the_terrible
Hall of Fame
Wrong.....dude
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Omega_7000
Legend
Nadal's interview after losing to Soderling @ FO 2009
Q. It was a great four‑year winning period. All things had to end, and it happened today, your series of wins. Did you expect such power tennis fromSoderling before the game? Were yousurprised during the match of the way he hit his ball consistently so hard,especially on the forehand, but also in general?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, no. He didn’t surprise me,because I know how he play, how dangerous he can be. YesterdayI didn’t play my best tennis. No, I didn’t attack in no one moment. I play very short, and I make him very easyto play at this level.
Q. Were you surprised that he was able to sustain the level of play that hedid throughout the match? Did you expecthim, at some stage, to perhaps have a little dip, which he never really did?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, when, for ‑‑ I playedvery short, you know. I play veryshort. I didn’t play great. I didn’t play with calm at no one time duringall the match.
That makes him easy toplay at this level during all the match, no? So was my fault, and more than ‑‑ well, sure, he did well. He did very well, but I didn’t ‑‑ yeah,I think I didn’t play my best tennis. And I didn’t play not my best tennis, no? I didn’t play my tennis, and for that reasonI lose. That’s it.
Q. Asfrom the second set, some of us thought that you would be able to win thematch. What made you lose your calm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I never was calm; that’s thetruth. Instead of losing my calm, thematch started off very badly for me. Imean, the second set, I should have won it 6‑4. Then there was wind, and that wasn’t good.
Then not being calmenough to face the important points, so I had to fight. But sometimes it’s not enough fighting. You have to play a good level of tennis.
And sometimes people think I win because I’mphysically fit, but, no. When I win,it’s because I play well, and that wasn’t the case today. I must say that at key moments I couldn’ttake the opportunity because I was losing my calm, and I didn’t play well.
Q. Wasit the wonderful game level of Soderling on this surface, or because you wereon a bad day or any other phenomenon, like you played in Barcelonathen in Madrid? Maybe you played too many tournaments.
RAFAEL NADAL: Stop it. Stop it. Had I played my bestlevel against Soderling, maybe the results would have been different. But he played a very good level of tennis andI didn’t play well, so the results are what they are.
I didn’t play at mybest level. I have days like this, andthis was one of those days.
Q. Were you surprised by the level of his game?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all. I’ve seen him playing quite a few times, andthat was not a surprise. It was my gamelevel that was a surprise to me today.
Q. Whenthe crowd on the central court was supporting you in such a wonderful way, whatdid you feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I didn’t feel anything, because I’mused to hearing the names of players being shouted, whether the crowd supportsme or supports my opponent.
But it’s a shame. I mean, this tournament is so important, sucha beautiful tournament for me. Well,that’s the way it is. Maybe at one stagethey supported Soderling more than me, and that was a bit sad.
But I wish when I’m back they can support mea bit more in key moments.
All Class? You decide...
borg number one
Legend
I agree with you. I don't tend to hear very negative comments about other players from Nadal despite losses. He tends to be very disappointed and talks about how much he has to improve, and keep getting better.
borg number one
Legend
He did tend to focus on his bad play instead of on Soderling's level of play, that's true. He could have been more complimentary. That's true. Yet, overall, given how painful that loss was, with the crowd seemingly turning against him (overall), I think his comments were quite candid and not lacking in "class". He was trying to convey in a nice way that he expected that a 4 time champion would receive more support in his darkest hour so to speak. That had to hurt him, even if he didn't let on.
jackson vile
G.O.A.T.
Nadal is fake, Roger is more humble than anyone out there!
ashitaka2010
Semi-Pro
Omega_7000 ...is that the entire interview? I don't think so.
Anyway... thanks for reminding us that Parisians are often very stupid.
