Courtesy: UBITennis
Q. I suppose that you are sad for losing a final especially on clay considering that it was the 37th one without losing – matches that are not finals?
A. In front of me I had a really good player. He’s playing at a really high level. We’ve got to accept that. When someone is better than you there is nothing you can do other than congratulate him and that’s it and look forward to your next tournament and try to keep up, see what you’re missing, what you’re doing right and face forward with the correct attitude nd with mental strength. You have to be cold, mentally speaking, and you have to look for solutions. Try to be better, try to practice and next time I’ll try to do better.
Q. Rafa you were saying the last day that to play very good is the exception; Today was one of those matches where things were not working the way you wanted?
A. No, things were not working out. I tried to go out there and do my best. It wasn’t my best day on clay – that’s a fact. I don’t think I played bad, I think I play average and playing average against Djokovic is not enough. That’s what happened today. You’ve got to play more aggressively but to do that you have to feel the forehand a bit more. His backhand did me some harm and I had to go a bit in the centre – there was nothing I could do about that. I will have to take that into account the next time. The match started bad and then I had to fight but he was better and I have to accept that. I’m sorry for the crowd, the people who have been supporting me here a lot and I’m really emotional playing on this court. Always playing in front of the Spanish crowd, especially the Madrid crowd is something unforgettable and I can only do it once a year.
Q. Do you have any opinion of Djokovic’s celebration out there? Do you think anything is going to change for Rome or Roland Garros especially due to the altitude?
A. I don’t know if anything is going to change. You’ve got to make things change, they don’t change by themselves. I’ve been having a really good season and if I hadn’t had someone like Djokovic on front of me, who has won all these matches, I would’ve been having a better season. But there is one who is having a better season than me and I have to accept that and give him my congratulations. an you change it? I’ve won two tournaments, I’ve made it to five finals, winning three, losing two and my season is quite positive. What am I going to change? It depends on me and on him, it’s not just the two of is – there are many factors. You don’t just play the final against Djokovic; you are fighting for it from the first round. About his celebration, well, each one can celebrate in the way and he can take his moment the way he wants. Good for him.
Q. Is it a psychological problem to lose three times against the same player and after seeing how Djokovic is playing are you frightened of losing no.1?
A. I don’t think I can lose no.1. If I lose no.1 it’s not the end of the world. If I lose it I will be no.2 and I’ll be very happy. I’m just happy to go out on court and have the feeling that I’m competitive and I still have this feeling but at the moment I haven´t been able to beat him but I’ll try to work and I try to beat him. The good things will come and you´ve got to be patient. I’ve won a lot of things in my career. I’m 25 years old and I’ve played more than I ever dreamed when I started. I thank the people who have been with me whether it was my family when I started or other people and I just have to be thankful for everything that I’ve got. I’ll be back. In your life there are highs and moments, I am not on a low, I’m on a high but my opponent is at the highest point in his life. I’m not going to make a drama when the other one is better than me.
Q.Rafa is this loss in Madrid tougher than the one in Indian Wells or Miami?
A. No, Miami’s loss was much tougher without doubts. I was much closer then to the victory and well then I finished destroyed physically, today it was different. No one likes to loss but I think that comparing loses- you know some are tougher than others, this one has a plus which is that we have played in clay, which is always something special. But to lose is normal you know, it’s not normal to get on the court win Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona… Those things are fake, they are movies and you only get to see these movies on TV. If no one has manage that in the history of tennis well it was pretty complicated that I managed it during two consecutive years. I am very happy I said that from the first moment. I am glad of everything that has happened to me till today. When I was playing my first match in Monte Carlo if anyone had come to me and told me to sign this 3 or 4 weeks ago, I would definitely do so. I am in a privileged position of the year, it’s true that the Race distances a little bit. But it´s also true that I have shorten 1500 points thanks to Barcelona and Monte Carlo, I get 400 more and also the distance from 3,4 and 5 are bigger now. My first objective of the year is to classify myself to London’s Master. Which is little by little closer, I don’t like to say that it’s done until it is not done mathematically talking. It’s pretty close; something really horrible must happen if I
don’t manage to make it. I have to keep on working to continue meeting my goals and my goal right now is to end up us high as possible in the ranking, I’ve got to try and play my best in Rome, Roland Garros, Queens, Wimbledon…
Q. Rafa I would like to ask you about his mornings training. Did you finish with good feelings this morning?
A. Are you worried about my training? Well they were quite good actually; I started the match quite well. I started the point 40-0, I did a really good game, he did the break because I was unlucky, and he played really good though. Afterwards he has been playing really well; maybe I committed a couple of errors. He has played fantastically till the 4-0, he has been aggressive, didn’t commit any errors. And even when I was not playing that bad I didn’t have any options.
Q. Rafa what do you think were the important factors that decided today’s match?
A. I don’t think I played my best tennis. He played well had fantastic moments. It was very difficult to stop him when he played his backhand. It was very very aggressive and he opened the court very well. I think I played a little bit short at times. I have to play more aggressive with the forehand, when I touch the ball with the forehand it has to be better. That’s what I have to do in the next tournaments and not just against Djokovic. I think I practiced very well here before the tournament. I didn’t play my best in the semis and the final – the conditions here are always a bit more difficult but that’s not an excuse.
Q. Were you surprised by how he played, particularly those backhands?
A. He is plating fantastic. He is playing aggressive, without mistakes. His movements are incredible. I just have to congratulate him for all he’s doing wining all the matches this year. It’s something very difficult to repeat.
Q. You had a great match here with Novak two years ago….
A. I don’t think I had a great match two years ago here. I think I had a terrible match – very emotional for sure but I think I played probably worse than today.
Q: How much has he improved in those two years and what has he improved?
A. He’s playing very well; he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s focussed all the time. When you are winning every match you must be going something very good. He was always very good and when he plays with that confidence it’s very difficult to beat him. I don’t think he improves something unbelievable, he was always very good. He has a lot of talent to enter the court and control the position and he’s able to do it very do it easily which is an advantage.
Showing posts with label Madrid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madrid. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Monday, 9 May 2011
Rafael Nadal - Part of The Press Conference - Transcript
Nadal: "The world number one is clinched"
"Make no mistake, it's reality, but number one does not end the world. I'm just as happy when I go to a track and I'm competitive, we will work to win," he added.
The Spanish Rafael Nadal said today, realistically, that "the world number one is buttoned up" in recognition of the potential of the Serbian Novak Djokovic, their nemesis in the finals of Madrid, which he called a "monster."
"The number one is not endangered, is buttoned up," said Nadal. "Make no mistake, it's reality, but number one does not end the world. I'm just as happy when I go to a track and I'm competitive, we will work to win. What good is worth waiting and be patient "he added.
"It's a psychological club losing three finals in a row, yes, make no mistake, but in life there are moments in a career high and low. The mine is not low, it is very high," admitted Nadal.
"Today I was faced with a great player, a monster, it is still this year, playing a very high level. Let's face it," he said, "when it is better than you, you shake hands, and the next tournament "said Nadal, who promised to make reflections.
"To see what can be improved, what has been done right and wrong. It should be necessary attitude and a cool head, and open to discuss things and find solutions," he said.
"Today was not enough and the next attempt to improve," he said.
"Today I have not played the best on ground level, that is one hundred percent reality. Nor have I made a very bad game, normalillo, and playing well against a great Djokovic, is not enough," he continued.
"You have to play more aggressive, but you have to feel more right when you enter. I was doing damage with his backhand crosscourt. I've been there, the party had begun fatal", described Nadal.
"I do not know if anything will change or not," he said of the future, "I do not think things will change by themselves, the need to do to change and I will do everything possible to change. I come to do a very good season , but someone is doing better, no more than accept it. "
"My season is quite positive, because I've played five finals and won two. Today I have been there, depend on it, me and many more, there are only two in the circuit," he said.
