I have only just found this video. Nice words from Rafa.
Showing posts with label Wimbledon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wimbledon. Show all posts
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Monday, 4 July 2011
Rafael Nadal -Mental Block Against Novak
Rafael Nadal admitted he needs to overcome a mental block against new Wimbledon champion and world No. 1 Novak Djovokic as he reflected on his first defeat at the All England Club since 2007's final, Sky Sports reported Monday.
WE MEET AGAIN
Seeing Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a final is becoming commonplace. Relive their memorable matches.
The Serb appears to have a hold over Nadal, with Sunday's 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, following final victories over the Spaniard at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome.
Djokovic's Wimbledon win brought his record to 48-1 in a phenomenal season so far, that also saw him collect the Australian Open and six ATP World Tour titles.
The run has seen him replace Nadal at the top of the world rankings and the Spaniard accepted his rival has got inside his mind to claim an edge in the big points in all their recent matches.
"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change.
"Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me," he added. "Because when I was at 5-4 [in the first set], I played a bad game from 30-0. When I was 4-3 down in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve. To win these kind of matches, I have to play well [at those moments]. These kind of points can change the match."
Nadal bemoaned another missed opportunity after reducing the set score to 2-1.
"When I had the break point in the first game of the fourth set, I didn't play that point well," he said. "That was a big moment for me. Because I came back with the 6-1, if I start the fourth with a break it can change everything. To change things I probably have to be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I'm going to try next time. If not, I'm going to be here explaining the sixth."
Courtesy: Fox Sports
WE MEET AGAIN
Seeing Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a final is becoming commonplace. Relive their memorable matches.
The Serb appears to have a hold over Nadal, with Sunday's 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 victory on Centre Court, following final victories over the Spaniard at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome.
Djokovic's Wimbledon win brought his record to 48-1 in a phenomenal season so far, that also saw him collect the Australian Open and six ATP World Tour titles.
The run has seen him replace Nadal at the top of the world rankings and the Spaniard accepted his rival has got inside his mind to claim an edge in the big points in all their recent matches.
"When I was 100 percent to play, I lost against him five times," said Nadal. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well, but probably not against him. That's what I have to change.
"Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me," he added. "Because when I was at 5-4 [in the first set], I played a bad game from 30-0. When I was 4-3 down in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve. To win these kind of matches, I have to play well [at those moments]. These kind of points can change the match."
Nadal bemoaned another missed opportunity after reducing the set score to 2-1.
"When I had the break point in the first game of the fourth set, I didn't play that point well," he said. "That was a big moment for me. Because I came back with the 6-1, if I start the fourth with a break it can change everything. To change things I probably have to be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I'm going to try next time. If not, I'm going to be here explaining the sixth."
Courtesy: Fox Sports
Rafael Nadal Has Found His Nemesis
dismayed Rafael Nadal sits and takes stock following his first defeat in SW19 since 2007 Monday July 4,2011 IT ISN'T often Rafa Nadal removes his shirt only to be totally and utterly ignored. The top-swap ritual between sets and aftermatches tends to turn female fans around Centre Court into craning meerkats. On this occasion, Rafael Nadal's strip show was a lonely irrelevance. It had been trumped by the image of an elated Novak Djokovic hurling his sweatbands and four rackets into the crowd. The Mallorcan superman had met his kryptonite; his 20-match winning run at Wimbledon was over. As the fateful final backhand sailed long and Djokovic collapsed to the ground, Nadal had quietly removed his headband, shaken his hair and trudged to the net to congratulate the Serb. It was a familiar walk, the fifth time this year he has had to take it. One Spanish flag draped outside the grounds read, 'Vamos Nadal – No1'. Not any more. Nadal is officially world No2 this morning, thanks to the stranglehold Djokovic has exerted over him in the past few months. Rafael Nadal "You're a genius Rafa," shouted one fan in the first set, but last night he was a troubled one. Nadal has long been the king of the killer points, a cold-eyed assassin when the target was in his sights, but, in Djokovic, it seems he has met his match. "The important thing to win matches like these is to play the important moments well. I didn't today and that's what happened in Indian Wells and Miami, too," said Nadal. "I don't want to count Madrid and Rome because he just played much better than me there, but the mental part is a bit dangerous. "When I arrived at 5-4 in the first set I played a bad game; when I arrived at 4-3 in the fourth set I played another bad gameBy Neil Squires
When I arrived at 5-4 in the first set I played a bad game; when I arrived at 4-3 in the fourth set I played another bad game
"I need to be a little less nervous in these times, play more aggressively and be confident in myself. That's what I'm going to try next time. If it doesn't work I'm going to be here explaining a sixth defeat."