Anyway... thanks for reminding us that Parisians are often very stupid.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
Excuse-me but this is the entire interview and it's beautiful, heartfelt, full of dignity and acceptance:
Quote:
R. SODERLING/R. Nadal
6‑2, 6‑7, 6‑4, 7‑6
An interview with:
RAFAELNADAL
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. It was a great four‑year winning period. All things had to end, and it happened today, your series of wins. Did you expect such power tennis fromSoderling before the game? Were yousurprised during the match of the way he hit his ball consistently so hard,especially on the forehand, but also in general?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, no. He didn't surprise me,because I know how he play, how dangerous he can be. Yesterday I didn't play my best tennis. No, I didn't attack in no one moment. I play very short, and I make him very easyto play at this level.
So when one player bad,must lose. That's what happenedtoday. I have to accept with the samecalm when I win than when I lose. Afterfour years I lose here, and the season continue.
Q. Were you surprised that he was able to sustain the level of play that hedid throughout the match? Did you expecthim, at some stage, to perhaps have a little dip, which he never really did?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, when, for ‑‑ I playedvery short, you know. I play veryshort. I didn't play great. I didn't play with calm at no one time duringall the match.
That makes him easy toplay at this level during all the match, no? So was my fault, and more than ‑‑ well, sure, he did well. He did very well, but I didn't ‑‑ yeah,I think I didn't play my best tennis. And I didn't play not my best tennis, no? I didn't play my tennis, and for that reasonI lose. That's it.
I congratulate him and keep working hard forthe next tournament.
Q. AndyMurray said to us earlier that the wind was a lot trickier. The wind was a lot more difficult thanperhaps it seemed. Is that the reasonperhaps that you were playing a little too short today in the conditions?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no, no. The wind is there for both players, so no,no? I not going to put any excuse rightnow. I think I played short because Iplayed short. I didn't have my day.
Q. Do you think you maybe played too many tournaments lately? How are you going to prepare for Wimbledon?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, when you lose, always everybody startsto analyze if I play too much. If I'mtired. The true, I won four years in arow playing the same. That's the true. This year I play the same and I lost. What happen? I lost. That's it.
That whathappened. I lost another opportunity towin a big tournament here. Always is abig loss for me. But in the end is onemore match, yeah.
Q. What about the preparation for Wimbledon? Are you going to play Queen's?
RAFAEL NADAL: Right now, my preparation is for the swimmingpool of my house. (laughter.) Yeah, give me three more days to think aboutpreparation for Wimbledon.
Q. You looked tired. Do you feelexhausted? Do you feel tired physicallyand mentally?
RAFAEL NADAL: No.
Q. You look a bit tired.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, I feel okay.
Q. You're handling this with humor, but how much really did this hurt, yourfirst loss at Roland Garros, honestly?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is not my best day today, no? I am not very happy. That's true, no? You know, is tough always losing in a GrandSlam, especially in one Grand Slam where you have the better chance to win thanthe rest than the others.
But I did. I did very well on Wimbledon and in Australia,and semifinals last year in US Open. Ihave to be confident on myself to keepgoing, keep working.
If I lost today, it ‑‑ well, the preparationmentally, I don't know, it wasn't perfect, no?
So I have to work harder to be readyfor the next big events.
Q. Youhad to know this day would come. Are yousurprised it came so quickly?
RAFAEL NADAL: What? (Through translation.)
I don't know. If you think it's soon after four years? (laughter.) Why do you think, no? A lot of playerswon four years here in a row? Is onlyanother one, no?
Q. Youwere so enormously strong last year in Paris. If you compare yourself, your level today andthe last years, are you mentally not that strong as in the last years, orphysically? What's the difference?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, guys, I lost. That's what I can say. I lost. I didn't play my best tennis today. I have to analyze why I lost today, but I think that the things are moresimple than if I am less strong than before, if I am less prepared mentallythan before.
I think today I didn'tplay my tennis, and I wasn't ready to come back over a good player likeSoderling. We have to analyze that andbe ready for the next confrontations in big, important tournaments, no?
No, I think I was ready for everything. If I wasn't ready here, I don't know when Igonna be ready after winning a lot of tournaments and being my best at start ofthe season, no?