"I won a lot in my career and it is an advantage that most players do not. I have 24 years, I can only be grateful to people who supported me. There is a drama, because one is better than the other," continued.
"It was harder to defeat Miami of today, because I was closer to winning and ended up physically destroyed and today. I do not like to lose, this is a plus, because it is on land.'s Always special to lose ground," said.
Last year, Nadal became the first player to win three Masters preceding 1000 Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid, and said that was virtually unique.
"The normal thing is lose, you can not always win. These are tall tales and the movies look on TV. If nobody had done before, it was difficult to win two consecutive years," analyzed.
"Now I'm in a fairly privileged position of the year, I'm taking more advantage of the three, four and five of the world," said Nadal on a positive note.
"My first goal is the Masters in London and would be a catastrophe not be obtained, almost done. I want to finish as high up the rankings, and play well in Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and other tournaments," Nadal ended.
Found on Rafaholics with no original source
"Make no mistake, it's reality, but number one does not end the world. I'm just as happy when I go to a track and I'm competitive, we will work to win," he added.
The Spanish Rafael Nadal said today, realistically, that "the world number one is buttoned up" in recognition of the potential of the Serbian Novak Djokovic, their nemesis in the finals of Madrid, which he called a "monster."
"The number one is not endangered, is buttoned up," said Nadal. "Make no mistake, it's reality, but number one does not end the world. I'm just as happy when I go to a track and I'm competitive, we will work to win. What good is worth waiting and be patient "he added.
"It's a psychological club losing three finals in a row, yes, make no mistake, but in life there are moments in a career high and low. The mine is not low, it is very high," admitted Nadal.
"Today I was faced with a great player, a monster, it is still this year, playing a very high level. Let's face it," he said, "when it is better than you, you shake hands, and the next tournament "said Nadal, who promised to make reflections.
"To see what can be improved, what has been done right and wrong. It should be necessary attitude and a cool head, and open to discuss things and find solutions," he said.
"Today was not enough and the next attempt to improve," he said.
"Today I have not played the best on ground level, that is one hundred percent reality. Nor have I made a very bad game, normalillo, and playing well against a great Djokovic, is not enough," he continued.
"You have to play more aggressive, but you have to feel more right when you enter. I was doing damage with his backhand crosscourt. I've been there, the party had begun fatal", described Nadal.
"I do not know if anything will change or not," he said of the future, "I do not think things will change by themselves, the need to do to change and I will do everything possible to change. I come to do a very good season , but someone is doing better, no more than accept it. "
"My season is quite positive, because I've played five finals and won two. Today I have been there, depend on it, me and many more, there are only two in the circuit," he said.
"I won a lot in my career and it is an advantage that most players do not. I have 24 years, I can only be grateful to people who supported me. There is a drama, because one is better than the other," continued.
"It was harder to defeat Miami of today, because I was closer to winning and ended up physically destroyed and today. I do not like to lose, this is a plus, because it is on land.'s Always special to lose ground," said.
Last year, Nadal became the first player to win three Masters preceding 1000 Roland Garros, Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid, and said that was virtually unique.
"The normal thing is lose, you can not always win. These are tall tales and the movies look on TV. If nobody had done before, it was difficult to win two consecutive years," analyzed.
"Now I'm in a fairly privileged position of the year, I'm taking more advantage of the three, four and five of the world," said Nadal on a positive note.
"My first goal is the Masters in London and would be a catastrophe not be obtained, almost done. I want to finish as high up the rankings, and play well in Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and other tournaments," Nadal ended.
Found on Rafaholics with no original source
Rafael Nadal - Video from Press Conference
Video from Rafa's press conference yesterday
http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/sports-hq/nadal-i-cant-beat-djokovic-2352159.html
http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/sports-hq/nadal-i-cant-beat-djokovic-2352159.html
Rafael Nadal - Winning With Calm
As he walked out to play the final of the 1980 U.S. Open, Bjorn Borg had won 13 straight five-set matches dating back over four years. By all appearances, the Angelic Assassin, His Iciness, was unbeatable in the game's paramount test of nerve. Appearances were deceiving. That day John McEnroe beat him 6-4 in the fifth. Afterward, the journalist Richard Evans wrote that he believed that Borg, “by the infinitesimal standards by which we judge great champions,” wouldn’t be quite the same again. His aura of silent intimidation had been punctured. Evans was right. McEnroe would overtake him for No. 1 the following year.
This spring, while watching Rafael Nadal lose a third-set tiebreaker to Novak Djokovic in Key Biscayne, Evans’ words came to my mind. The situation wasn’t as dramatic, and certainly not as permanent—Nadal isn’t going to retire in a year the way Borg did. But I felt like I had seen something analagous. At a point when I was sure Nadal would win, at the point when he always wins, he lost. He got worse as the tiebreaker went on, while Djokovic, who had succumbed in many close matches like this one to Nadal in the past, was the one who hit bigger and better. It was a hot day, one where you would have expected the old Nole, the physically fragile Nole, to wilt while the old Rafa, the mentally and physically impervious Rafa, ground him down. The opposite happened.
On Sunday the scene had shifted to Madrid, but the expectations were the same. It may have been hot in Miami, but this was clay, this was Spain, this was Rafa-time. Again the opposite happened. Again Djokovic won, this time in even more convincing fashion, in straight sets and no tiebreakers. What was most impressive of all, though, and one that must be worrying to Nadal—Rafa was clearly, and rightly, not pleased with the proceedings afterward—was the way in which Djokovic beat him. As usual the Serb dictated the rallies; as usual he controlled points with his backhand and used the down the line to brilliant effect; as usual he was the one playing from farther up in the court. He’s done all of those things in the past, even on clay, in Hamburg in 2008 and Madrid two years ago, and still come out the loser. What was different this time was that Djokovic also beat Nadal at his own game. He won his fair share of the long, grinding, neutral rallies that normally go to Nadal. He won without having to take big risks.
This match began with Djokovic knocking off seemingly effortless winners to go up 3-0. He made it look simple. Using his backhand like a normal player’s forehand, he punched the ball cleanly crosscourt into Nadal’s forehand, then took the short response up the line. But that’s exactly the way both the Hamburg and Madrid matches had begun. In those, Nadal was able to weather the early storm, hit his forehand a little more heavily, and eventually move Djokovic farther off the court on his backhand side, making that shot tougher to hit for winners. Djokovic eventually began to net them. This time, Nadal went back at the backhand time and again, but he couldn’t push Djokovic off the baseline or wide of the sideline.
Nadal has said that, unlike with Federer, he doesn’t have a go-to strategy. There’s no obvious weaker side, no obvious place to hit, no simple dynamic he can set up and count on. Near the end of the first, after trying to break down the Djokovic backhand, Nadal seemed to have found answer when he switched up on a couple points and sent his forehand to Djokovic’s forehand. He broke serve for the first time. But it was never going to be as simple as hitting the ball to Djokovic’s forehand. That shot is much improved, almost as much improved as his serve. It doesn’t break down the way it could in the past, and today, while his backhand did the majority of the damage, it was his high, heavy, safe crosscourt forehand that kept Nadal pinned back on his backhand side. Just as Nadal likes getting rallies going from his forehand to Federer’s backhand, Djokovic seemed happy to take up his forehand against Nadal’s backhand and wait for something short. Djokovic is consistent enough to wait Nadal out now, something that has rarely, if ever, been true for an opponent of Rafa’s on clay.
How to explain Djokovic’s newfound solidity? It’s not as if he’s suddenly been practicing his shots differently. It comes from two things. Being fit enough to hang in rallies and hit the ball as crisply on the 15th shot as you did on the first. More important, it’s knowing you can do that. This make you less likely to pull the trigger early in a rally instead of waiting for the right moment. It was interesting, I thought, that the one time when Djokovic really got upset with himself—and it wasn’t on a crucial point—was when he felt like he gone for an all-out forehand winner too early in a rally and missed it long. Beyond just greater patience, though, this felt like a master class in the Djokovician—he hurt Nadal with his return, he punched his forehand inside-out for winners, he went to the body effectively with his serve, and he covered the court like nobody has since . . . Rafael Nadal.