Nadal was not keen to over-analyse the technical causes of the blockage against Djokovic but it is clear he has trouble coping with someone who is his mirror image. While in appearance they are funhouse glass opposites, their strengths are markedly similar. They chase down balls no one has any right to retrieve with astonishing athleticism and possess the balance and poise to deliver exceptional shots when they reach them.
Djokovic's ability to turn what would be winners for Nadal against virtually any other player into winners for himself holed the Spaniard below the waterline.
Where Andy Murray faded away after a set in the semi-final, Djokovic kept applying the pressure. Nadal rallied in champion's style in taking the third set but Djokovic just kept on coming. He was a deserved winner but, in defeat as much as victory, Nadal's reputation grows.
It is hard to imagine Murray, for instance, showing as much grace and patience as Nadal did in the minutes after his defeat as the BBC's on-court microphones went on the blink. When he could finally make himself heard, he delivered a dignified speech in his second language, thanking the crowd for making him "feel at home" every year at Wimbledon.
"I tried my best but it was not good enough, there was one player better than me," he said. "I will try another time next year."
The scoreboards of the All England Club, in their archaic way, billed yesterday's match-up as the gentlemen's singles final. In Nadal's case it is an apt description. This humility, as well as his scintillating tennis, serves to explain why he is so popular – of course, the looks don't do any harm.
He had the majority support of both sexes yesterday, although when a fan of Djokovic yelled "Come on The Djok", there was a brief moment when it appeared Murray had made it to the final after all.
If a golden ticket would have been the chance to see a first British men's finalist since 1938, the opportunity to see the best two players in the world trade blows for a compelling four sets was the silver stub. And unlike the weekend's other high-profile sporting contest, this was a battle between two genuine heavyweights. No pumped-up cruiserweights allowed.
At Wimbledon it turned out to be the champion who was floored. It is in his nature to rise off the canvas and he will one day surely lift the trophy again, but, for the moment, Djokovic has presented him a puzzle he cannot solve.
It was telling last night that rather than come up with an immediate plan to overhaul the new world No1 all Nadal could do was hope, rather forlornly, Djokovic would come back to him.
"He is in the moment of his career. My experience tells me this level cannot last for ever," said Nadal. "I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment."
Courtesy: Daily Express
Rafael Nadal - Dirty Laundry
LONDON (Reuters) - A small mountain of dirty towels, stray underwear left in the washing machine or a pile of well-worn tennis shoes are some of the souvenirs landlords in southwest London often find when they return home after letting out their houses to players competing at Wimbledon.
They are the lucky ones.
"A Swedish player, who is now a coach, once left the house (he was renting) suddenly without informing anyone that he was leaving early," Joanna Doniger, who runs a short-term letting agency that specialises in renting out private homes to players during the Wimbledon fortnight, told Reuters in an interview.
"The owner went back five days later and saw that there was an infestation of flies as it was a really hot summer and food had been left out to rot.
"She then went into what had been her white bathroom and it had turned green because there was mold growing everywhere. The player had left the hot shower running and the steam caused the mold growth. The owner was very, very upset and beyond angry."
Surely that scene must have convinced the owner never to let out her house again?
"Of course not. Not when the homeowners can earn three times the going rate for a short-term let," added the bubbly Doniger, who rents out around 150 properties every June through her company Tennis London.
Residents who live within walking distance of the All England Club can land a windfall every summer if they are willing to vacate their homes for at least two weeks during the grasscourt major.
In an area which lacks hotels, one-bedroom flats can earn 1,000 pounds ($1,598.500) a week while a top-end, five-bedroom house has a price tag of 10,000 pounds ($15,985.000) a week.
In the 17 years Doniger has been in the business, she has built up a client list that has included the greats of the sport -- such as Pete Sampras, the Williams sisters, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer - and thrives on the challenge of finding houses that meets their varied tastes and needs.
BEST CHAIRS
Businessman Chris Lim has a two-bedroom, ground-floor flat in a building once owned by the Dutch Royal family and was suitably excited when he discovered his home would be taken over by tennis royalty.
"I'm a keen tennis player myself and was very excited when I found out Roger Federer was staying here. I had another home before this one in Springfield Avenue up in the Village and he stayed there the first time he won Wimbledon. So he has stayed at two of my properties," Lim told Reuters.
"Apparently his reason for staying here was because he liked my furniture - even if he did put it in the car park. I saw some pictures in the papers with my best leather chairs in the gravel drive. (I) did think that was a bit cheeky but there was no damage.
"This is where he slept," Lim added showing off a dark-wood, four-poster bed dressed in pristine white linen.
Landlords such as Lim get a rare glimpse into the lifestyles of their VIP tenants.