Q. Nowthat you've been knocked out, would you say Andy Murray or Roger Federer is thefavorite to win the title?
RAFAEL NADAL: We will see. I don't know. Davydenko orVerdasco is there. Del Potro I think isthere. We will see. Federer is the favorite, in my opinion.
Q. What is it like playing against Soderling, and do you think he willreach top 10 in the future?
RAFAEL NADAL: How old are him?
Q. 24?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he can do it. Why not?
THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions, please.
Q. Asfrom the second set, some of us thought that you would be able to win thematch. What made you lose your calm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I never was calm; that's thetruth. Instead of losing my calm, thematch started off very badly for me. Imean, the second set, I should have won it 6‑4. Then there was wind, and that wasn't good.
Then not being calmenough to face the important points, so I had to fight. But sometimes it's not enough fighting. You have to play a good level of tennis.
And sometimes people think I win because I'mphysically fit, but, no. When I win,it's because I play well, and that wasn't the case today. I must say that at key moments I couldn'ttake the opportunity because I was losing my calm, and I didn't play well.
Q. Youalready answered this question in English, but can you do that in Spanish? Now that Djokovic is out and now that you'reout, who would be your favorite for the final?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, all those in quarterfinal have anopportunity, but Federer is my favorite.
Q. This defeat makes your victories even greater?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, defeats never make you grow, but you also realize how difficult whatI achieved up until today was, and this is something you need sometimes. You need a defeat to give value to yourvictories.
I'm 22. Well, 23 in a couple of days. But unfortunately, it's the first time I'mnot going to celebrate my birthday in Roland Garros. I hope I'll be able to celebrate more hereand be back next year and try and win.
Q. Two questions: Apparently younever felt comfortable during that match. How did you accept to walk in this room immediately after the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you don't think about this, youknow. I'm not saying this because ofyour question, but with ‑‑ I've stopped playing in altitude two weeks ago,so this is what ‑‑ I need to face the fact I didn't play well thisweek. When I practiced this morning Ifelt good, no? I felt very good, but itwasn't the case during the match.
Well, that's the end ofthe road, and I have to accept it. Ihave to accept my defeat as I accepted my victories: with calm. So I have to stay calm and stay cool‑headed to try and analyze what Idid wrong.
I need to learn, and you learn more when youlose than when you win. I need to workon those points on which I wasn't good, and from there try and do better for mynext tournament.
So as I said, this is not a tragedy,losing here in Paris. It had to happen one day, and this is anexcellent season for me.
Of course it's a bit sad, but I haveto overcome this as quickly as possible.
Q. Wasit the wonderful game level of Soderling on this surface, or because you wereon a bad day or any other phenomenon, like you played in Barcelonathen in Madrid? Maybe you played too many tournaments.
RAFAEL NADAL: Stop it. Stop it. Had I played my bestlevel against Soderling, maybe the results would have been different. But he played a very good level of tennis andI didn't play well, so the results are what they are.
I didn't play at mybest level. I have days like this, andthis was one of those days. I hadsomeone playing very well in front of me.
I'm not going to modify the way I prepare,because I've always prepared in the same way for the last four years. So that wouldn't make sense.
Q. 6‑0,6‑1 when you played Soderling in Rome. That was the last result. So is it because he was very aggressivetoday? Was it having an influence?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all.
Q. Were you surprised by the level of his game?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all. I've seen him playing quite a few times, andthat was not a surprise. It was my gamelevel that was a surprise to me today.
Q. A minute ago you were saying that, well, this day had to happen oneday. So were you prepared, or are yousurprised by this defeat?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, all of us athletes, we know that whenwe walk on the court we can either win or lose. I know it for a fact anything can happen, and I have to accept them bothin the same way.
You cannot collapseeither because you've won a match or because you've lost it. This is sport, and you can have victories ordefeats. No one remembers defeats on thelong run. People remember victories.