OK, now for the “yes, but,” “ok, sure,” “let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” “don’t overreact to one match,” "you're an idiot if you think Nadal is done," section of the article. I get it. This was Madrid, where the ball flies, the clay is hard, and Nadal has lost to Federer and nearly lost to Djokovic. This is Madrid, where matches are two-out-of-three instead of three-out-of-five, as in Paris. This is also a one-week event, not a two-weeker. Djokovic has shown a tendency in the past to burn himself out by the latter stages of Slams. Nadal knows exactly how to win in Paris, Djokovic doesn’t. And despite his 32-match win streak, there were signs of nerves from Djokovic as he tried to close out the first set.
As for Nadal, I thought he stuck with the high, heavy, crosscourt forehand too long and played too far behind the baseline today. (Contrary to popular opinion, though, court positioning often isn’t by choice—sometimes you just keep finding yourself pushed into worse spots. It’s not simply a matter of saying, “Now I’m going to stand closer to the baseline.”) When Nadal has beaten Djokovic, he has stretched him on his backhand side and found the corner up the line with his own forehand.
What Nadal also done in the past is grind a less fit and less consistent Djokovic into the dust. Rafa has won the neutral rallies and not made the unforced errors. Today, with a chance to break at 2-2, 30-30, with a hint of hope in the Madrid air, Nadal made two basic backhand errors. A few games later, at match point, the two players engaged in another long, arduous rally. Nadal tried forehands inside-out, forehands inside-in, backhand drives, and backhand slices. Djokovic got them all back, until the point and the match ended with a routine Nadal backhand floating an inch wide.
The standards by which we define champions are, as Richard Evans said, infinitesimal, and I’m sure Nadal will be judged a champion by those standards many more times in the future. But that point, and this match, marked the second time in two months against Nadal that Djokovic has taken a signature advantage of his opponent’s—first, the ability to up his level at the crucial moment; second, the ability to win with patience—and made it his own.
Courtesy: Tennis.com
This spring, while watching Rafael Nadal lose a third-set tiebreaker to Novak Djokovic in Key Biscayne, Evans’ words came to my mind. The situation wasn’t as dramatic, and certainly not as permanent—Nadal isn’t going to retire in a year the way Borg did. But I felt like I had seen something analagous. At a point when I was sure Nadal would win, at the point when he always wins, he lost. He got worse as the tiebreaker went on, while Djokovic, who had succumbed in many close matches like this one to Nadal in the past, was the one who hit bigger and better. It was a hot day, one where you would have expected the old Nole, the physically fragile Nole, to wilt while the old Rafa, the mentally and physically impervious Rafa, ground him down. The opposite happened.
On Sunday the scene had shifted to Madrid, but the expectations were the same. It may have been hot in Miami, but this was clay, this was Spain, this was Rafa-time. Again the opposite happened. Again Djokovic won, this time in even more convincing fashion, in straight sets and no tiebreakers. What was most impressive of all, though, and one that must be worrying to Nadal—Rafa was clearly, and rightly, not pleased with the proceedings afterward—was the way in which Djokovic beat him. As usual the Serb dictated the rallies; as usual he controlled points with his backhand and used the down the line to brilliant effect; as usual he was the one playing from farther up in the court. He’s done all of those things in the past, even on clay, in Hamburg in 2008 and Madrid two years ago, and still come out the loser. What was different this time was that Djokovic also beat Nadal at his own game. He won his fair share of the long, grinding, neutral rallies that normally go to Nadal. He won without having to take big risks.
This match began with Djokovic knocking off seemingly effortless winners to go up 3-0. He made it look simple. Using his backhand like a normal player’s forehand, he punched the ball cleanly crosscourt into Nadal’s forehand, then took the short response up the line. But that’s exactly the way both the Hamburg and Madrid matches had begun. In those, Nadal was able to weather the early storm, hit his forehand a little more heavily, and eventually move Djokovic farther off the court on his backhand side, making that shot tougher to hit for winners. Djokovic eventually began to net them. This time, Nadal went back at the backhand time and again, but he couldn’t push Djokovic off the baseline or wide of the sideline.
Nadal has said that, unlike with Federer, he doesn’t have a go-to strategy. There’s no obvious weaker side, no obvious place to hit, no simple dynamic he can set up and count on. Near the end of the first, after trying to break down the Djokovic backhand, Nadal seemed to have found answer when he switched up on a couple points and sent his forehand to Djokovic’s forehand. He broke serve for the first time. But it was never going to be as simple as hitting the ball to Djokovic’s forehand. That shot is much improved, almost as much improved as his serve. It doesn’t break down the way it could in the past, and today, while his backhand did the majority of the damage, it was his high, heavy, safe crosscourt forehand that kept Nadal pinned back on his backhand side. Just as Nadal likes getting rallies going from his forehand to Federer’s backhand, Djokovic seemed happy to take up his forehand against Nadal’s backhand and wait for something short. Djokovic is consistent enough to wait Nadal out now, something that has rarely, if ever, been true for an opponent of Rafa’s on clay.
How to explain Djokovic’s newfound solidity? It’s not as if he’s suddenly been practicing his shots differently. It comes from two things. Being fit enough to hang in rallies and hit the ball as crisply on the 15th shot as you did on the first. More important, it’s knowing you can do that. This make you less likely to pull the trigger early in a rally instead of waiting for the right moment. It was interesting, I thought, that the one time when Djokovic really got upset with himself—and it wasn’t on a crucial point—was when he felt like he gone for an all-out forehand winner too early in a rally and missed it long. Beyond just greater patience, though, this felt like a master class in the Djokovician—he hurt Nadal with his return, he punched his forehand inside-out for winners, he went to the body effectively with his serve, and he covered the court like nobody has since . . . Rafael Nadal.
OK, now for the “yes, but,” “ok, sure,” “let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” “don’t overreact to one match,” "you're an idiot if you think Nadal is done," section of the article. I get it. This was Madrid, where the ball flies, the clay is hard, and Nadal has lost to Federer and nearly lost to Djokovic. This is Madrid, where matches are two-out-of-three instead of three-out-of-five, as in Paris. This is also a one-week event, not a two-weeker. Djokovic has shown a tendency in the past to burn himself out by the latter stages of Slams. Nadal knows exactly how to win in Paris, Djokovic doesn’t. And despite his 32-match win streak, there were signs of nerves from Djokovic as he tried to close out the first set.
As for Nadal, I thought he stuck with the high, heavy, crosscourt forehand too long and played too far behind the baseline today. (Contrary to popular opinion, though, court positioning often isn’t by choice—sometimes you just keep finding yourself pushed into worse spots. It’s not simply a matter of saying, “Now I’m going to stand closer to the baseline.”) When Nadal has beaten Djokovic, he has stretched him on his backhand side and found the corner up the line with his own forehand.
What Nadal also done in the past is grind a less fit and less consistent Djokovic into the dust. Rafa has won the neutral rallies and not made the unforced errors. Today, with a chance to break at 2-2, 30-30, with a hint of hope in the Madrid air, Nadal made two basic backhand errors. A few games later, at match point, the two players engaged in another long, arduous rally. Nadal tried forehands inside-out, forehands inside-in, backhand drives, and backhand slices. Djokovic got them all back, until the point and the match ended with a routine Nadal backhand floating an inch wide.
The standards by which we define champions are, as Richard Evans said, infinitesimal, and I’m sure Nadal will be judged a champion by those standards many more times in the future. But that point, and this match, marked the second time in two months against Nadal that Djokovic has taken a signature advantage of his opponent’s—first, the ability to up his level at the crucial moment; second, the ability to win with patience—and made it his own.
Courtesy: Tennis.com
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic - LIVE TEXT
If you cannot watch the match you can follow it here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9479647.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9479647.stm
Rafael Nadal - SF Press Conference Transcript
Spanish Press Conference Transcript is here
Q. Hello Rafa congratulations. In the case that Djokovic gets to the final how do you expect the final to turn out?
A. Like always, I've got the illusion of winning, of playing a good game, the illusion of being competitive, as I always do when I go out to win a match. I'm very much aware that in the last 2 finals against him I lost and maybe the conditions suit him a bit more now because of that. Here I think the conditions here are a bit more in his favor, I'm not going to go about the match a different way. I am going to try to go out there and play with what I know which is play with intensity, play aggressively, play with my drive and try to have hit better points than him. He is moving very well, he is shining a bit now because he has a lot of confidence now which is important. I plan to accept this and all the difficulties that will surely be there and accept that this is going to be a very complicated math that I could lose even playing well. I lost 2 finals, I could lose a third. I will continue fighting continue working no matter what. For me to start the clay season with 2 victories and now a final one in the third tournament which may be less favorable for me but its also a very good result. I have to make the extra effort and tomorrow will be an important match. The fact that I am playing at home is special and well its another final in the Master 1000 and I will fight until the end.
Q. Two things, the first in respect to Djokovic, more to do with his confidence than his winning streak, up to what point do you think he has changed? For example being more aggressive on the court?
A. Who Djokovic? I think its completely the opposite. I don’t see him more aggressive. I think he is less aggressive now than a few years ago, he used to me more aggressive, he used to not let you play sometimes. I can be wrong but from my experience playing 2 matches against him, I didn’t see him more aggressive than before. I actually saw him less aggressive than before. Maybe he is making less errors than before and his defense is better now. He is starting to serve very well which last year and the other year, he didn’t do so well. He is a good player, he has always been a good player and now he is arriving with a winning streak and that gives you a boost in your confidence and security in yourself. That’s all, I think he really is one of those players that comes up every few seasons because of his talent and the good hits he delivers from positions that look very simple but are actually very difficult because he manages to hit the ball very soon, very much in front of where he is and with little effort. He seems to always have enough time to complete a stroke and hit the ball right when it goes towards him and that's a privilege that few players have.
Q. Are you surprised about what happened there because its not the first time?
A. I'm not surprised, only that there at that moment I was losing more time than I wanted to because I was a bit nervous, it was the last game in the match but I accepted it and didn’t let it get to me. Honestly it bothers me a lot more that the umpire decides something like that in the second set, than in the last set of a game, which happened to me a few years ago, because there you can either have 3 points left to make up the difference or 3 games left. Basically you don’t want to be on his bad side the entire match.
Q. What do you think was the key after the first set when you were both tied and then Roger ended up winning. What happened in the second set that allowed you to win?
A. Well I don’t think it was our best match for either of us, I think we both made some errors, more than usual. In the first set, in the first moments in the match I should have done another reak because he was playing weaker and then he started to play better, he began playing more aggressively. And after 5 - 5 he had 0 – 40 and the normal thing would be to win the point especially playing aggressively, he had gotten all of the points and played very well. I think evidently, tennis is a game where bad luck doesn’t exist because you play point after point very consecutively and by the way the set went, I think it would have been more logical that the game went more on his favor than mine. It didn’t go his way even though I think I was playing a bit behind. I haven’t spoken with my trainer or anyone yet but from what I analyzed, I think I was playing a bit behind, from what I could feel from inside the court, I thought I was playing a too far back, I wasn't hitting the balls far enough, he could have gotten in front of me more. In the beginning when he was making mistakes, it didn’t matter but when he began to improve his game, there wasn't any room for me. All I thought was of what I had to do, try to hit longer shots and to do that I should have stepped forward a bit more during my serves. The problem here is that the ball bounces so much that you have to turn to your right and if you serve from the front, its basically impossible because the ball goes way too high. I decided, well if he serves to me with his backhand, I will be backwards but if he serves to me with his forehand I will be forward. I think that was a key, I wanted to recuperate too fast when he hit his serves to me. I was focusing on coming back to the center more but I gave up on that because I ha to be on either side of the court. After that the points were neutralized, he continued hitting backhands to me and I had to keep putting up with him. By then it was harder for him to gain points against me but if he does you applaud him and period. But what you cant have is that he hurts your game with half shots which is what was happening in some moments throughout the game and that I did recuperate.
Q. Rafa. Can you correct me if I’m wrong? I believe that Federer didn’t do a single Ace in the entire match. Are you surprised? And on the other hand, do you have the feeling that on that first set when he came back he showed his best tennis regarding the last matches he played against you.
A. Well he didn’t do any aces because I was returning from the very back; it’s difficult to do aces this way. To Feliciano the other day he made 25 aces, or 26 but Feli was returning closer. I think that we are different players and I believe that the vision of the court changes quite a lot. It’s true that he has done very good drives at the end of the first set I opened very well with my backhand. I think that I have helped him to have done that with fewer problems. He was playing short and I was playing from the very back. He had a lot of time to watch the ball coming, whenever someone plays at the back you have a lot of time to step in and position yourself. From my point of view that is what was happening. There have been many moments where I have played really well, I started returning very well with my backhand, I started doing that more than in other matches. I am not going to say that I didn’t make any errors with my forehand but he was playing very aggressively, when he had a ball to his forehand he was trying to neutralize the game, he tried to play the ball hard, when he did it correctly I suffered and after when I stepped back in I started playing a little bit longer you know he couldn’t see the spaces so easily; he has suffered a little bit more I believe. I was trying but then I was making a couple more errors.
Q. You’ve said that it wasn’t your best game, nor Roger’s. But without being your best game you have been capable of handling the match against the 3rd ranked player in the world. Secondly how did the roof affect you game, does it change a lot when the close you the roof 3 minutes before the start of the game?
A. Well I knew this could happen, I was prepared, and obviously it doesn’t help me in any way. First of all I couldn’t see the ball properly, when he was serving, the ball was on the light’s way and I couldn’t see. I could not see if he was coming up to the net or not. It was a bit of a problem for me and also the court changes a little bit when the roof is closed but it’s not an extreme change. The difference between the good players and the best one is that when you play badly you win, that is what the best players do. At the end of the year you really don’t play so many goo matches. You can have a perfect season but during your career you have moments where you play well, average… At those moments is when you have to continue winning matches. It’s those moments that keep you up there and give you an opportunity. To do it better the next day I believe that the really important thing is to accept what you really have, to fight with what you have and if you can make it to a level 6, make it to that level. Don’t become desperate and make it to a level 4, then when you reach level 10 you will obtain the victories because then it becomes much easier. That’s the reality, what’s really difficult is to win when you are at a level 5 or 6, it is at these moments where your ranking changes and then you are ready to see the world from a different point of view. You face the tournaments and you see that playing badly you can still win them. To obtain that, the most important thing is to accept things and continue with the appropriate attitude.
Q. Rafa, yesterday you already talked about him but today we have confirmed the news. I would like to ask you about Seve, today in the minute of silence we have seen you very emotional and you have been wearing a black badge. Can you give us some reflections?
A. Well I can give very few reflections. It’s a sad day in general for Spain, for the world of sport. I think that he was one of the best golf players in history. He was one of the best athletes that this country has ever had. He was a pioneer. He was one of the first big athletes that we have had in Spain. I think that he has always had Great Spirit to overcome. I was talking yesterday with he was brother, well texting with him; a d he told me that he was critical; - and this morning the first thing I did was to turn on TV, and the first thing I saw was that he had died. It's a day of sadness- when you wake up with news like that you face your day differently. The only thing I can do is to give all my support to his family. It is a loss that they will never get back due to all the values that Seve had; he was a great inspiration for all of us and all the athletes. But luckily we have all of his videos and also we can remember him. Luckily one day I had the chance of playing 18 holes with him and it’s an unforgettable memory.