So I have to move forward. Well, I have little time left to prepare for Wimbledon, but I have to move forward and try and preparethe best I can.
Quote:
R. SODERLING/R. Nadal
6‑2, 6‑7, 6‑4, 7‑6
An interview with:
RAFAELNADAL
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. It was a great four‑year winning period. All things had to end, and it happened today, your series of wins. Did you expect such power tennis fromSoderling before the game? Were yousurprised during the match of the way he hit his ball consistently so hard,especially on the forehand, but also in general?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, no. He didn't surprise me,because I know how he play, how dangerous he can be. Yesterday I didn't play my best tennis. No, I didn't attack in no one moment. I play very short, and I make him very easyto play at this level.
So when one player bad,must lose. That's what happenedtoday. I have to accept with the samecalm when I win than when I lose. Afterfour years I lose here, and the season continue.
Q. Were you surprised that he was able to sustain the level of play that hedid throughout the match? Did you expecthim, at some stage, to perhaps have a little dip, which he never really did?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, when, for ‑‑ I playedvery short, you know. I play veryshort. I didn't play great. I didn't play with calm at no one time duringall the match.
That makes him easy toplay at this level during all the match, no? So was my fault, and more than ‑‑ well, sure, he did well. He did very well, but I didn't ‑‑ yeah,I think I didn't play my best tennis. And I didn't play not my best tennis, no? I didn't play my tennis, and for that reasonI lose. That's it.
I congratulate him and keep working hard forthe next tournament.
Q. AndyMurray said to us earlier that the wind was a lot trickier. The wind was a lot more difficult thanperhaps it seemed. Is that the reasonperhaps that you were playing a little too short today in the conditions?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no, no. The wind is there for both players, so no,no? I not going to put any excuse rightnow. I think I played short because Iplayed short. I didn't have my day.
Q. Do you think you maybe played too many tournaments lately? How are you going to prepare for Wimbledon?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, when you lose, always everybody startsto analyze if I play too much. If I'mtired. The true, I won four years in arow playing the same. That's the true. This year I play the same and I lost. What happen? I lost. That's it.
That whathappened. I lost another opportunity towin a big tournament here. Always is abig loss for me. But in the end is onemore match, yeah.
Q. What about the preparation for Wimbledon? Are you going to play Queen's?
RAFAEL NADAL: Right now, my preparation is for the swimmingpool of my house. (laughter.) Yeah, give me three more days to think aboutpreparation for Wimbledon.
Q. You looked tired. Do you feelexhausted? Do you feel tired physicallyand mentally?
RAFAEL NADAL: No.
Q. You look a bit tired.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, I feel okay.
Q. You're handling this with humor, but how much really did this hurt, yourfirst loss at Roland Garros, honestly?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is not my best day today, no? I am not very happy. That's true, no? You know, is tough always losing in a GrandSlam, especially in one Grand Slam where you have the better chance to win thanthe rest than the others.
But I did. I did very well on Wimbledon and in Australia,and semifinals last year in US Open. Ihave to be confident on myself to keepgoing, keep working.
If I lost today, it ‑‑ well, the preparationmentally, I don't know, it wasn't perfect, no?
So I have to work harder to be readyfor the next big events.
Q. Youhad to know this day would come. Are yousurprised it came so quickly?
RAFAEL NADAL: What? (Through translation.)
I don't know. If you think it's soon after four years? (laughter.) Why do you think, no? A lot of playerswon four years here in a row? Is onlyanother one, no?
Q. Youwere so enormously strong last year in Paris. If you compare yourself, your level today andthe last years, are you mentally not that strong as in the last years, orphysically? What's the difference?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, guys, I lost. That's what I can say. I lost. I didn't play my best tennis today. I have to analyze why I lost today, but I think that the things are moresimple than if I am less strong than before, if I am less prepared mentallythan before.
I think today I didn'tplay my tennis, and I wasn't ready to come back over a good player likeSoderling. We have to analyze that andbe ready for the next confrontations in big, important tournaments, no?