Q. You have been saying that neither you nor Federer have been playing at your best level; do you think that he can be back at his best level for Roland Garros?
A. Federer made it to the semi finals. He suffered a lot against Feliciano. He played a really good match against Soderling. He’s got a lot of confidence. Today at some point he was playing really well but Federer is a very special player. He is a player that can do his best and then change the situation. He has that ease to play this game. I’ve never seen someone like him play at such ease like he has. I think that this tournament and also Rome will be good for him and after 5 sets he is going to be well prepared. He’s a player that in the grand slams he’s always played very well and now he’s going to fight to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and to when to be in the top of the rankings for sure. And afterwards he will be playing for his goals whatever they are. Obviously he’s been many years up there, let’s see his priorities I haven’t asked him but I think it will depend on his priorities, which position in the ranking he’ll finish but knowing him I think I know him quite well, he is a really ambitious player, he’s a player that likes to be up there and he loves tennis so I think that his objectives will be up there. He likes to win tournaments like in Madrid and Grand Slams so I think that he’s going to be well prepared for the important ones.
Q. Rafa, is it fair to say that this wasn’t the greatest match that the two of you have played?
A. It wasn’t one of these but you know how difficult it is for us to play against each other - 100 times. We know each other very well and at moments we are thinking more about what we can do to bother the opponent that play our best. We know each other too well and it’s very difficult to play very well in each match. In Miami I played fantastic, he didn’t play very well. I think that at moments Roger played very aggressive and great tennis and in other moments he had more mistakes than usual so the match was a little bit up and down but for sure it’s always a special match against each other. It’s a pleasure to play against him – always an honour.
Q. If you play Novak tomorrow, you’ve got your long clay court streak, he’s got his long unbeaten streak; will that make it even more special?
A: What makes it more special is to play another Masters 1000 final and to play against the best player of the year – Djokovic – and it play at home is always a very special feeling and the crowd always supports me here and hopefully tomorrow I’ll have the crowd behind me, upporting me and that will be an important point for me. I think the match will be very difficult against Djokovic and I think if it´s against Bellucci too because he’s playing fantastic. I understand your interest is about Djokovic – the thing is, when a player isn’t losing it’s because every day he is doing the right thing and hopefully tomorrow he doesn’t always do the right things and I can play at my best level. Only like this I’m going to have chances. Let’s try and we’ll see tomorrow. I think that because he is undefeated this year and he has been in the last two finals he’ll be the favourite for tomorrow.
Q. You said that sometimes when you play Roger with you know too much about each other; how is it with Novak? Do you know too much about Novak as well?
A. It’s a little bit different. Sure we know each other well. I think that the match change a little bit because I don’t have the tactic 100% right to play against him and he doesn’t either. So in general, the match is a little bit different. Against Roger, I have played a lot of important matches throughout our careers and a few ones against Novak but I still haven’t felt the pressure and the emotions that I have felt when I played against Roger – the Australian final, 3 Wimbledons, 3 Roland Garros´ - a lot of important matches and against Novak, I’ve played the US Open final and one Roland Garros but we’ve played a lot of Masters 1000 finals but the feeling is sometimes a little bit different.
Q: I think you’ve never lost against Novak on clay, can that be a psychological advantage tomorrow?
A: It can be if I didn’t lose two finals in a row but with the last two results that’s not going to happen – it’s bad for me. He’s coming with a lot of confidence. For sure he knows he can beat me and he did the last two times. I am here to try my best and to try to play aggressive and play good match and that’s what I'm going to try. Let’s see. I don’t think that’s going to have affect.
Courtesy: UBItennis
Q. Hello Rafa congratulations. In the case that Djokovic gets to the final how do you expect the final to turn out?
A. Like always, I've got the illusion of winning, of playing a good game, the illusion of being competitive, as I always do when I go out to win a match. I'm very much aware that in the last 2 finals against him I lost and maybe the conditions suit him a bit more now because of that. Here I think the conditions here are a bit more in his favor, I'm not going to go about the match a different way. I am going to try to go out there and play with what I know which is play with intensity, play aggressively, play with my drive and try to have hit better points than him. He is moving very well, he is shining a bit now because he has a lot of confidence now which is important. I plan to accept this and all the difficulties that will surely be there and accept that this is going to be a very complicated math that I could lose even playing well. I lost 2 finals, I could lose a third. I will continue fighting continue working no matter what. For me to start the clay season with 2 victories and now a final one in the third tournament which may be less favorable for me but its also a very good result. I have to make the extra effort and tomorrow will be an important match. The fact that I am playing at home is special and well its another final in the Master 1000 and I will fight until the end.
Q. Two things, the first in respect to Djokovic, more to do with his confidence than his winning streak, up to what point do you think he has changed? For example being more aggressive on the court?
A. Who Djokovic? I think its completely the opposite. I don’t see him more aggressive. I think he is less aggressive now than a few years ago, he used to me more aggressive, he used to not let you play sometimes. I can be wrong but from my experience playing 2 matches against him, I didn’t see him more aggressive than before. I actually saw him less aggressive than before. Maybe he is making less errors than before and his defense is better now. He is starting to serve very well which last year and the other year, he didn’t do so well. He is a good player, he has always been a good player and now he is arriving with a winning streak and that gives you a boost in your confidence and security in yourself. That’s all, I think he really is one of those players that comes up every few seasons because of his talent and the good hits he delivers from positions that look very simple but are actually very difficult because he manages to hit the ball very soon, very much in front of where he is and with little effort. He seems to always have enough time to complete a stroke and hit the ball right when it goes towards him and that's a privilege that few players have.
Q. Are you surprised about what happened there because its not the first time?
A. I'm not surprised, only that there at that moment I was losing more time than I wanted to because I was a bit nervous, it was the last game in the match but I accepted it and didn’t let it get to me. Honestly it bothers me a lot more that the umpire decides something like that in the second set, than in the last set of a game, which happened to me a few years ago, because there you can either have 3 points left to make up the difference or 3 games left. Basically you don’t want to be on his bad side the entire match.
Q. What do you think was the key after the first set when you were both tied and then Roger ended up winning. What happened in the second set that allowed you to win?
A. Well I don’t think it was our best match for either of us, I think we both made some errors, more than usual. In the first set, in the first moments in the match I should have done another reak because he was playing weaker and then he started to play better, he began playing more aggressively. And after 5 - 5 he had 0 – 40 and the normal thing would be to win the point especially playing aggressively, he had gotten all of the points and played very well. I think evidently, tennis is a game where bad luck doesn’t exist because you play point after point very consecutively and by the way the set went, I think it would have been more logical that the game went more on his favor than mine. It didn’t go his way even though I think I was playing a bit behind. I haven’t spoken with my trainer or anyone yet but from what I analyzed, I think I was playing a bit behind, from what I could feel from inside the court, I thought I was playing a too far back, I wasn't hitting the balls far enough, he could have gotten in front of me more. In the beginning when he was making mistakes, it didn’t matter but when he began to improve his game, there wasn't any room for me. All I thought was of what I had to do, try to hit longer shots and to do that I should have stepped forward a bit more during my serves. The problem here is that the ball bounces so much that you have to turn to your right and if you serve from the front, its basically impossible because the ball goes way too high. I decided, well if he serves to me with his backhand, I will be backwards but if he serves to me with his forehand I will be forward. I think that was a key, I wanted to recuperate too fast when he hit his serves to me. I was focusing on coming back to the center more but I gave up on that because I ha to be on either side of the court. After that the points were neutralized, he continued hitting backhands to me and I had to keep putting up with him. By then it was harder for him to gain points against me but if he does you applaud him and period. But what you cant have is that he hurts your game with half shots which is what was happening in some moments throughout the game and that I did recuperate.
Q. Rafa. Can you correct me if I’m wrong? I believe that Federer didn’t do a single Ace in the entire match. Are you surprised? And on the other hand, do you have the feeling that on that first set when he came back he showed his best tennis regarding the last matches he played against you.
A. Well he didn’t do any aces because I was returning from the very back; it’s difficult to do aces this way. To Feliciano the other day he made 25 aces, or 26 but Feli was returning closer. I think that we are different players and I believe that the vision of the court changes quite a lot. It’s true that he has done very good drives at the end of the first set I opened very well with my backhand. I think that I have helped him to have done that with fewer problems. He was playing short and I was playing from the very back. He had a lot of time to watch the ball coming, whenever someone plays at the back you have a lot of time to step in and position yourself. From my point of view that is what was happening. There have been many moments where I have played really well, I started returning very well with my backhand, I started doing that more than in other matches. I am not going to say that I didn’t make any errors with my forehand but he was playing very aggressively, when he had a ball to his forehand he was trying to neutralize the game, he tried to play the ball hard, when he did it correctly I suffered and after when I stepped back in I started playing a little bit longer you know he couldn’t see the spaces so easily; he has suffered a little bit more I believe. I was trying but then I was making a couple more errors.
Q. You’ve said that it wasn’t your best game, nor Roger’s. But without being your best game you have been capable of handling the match against the 3rd ranked player in the world. Secondly how did the roof affect you game, does it change a lot when the close you the roof 3 minutes before the start of the game?
A. Well I knew this could happen, I was prepared, and obviously it doesn’t help me in any way. First of all I couldn’t see the ball properly, when he was serving, the ball was on the light’s way and I couldn’t see. I could not see if he was coming up to the net or not. It was a bit of a problem for me and also the court changes a little bit when the roof is closed but it’s not an extreme change. The difference between the good players and the best one is that when you play badly you win, that is what the best players do. At the end of the year you really don’t play so many goo matches. You can have a perfect season but during your career you have moments where you play well, average… At those moments is when you have to continue winning matches. It’s those moments that keep you up there and give you an opportunity. To do it better the next day I believe that the really important thing is to accept what you really have, to fight with what you have and if you can make it to a level 6, make it to that level. Don’t become desperate and make it to a level 4, then when you reach level 10 you will obtain the victories because then it becomes much easier. That’s the reality, what’s really difficult is to win when you are at a level 5 or 6, it is at these moments where your ranking changes and then you are ready to see the world from a different point of view. You face the tournaments and you see that playing badly you can still win them. To obtain that, the most important thing is to accept things and continue with the appropriate attitude.
Q. Rafa, yesterday you already talked about him but today we have confirmed the news. I would like to ask you about Seve, today in the minute of silence we have seen you very emotional and you have been wearing a black badge. Can you give us some reflections?
A. Well I can give very few reflections. It’s a sad day in general for Spain, for the world of sport. I think that he was one of the best golf players in history. He was one of the best athletes that this country has ever had. He was a pioneer. He was one of the first big athletes that we have had in Spain. I think that he has always had Great Spirit to overcome. I was talking yesterday with he was brother, well texting with him; a d he told me that he was critical; - and this morning the first thing I did was to turn on TV, and the first thing I saw was that he had died. It's a day of sadness- when you wake up with news like that you face your day differently. The only thing I can do is to give all my support to his family. It is a loss that they will never get back due to all the values that Seve had; he was a great inspiration for all of us and all the athletes. But luckily we have all of his videos and also we can remember him. Luckily one day I had the chance of playing 18 holes with him and it’s an unforgettable memory.
Q. You have been saying that neither you nor Federer have been playing at your best level; do you think that he can be back at his best level for Roland Garros?
A. Federer made it to the semi finals. He suffered a lot against Feliciano. He played a really good match against Soderling. He’s got a lot of confidence. Today at some point he was playing really well but Federer is a very special player. He is a player that can do his best and then change the situation. He has that ease to play this game. I’ve never seen someone like him play at such ease like he has. I think that this tournament and also Rome will be good for him and after 5 sets he is going to be well prepared. He’s a player that in the grand slams he’s always played very well and now he’s going to fight to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and to when to be in the top of the rankings for sure. And afterwards he will be playing for his goals whatever they are. Obviously he’s been many years up there, let’s see his priorities I haven’t asked him but I think it will depend on his priorities, which position in the ranking he’ll finish but knowing him I think I know him quite well, he is a really ambitious player, he’s a player that likes to be up there and he loves tennis so I think that his objectives will be up there. He likes to win tournaments like in Madrid and Grand Slams so I think that he’s going to be well prepared for the important ones.
Q. Rafa, is it fair to say that this wasn’t the greatest match that the two of you have played?
A. It wasn’t one of these but you know how difficult it is for us to play against each other - 100 times. We know each other very well and at moments we are thinking more about what we can do to bother the opponent that play our best. We know each other too well and it’s very difficult to play very well in each match. In Miami I played fantastic, he didn’t play very well. I think that at moments Roger played very aggressive and great tennis and in other moments he had more mistakes than usual so the match was a little bit up and down but for sure it’s always a special match against each other. It’s a pleasure to play against him – always an honour.
Q. If you play Novak tomorrow, you’ve got your long clay court streak, he’s got his long unbeaten streak; will that make it even more special?
A: What makes it more special is to play another Masters 1000 final and to play against the best player of the year – Djokovic – and it play at home is always a very special feeling and the crowd always supports me here and hopefully tomorrow I’ll have the crowd behind me, upporting me and that will be an important point for me. I think the match will be very difficult against Djokovic and I think if it´s against Bellucci too because he’s playing fantastic. I understand your interest is about Djokovic – the thing is, when a player isn’t losing it’s because every day he is doing the right thing and hopefully tomorrow he doesn’t always do the right things and I can play at my best level. Only like this I’m going to have chances. Let’s try and we’ll see tomorrow. I think that because he is undefeated this year and he has been in the last two finals he’ll be the favourite for tomorrow.
Q. You said that sometimes when you play Roger with you know too much about each other; how is it with Novak? Do you know too much about Novak as well?
A. It’s a little bit different. Sure we know each other well. I think that the match change a little bit because I don’t have the tactic 100% right to play against him and he doesn’t either. So in general, the match is a little bit different. Against Roger, I have played a lot of important matches throughout our careers and a few ones against Novak but I still haven’t felt the pressure and the emotions that I have felt when I played against Roger – the Australian final, 3 Wimbledons, 3 Roland Garros´ - a lot of important matches and against Novak, I’ve played the US Open final and one Roland Garros but we’ve played a lot of Masters 1000 finals but the feeling is sometimes a little bit different.
Q: I think you’ve never lost against Novak on clay, can that be a psychological advantage tomorrow?
A: It can be if I didn’t lose two finals in a row but with the last two results that’s not going to happen – it’s bad for me. He’s coming with a lot of confidence. For sure he knows he can beat me and he did the last two times. I am here to try my best and to try to play aggressive and play good match and that’s what I'm going to try. Let’s see. I don’t think that’s going to have affect.
Courtesy: UBItennis
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Friday, 6 May 2011
Rafael Nadal - QF Post Match Press Conference Transcript
Q: You showed a really good level on court; before the game did you think it was going to be like this?
A: Well no I really don’t think before I start the match – I don’t think if I’ll win 6-2, 6-2 or if I’m going to lose. The only thing I think of is to play well. I try to play how I know and then I go out there and try to win every single point and then we'll see. Sometimes it oes okay, sometimes it goes bad. Obviously today it’s been quite good especially here with the altitude it’s a little bit more complicated because it’s more difficult to go over him. It's a bit more difficult with the serve. I felt quite good on the court, I served well and when we played the points, in the second set there were quite a lot of rallies and not so many in the first and I think I played really well.