No, I think I was ready for everything. If I wasn't ready here, I don't know when Igonna be ready after winning a lot of tournaments and being my best at start ofthe season, no?
Q. Nowthat you've been knocked out, would you say Andy Murray or Roger Federer is thefavorite to win the title?
RAFAEL NADAL: We will see. I don't know. Davydenko orVerdasco is there. Del Potro I think isthere. We will see. Federer is the favorite, in my opinion.
Q. What is it like playing against Soderling, and do you think he willreach top 10 in the future?
RAFAEL NADAL: How old are him?
Q. 24?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he can do it. Why not?
THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions, please.
Q. Asfrom the second set, some of us thought that you would be able to win thematch. What made you lose your calm?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I never was calm; that's thetruth. Instead of losing my calm, thematch started off very badly for me. Imean, the second set, I should have won it 6‑4. Then there was wind, and that wasn't good.
Then not being calmenough to face the important points, so I had to fight. But sometimes it's not enough fighting. You have to play a good level of tennis.
And sometimes people think I win because I'mphysically fit, but, no. When I win,it's because I play well, and that wasn't the case today. I must say that at key moments I couldn'ttake the opportunity because I was losing my calm, and I didn't play well.
Q. Youalready answered this question in English, but can you do that in Spanish? Now that Djokovic is out and now that you'reout, who would be your favorite for the final?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, all those in quarterfinal have anopportunity, but Federer is my favorite.
Q. This defeat makes your victories even greater?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, defeats never make you grow, but you also realize how difficult whatI achieved up until today was, and this is something you need sometimes. You need a defeat to give value to yourvictories.
I'm 22. Well, 23 in a couple of days. But unfortunately, it's the first time I'mnot going to celebrate my birthday in Roland Garros. I hope I'll be able to celebrate more hereand be back next year and try and win.
Q. Two questions: Apparently younever felt comfortable during that match. How did you accept to walk in this room immediately after the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you don't think about this, youknow. I'm not saying this because ofyour question, but with ‑‑ I've stopped playing in altitude two weeks ago,so this is what ‑‑ I need to face the fact I didn't play well thisweek. When I practiced this morning Ifelt good, no? I felt very good, but itwasn't the case during the match.
Well, that's the end ofthe road, and I have to accept it. Ihave to accept my defeat as I accepted my victories: with calm. So I have to stay calm and stay cool‑headed to try and analyze what Idid wrong.
I need to learn, and you learn more when youlose than when you win. I need to workon those points on which I wasn't good, and from there try and do better for mynext tournament.
So as I said, this is not a tragedy,losing here in Paris. It had to happen one day, and this is anexcellent season for me.
Of course it's a bit sad, but I haveto overcome this as quickly as possible.
Q. Wasit the wonderful game level of Soderling on this surface, or because you wereon a bad day or any other phenomenon, like you played in Barcelonathen in Madrid? Maybe you played too many tournaments.
RAFAEL NADAL: Stop it. Stop it. Had I played my bestlevel against Soderling, maybe the results would have been different. But he played a very good level of tennis andI didn't play well, so the results are what they are.
I didn't play at mybest level. I have days like this, andthis was one of those days. I hadsomeone playing very well in front of me.
I'm not going to modify the way I prepare,because I've always prepared in the same way for the last four years. So that wouldn't make sense.
Q. 6‑0,6‑1 when you played Soderling in Rome. That was the last result. So is it because he was very aggressivetoday? Was it having an influence?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all.
Q. Were you surprised by the level of his game?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all. I've seen him playing quite a few times, andthat was not a surprise. It was my gamelevel that was a surprise to me today.
Q. A minute ago you were saying that, well, this day had to happen oneday. So were you prepared, or are yousurprised by this defeat?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, all of us athletes, we know that whenwe walk on the court we can either win or lose. I know it for a fact anything can happen, and I have to accept them bothin the same way.