Q: Hopefully tomorrow a semi-final with Federer and probably Djokovic on the other side; do you think it's a difficult draw? How are you going to face it?
A: Well it´s quite a difficult draw as in the other Masters because the best players are here and if we haven’t got these players then that means that we have got the better players here playing. Whoever the rival is tomorrows it's going to be a difficult match. With Federer it’s always a special match. With Soderling, he’s a dangerous player when he’s playing well. You cannot have control of the match all the time when you play against Soderling and this makes it uncomfortable and the one who beats the other one will have go to a difficult semi-final. I'm worried about the match tomorrow and not the other side of the draw.
Q: You’re in the semis having played less minutes, first because of Juan MartÃn Del Potro; how do you feel about yesterday with not having played and as a supporter of golf what do you think about Severiano Ballesteros – you know that he’s not in good health?
A: About yesterday, it' doesn't affect me a lot. I don’t need much court time. I’ve played all the matches that I can on clay and yesterday’s match was a complicated one – we didn't play it so instead of training for 40 minutes I trained for 1hr 30 mins. I hope that Del Potro recovers as soon as possible. I don’t know what it is due to I only hope he recovers as soon as possible... Talking about Severiano well he's one of the big ones of this country for sure. I think that he’s a reference of all Spanish athletes. I've been lucky enough to know him, to play golf with him and sincerely I wish him the best. I hope that he comes out and can go forward. In some ways life is cruel, difficult, these last years have not been a good time for him – we can see that. On many occasions he has tried to go forward. He is still doing things through his foundation thanks to all the knowledge that he has been able to acquire. He’s an example for all the society, for all the athletes, all the kids. To him and to his family, who I also know, I wish them all the best for many more years.
Q: I would like to know after yesterday’s match which do you prefer, to have a rest or do you prefer to play to get the rhythm because of you play more matches you’ll feel more comfortable?
A: Really I prefer to have a rest because it’s a match that I can lose for sure. Nobody likes to beat someone that way. For the people we didn’t play so it’s a pity and people wanted to see the match which would have been quite interesting. On the other hand for me, I didn’t play a match and it’s really nice to play here in Madrid but over the long term I don’t need to play more matches. I don’t think that if I play more matches I’m going to feel better. Maybe if I’m playing bad but I’m playing quite good. Since the start of the clay season I’m at a good level. Maybe I can have better days or bad days and tomorrow maybe I can lose or I can beat the other guy. Whatever I do tomorrow it's not because of what happened yesterday on the eighth-finals with Del Potro. I’ve played enough you know.
Q: How do you see Ferrer for tonight against Djokovic?
A: David has been playing at a really high level since the start of the season. Since he started in January, he won in Auckland, he had a lot of opportunities in Australia to beat Murray and afterwards when he went to the US he was unlucky - I think he had a very difficult draw in Indian Wells because he played Karlovic, In Miami he made it to the quarters and since he started on clay you can see he has made it to two finals - there he is here again making it to the quarter-finals and he is one player who can beat Djokovic and afterwards we’ll see what happens.
Obviously I wish him the best. I think he is working really hard and he is one of those players who works day after day. He’s got talent, you can see that. People believe that you just simply have to train but it's not just that you have to have the talent and I think that David had the talent and because he trains so heard he deserves the victory so I wish him the best.
Q. Rafa, last week in Barcelona you where talking about your interest on playing the Davis every other year. I don´t know if this is correct can you confirm it? Also, I read a news paper where you had a proposal where you said that it would be correct if the Olympic Committee would give money to the athletes. Is this correct?
A. First of all, I didn’t say this thing about playing every other year. I only said that we have to look for solutions, because when everything is perfect, don’t do anything but when the competition is not working, well make changes. I believe that all of the changes are complicated but, or we make changes or the competition is going to lose status. The best players in the world are not playing. The Davis cup has a lot of history, that is an important value, but apart from that, all competitions really gain value when all of the good players are playing. That is not happening in the Davis Cup recently. So there has to be some changes, I don´t know how, I am not the right one that should say that, I have already shown my options on top of the table, which I am not going to expose in here. But it is something that must be changed. I think it´s not logic. About the Olympics, It´s quite unfair that with all the money that the Olympic committee rises thanks to this games… - thanks good nor ourselves, nor basketball players, nor football players, which much more professional sports globally speaking, obviously the money for us is quite relative, when I am talking about that I am not referring to ourselves because we are very well played. Luckily we have our lives solved. But all of this athletes who are the real soul of the Olympic games, who work really hard- Obviously there are World Championships, European-Championships every year in all of the Olympic sports- this people are really getting prepared and live each day towards the Olympics, which is only once every 4 years. To have all that preparation and viewing all the effort they put in the sport… -thanks to that the sport is big and the Olympics are where they are. I think this people disserve much more than a gold medal, which is not even made out of gold and a scholarship which is not great. As I say I am not talking about well paid sports like ours, I am talking about other sports in which they work really hard possibly more than ourselves, they are much more sacrificed than us and there only motivation-I believe all sports are pretty similar either you earn money or no- is the personal satisfaction of having met your goals. It´s true that is quite different when you finish your professional career and you have your life solved than when you finish it and you have to start all over again. So I believe this should change, that is what I said the other day.
Q: I want to ask you here about the spectators in Madrid and what do you expect for the weekend with the matches that we have?
A: I´m expecting the same. I think the spectators here are the ones who support the players the most. For me it’s been a really good place to play, I’ve got a lot of victories in this city thanks to them. I cannot forget .. I can only congratulate them .. to the city of Madrid for how they have been supporting me and in relation to the weekend I think that the spectators are a very important factor and hopefully they’ll be on my side.
Q: Due to the special conditions in Madrid, with the altitude and all that; can we use this to calibrate what’s going to happen in Roland Garros?
A: Can I use this to adjust to Roland Garros? They are completely different conditions but I can adjust to Roland Garros. Of all the clay tournaments this is the one that is most different to Roland Garros. If you play a good game you will get a lot of confidence which will count for Roland Garros. For me to be in the semis is good news but now I’ve got the most complicated work and I hope to be well prepared for the completion that I’ve got to face and I’ve got to fight and be happy about how things are going in the last few weeks.
Q: Rafa, do you enjoy playing someone like Michael who attacks you playing serve and volleys? It’s very different.
A: It's a different style – that's good for the sport to have different styles of players and he is one of those that makes the match a little bit different. For sure it’s a different challenge which I enjoy. In general, I think when you play on clay and when you play on a not very fast surface and you can return the serve it’s good for the fans otherwise it can be boring, no?
Q: I know you've played golf with Seve Ballesteros you must be very sad that he is very ill right now?
A: For me and I think for everybody, especially in Spain who had the honour to meet Severiano he’s is a really good example for all Spanish people for all the kids of the world because what he did in sport as unbelievable. He is one of the top sportsmen in Spanish history and for us he was a big inspiration. All I can say is to give my best wishes for him and his family because I know it’s been a difficult time for the past few years.
Q: Next week the new rankings come out and there's not going to one American player in the top 10 in the history of the ranking. Is that a surprise to you or what’s up with American tennis right now?
A: I don't know better to ask the American people, they know better than me. I think Roddick has had a fantastic career – many years at the top but it’s very difficult to be 10 years in the top 8 or top 5. So what he did is fantastic. I don’t know how many master he has already played but the new generation has to come. In my opinion he will come back into the top 10. He has enough potential to do it and he is a great competitor. Sam Querrey, John Isner, Harrisson these guys have to come and be there in the future – that's the new generation
Courtesy: UBITennis
A: Well no I really don’t think before I start the match – I don’t think if I’ll win 6-2, 6-2 or if I’m going to lose. The only thing I think of is to play well. I try to play how I know and then I go out there and try to win every single point and then we'll see. Sometimes it oes okay, sometimes it goes bad. Obviously today it’s been quite good especially here with the altitude it’s a little bit more complicated because it’s more difficult to go over him. It's a bit more difficult with the serve. I felt quite good on the court, I served well and when we played the points, in the second set there were quite a lot of rallies and not so many in the first and I think I played really well.
Q: Hopefully tomorrow a semi-final with Federer and probably Djokovic on the other side; do you think it's a difficult draw? How are you going to face it?
A: Well it´s quite a difficult draw as in the other Masters because the best players are here and if we haven’t got these players then that means that we have got the better players here playing. Whoever the rival is tomorrows it's going to be a difficult match. With Federer it’s always a special match. With Soderling, he’s a dangerous player when he’s playing well. You cannot have control of the match all the time when you play against Soderling and this makes it uncomfortable and the one who beats the other one will have go to a difficult semi-final. I'm worried about the match tomorrow and not the other side of the draw.
Q: You’re in the semis having played less minutes, first because of Juan MartÃn Del Potro; how do you feel about yesterday with not having played and as a supporter of golf what do you think about Severiano Ballesteros – you know that he’s not in good health?
A: About yesterday, it' doesn't affect me a lot. I don’t need much court time. I’ve played all the matches that I can on clay and yesterday’s match was a complicated one – we didn't play it so instead of training for 40 minutes I trained for 1hr 30 mins. I hope that Del Potro recovers as soon as possible. I don’t know what it is due to I only hope he recovers as soon as possible... Talking about Severiano well he's one of the big ones of this country for sure. I think that he’s a reference of all Spanish athletes. I've been lucky enough to know him, to play golf with him and sincerely I wish him the best. I hope that he comes out and can go forward. In some ways life is cruel, difficult, these last years have not been a good time for him – we can see that. On many occasions he has tried to go forward. He is still doing things through his foundation thanks to all the knowledge that he has been able to acquire. He’s an example for all the society, for all the athletes, all the kids. To him and to his family, who I also know, I wish them all the best for many more years.
Q: I would like to know after yesterday’s match which do you prefer, to have a rest or do you prefer to play to get the rhythm because of you play more matches you’ll feel more comfortable?
A: Really I prefer to have a rest because it’s a match that I can lose for sure. Nobody likes to beat someone that way. For the people we didn’t play so it’s a pity and people wanted to see the match which would have been quite interesting. On the other hand for me, I didn’t play a match and it’s really nice to play here in Madrid but over the long term I don’t need to play more matches. I don’t think that if I play more matches I’m going to feel better. Maybe if I’m playing bad but I’m playing quite good. Since the start of the clay season I’m at a good level. Maybe I can have better days or bad days and tomorrow maybe I can lose or I can beat the other guy. Whatever I do tomorrow it's not because of what happened yesterday on the eighth-finals with Del Potro. I’ve played enough you know.
Q: How do you see Ferrer for tonight against Djokovic?
A: David has been playing at a really high level since the start of the season. Since he started in January, he won in Auckland, he had a lot of opportunities in Australia to beat Murray and afterwards when he went to the US he was unlucky - I think he had a very difficult draw in Indian Wells because he played Karlovic, In Miami he made it to the quarters and since he started on clay you can see he has made it to two finals - there he is here again making it to the quarter-finals and he is one player who can beat Djokovic and afterwards we’ll see what happens.
Obviously I wish him the best. I think he is working really hard and he is one of those players who works day after day. He’s got talent, you can see that. People believe that you just simply have to train but it's not just that you have to have the talent and I think that David had the talent and because he trains so heard he deserves the victory so I wish him the best.
Q. Rafa, last week in Barcelona you where talking about your interest on playing the Davis every other year. I don´t know if this is correct can you confirm it? Also, I read a news paper where you had a proposal where you said that it would be correct if the Olympic Committee would give money to the athletes. Is this correct?
A. First of all, I didn’t say this thing about playing every other year. I only said that we have to look for solutions, because when everything is perfect, don’t do anything but when the competition is not working, well make changes. I believe that all of the changes are complicated but, or we make changes or the competition is going to lose status. The best players in the world are not playing. The Davis cup has a lot of history, that is an important value, but apart from that, all competitions really gain value when all of the good players are playing. That is not happening in the Davis Cup recently. So there has to be some changes, I don´t know how, I am not the right one that should say that, I have already shown my options on top of the table, which I am not going to expose in here. But it is something that must be changed. I think it´s not logic. About the Olympics, It´s quite unfair that with all the money that the Olympic committee rises thanks to this games… - thanks good nor ourselves, nor basketball players, nor football players, which much more professional sports globally speaking, obviously the money for us is quite relative, when I am talking about that I am not referring to ourselves because we are very well played. Luckily we have our lives solved. But all of this athletes who are the real soul of the Olympic games, who work really hard- Obviously there are World Championships, European-Championships every year in all of the Olympic sports- this people are really getting prepared and live each day towards the Olympics, which is only once every 4 years. To have all that preparation and viewing all the effort they put in the sport… -thanks to that the sport is big and the Olympics are where they are. I think this people disserve much more than a gold medal, which is not even made out of gold and a scholarship which is not great. As I say I am not talking about well paid sports like ours, I am talking about other sports in which they work really hard possibly more than ourselves, they are much more sacrificed than us and there only motivation-I believe all sports are pretty similar either you earn money or no- is the personal satisfaction of having met your goals. It´s true that is quite different when you finish your professional career and you have your life solved than when you finish it and you have to start all over again. So I believe this should change, that is what I said the other day.
Q: I want to ask you here about the spectators in Madrid and what do you expect for the weekend with the matches that we have?
A: I´m expecting the same. I think the spectators here are the ones who support the players the most. For me it’s been a really good place to play, I’ve got a lot of victories in this city thanks to them. I cannot forget .. I can only congratulate them .. to the city of Madrid for how they have been supporting me and in relation to the weekend I think that the spectators are a very important factor and hopefully they’ll be on my side.
Q: Due to the special conditions in Madrid, with the altitude and all that; can we use this to calibrate what’s going to happen in Roland Garros?
A: Can I use this to adjust to Roland Garros? They are completely different conditions but I can adjust to Roland Garros. Of all the clay tournaments this is the one that is most different to Roland Garros. If you play a good game you will get a lot of confidence which will count for Roland Garros. For me to be in the semis is good news but now I’ve got the most complicated work and I hope to be well prepared for the completion that I’ve got to face and I’ve got to fight and be happy about how things are going in the last few weeks.
Q: Rafa, do you enjoy playing someone like Michael who attacks you playing serve and volleys? It’s very different.
A: It's a different style – that's good for the sport to have different styles of players and he is one of those that makes the match a little bit different. For sure it’s a different challenge which I enjoy. In general, I think when you play on clay and when you play on a not very fast surface and you can return the serve it’s good for the fans otherwise it can be boring, no?
Q: I know you've played golf with Seve Ballesteros you must be very sad that he is very ill right now?
A: For me and I think for everybody, especially in Spain who had the honour to meet Severiano he’s is a really good example for all Spanish people for all the kids of the world because what he did in sport as unbelievable. He is one of the top sportsmen in Spanish history and for us he was a big inspiration. All I can say is to give my best wishes for him and his family because I know it’s been a difficult time for the past few years.
Q: Next week the new rankings come out and there's not going to one American player in the top 10 in the history of the ranking. Is that a surprise to you or what’s up with American tennis right now?
A: I don't know better to ask the American people, they know better than me. I think Roddick has had a fantastic career – many years at the top but it’s very difficult to be 10 years in the top 8 or top 5. So what he did is fantastic. I don’t know how many master he has already played but the new generation has to come. In my opinion he will come back into the top 10. He has enough potential to do it and he is a great competitor. Sam Querrey, John Isner, Harrisson these guys have to come and be there in the future – that's the new generation
Courtesy: UBITennis
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