You cannot collapseeither because you've won a match or because you've lost it. This is sport, and you can have victories ordefeats. No one remembers defeats on thelong run. People remember victories.
So I have to move forward. Well, I have little time left to prepare for Wimbledon, but I have to move forward and try and preparethe best I can.
MixieP
Hall of Fame
It's not the entire interview. Rafa also congratulated Sod to the victory.
There's a snippet of the interview here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caP8ymFrStM
which you can compare to the transcript, where the congratulation bit is left out.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
He gave Soderling the credit he deserved but he acknowledged he played short which was absolutely true. He didn't use any excuse at all (wind, tiredness), didn't hide his disappointment but handled it with calm. It was a great interview.
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it is still very strange isnt it.how can he feel so great in the practice with that kness.well the problem with tendinits is,it is a very strange injury,sometimes you feel well,sometimes you feel not well.i still dont buy that he was in pain AO 09,it was one of the most amazing back to back matches he played there.it was historical. not sure it is possible to play like that with pain even when you are rafa nadal.i now realised what rafa and his camp were trying to do,i think they were trying to repeat 07,08..but the knees collapsed EARLIER THIS TIME.it is speculation ofcourse,i think rafa was also suffering from a mini depression at that time,refuse to stop,refuse to go back home when things were so painful there,he just wants to continue to play with pain like a maniac and try to forget personal problems.
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MixieP
Hall of Fame
Very true indeed.
A
aprilfool
Guest
On the court, the guy who keeps winning the "Sportsman of the Year" award.
lonux
Hall of Fame
+1
Nadal is fake TO ME. Both on-court and off-court.
Federer's arrogance is funny, sometimes annoying, but fantastic. He says what he wants and what he thinks.
veroniquem
Bionic Poster
I thought about that too mistik. That would explain a lot really.
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Don't Let It Bounce
Hall of Fame
It is a good time for men's tennis, that it should have a couple of class acts like Nadal and Federer as its most visible players. Nadal's public presentation is as flawless as a guy his age could hope for. I would not presume to guess how much of his humility is an act, but I certainly have no intuition that he is particularly insincere. I would not call Federer humble, but neither would I call him a braggart. He acknowledges his rather obvious achievements in a way that does not irritate. I would be happy for my nephew to emulate either player, and that's not something I would say of many greats of the past 30 years.
Perhaps the humility we're looking for here is not "I am not a better player than other players," which in a GOAT candidate would be a counterproductive attitude as well as a false belief, but rather something like "My being better at this game today does not make me more important than anyone else."
I always got the feeling that the Aussie greats, who spent much more time together socially than modern players do, kept each other's egos in check. Laver has been mentioned already, and the little I know of Ken Rosewall impresses me too:
Perhaps the humility we're looking for here is not "I am not a better player than other players," which in a GOAT candidate would be a counterproductive attitude as well as a false belief, but rather something like "My being better at this game today does not make me more important than anyone else."
I always got the feeling that the Aussie greats, who spent much more time together socially than modern players do, kept each other's egos in check. Laver has been mentioned already, and the little I know of Ken Rosewall impresses me too:
Question: Why in an interview with him in about 1970 was he rating you below other stars, many of whom you were clearly superior to?
Ken Rosewall: “I think if you beat a man a lot, you tend to have a low opinion of his game, even if he is a very good player and beats about everyone else. I think that’s why he said it.” (referring to Gonzo’s 2-1 advantage during their tour).”
Question: Do you think he harbored any old grudge because you were the one that ended his dominance?
Ken Rosewall: “I and others did.”
Ken Rosewall: “I think if you beat a man a lot, you tend to have a low opinion of his game, even if he is a very good player and beats about everyone else. I think that’s why he said it.” (referring to Gonzo’s 2-1 advantage during their tour).”
Question: Do you think he harbored any old grudge because you were the one that ended his dominance?
Ken Rosewall: “I and others did.”
P_Agony
Banned
They all use excuses, Rafa included. At least Fed is honest, which is more than you can say for Rafa.