"His coach at the time was staying with him and they did a lot of cooking. He left some food behind in the fridge. There seemed to be a lot of ingredients they had bought like chillies and spices. They were obviously cooking," said Lim, who has also rented his flat to former top-10 American James Blake.
"There was also a lot of red wine consumed but whether that was Roger or his coach you'd never really know."
Lim also found an unexpected stash had been left behind for him one year.
"I'm not sure if it was after Roger Federer or James Blake stayed here, but I came in through the front door and into the hallway and there was a stack of towels left there like a pyramid," he said.
"They were all Wimbledon towels but they were the cheap, white ones. They weren't the nice ones you see them go on court with. But they were all dirty. So I had them all laundered and I have been using them for years. I had about 30 or 40 of them and I'm now down to the last six or seven."
NADAL'S KNICKERS
Lim's experience is not an isolated case.
"Often owners come back and find a lot of tennis clothes left for them," explained Doniger, whose company takes a 15 percent cut of each rental and turns over about half a million pounds a year.
"Tennis shoes, tennis balls, clothes, they are always leaving those behind. They are usually worn, left in the washing machine... forgotten. I once had Nadal's knickers left behind," she grinned.
"You should see some of the shoes left behind. John Isner's shoes are huge, they are like this," Doniger, 56, indicated by holding her hands about a meter apart. "He needs a suitcase for each shoe."
Her partner Ken, who is roped in to help during the championships, added: "They (players) get a lot of clothes and shoes from their sponsors so it's not worth their while packing."
During the Wimbledon fortnight, Doniger's black Mini becomes the nerve center of her business and she can be seen whizzing around the streets surrounding the All England Club.
Despite its small size, she crams a multitude of items in every available space in the car.
"Players are far too focused on tennis to have prima donna demands. They want something very spacious, very modern, very clean and very private.
"The one thing they do want is blackout blinds. I have to go and put up blackout blinds.
"We travel in the car with yards and yards and yards of material for blackout blinds. We have scissors and Velcro and staple guns. Everything goes in the Mini."
From Monday, Doniger and her Mini will once again retreat back to their Chelsea base -- for the next 50 weeks anyway.
Courtesy: Reuters
They are the lucky ones.
"A Swedish player, who is now a coach, once left the house (he was renting) suddenly without informing anyone that he was leaving early," Joanna Doniger, who runs a short-term letting agency that specialises in renting out private homes to players during the Wimbledon fortnight, told Reuters in an interview.
"The owner went back five days later and saw that there was an infestation of flies as it was a really hot summer and food had been left out to rot.
"She then went into what had been her white bathroom and it had turned green because there was mold growing everywhere. The player had left the hot shower running and the steam caused the mold growth. The owner was very, very upset and beyond angry."
Surely that scene must have convinced the owner never to let out her house again?
"Of course not. Not when the homeowners can earn three times the going rate for a short-term let," added the bubbly Doniger, who rents out around 150 properties every June through her company Tennis London.
Residents who live within walking distance of the All England Club can land a windfall every summer if they are willing to vacate their homes for at least two weeks during the grasscourt major.
In an area which lacks hotels, one-bedroom flats can earn 1,000 pounds ($1,598.500) a week while a top-end, five-bedroom house has a price tag of 10,000 pounds ($15,985.000) a week.
In the 17 years Doniger has been in the business, she has built up a client list that has included the greats of the sport -- such as Pete Sampras, the Williams sisters, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer - and thrives on the challenge of finding houses that meets their varied tastes and needs.
BEST CHAIRS
Businessman Chris Lim has a two-bedroom, ground-floor flat in a building once owned by the Dutch Royal family and was suitably excited when he discovered his home would be taken over by tennis royalty.
"I'm a keen tennis player myself and was very excited when I found out Roger Federer was staying here. I had another home before this one in Springfield Avenue up in the Village and he stayed there the first time he won Wimbledon. So he has stayed at two of my properties," Lim told Reuters.
"Apparently his reason for staying here was because he liked my furniture - even if he did put it in the car park. I saw some pictures in the papers with my best leather chairs in the gravel drive. (I) did think that was a bit cheeky but there was no damage.
"This is where he slept," Lim added showing off a dark-wood, four-poster bed dressed in pristine white linen.
Landlords such as Lim get a rare glimpse into the lifestyles of their VIP tenants.
"His coach at the time was staying with him and they did a lot of cooking. He left some food behind in the fridge. There seemed to be a lot of ingredients they had bought like chillies and spices. They were obviously cooking," said Lim, who has also rented his flat to former top-10 American James Blake.
"There was also a lot of red wine consumed but whether that was Roger or his coach you'd never really know."
Lim also found an unexpected stash had been left behind for him one year.
"I'm not sure if it was after Roger Federer or James Blake stayed here, but I came in through the front door and into the hallway and there was a stack of towels left there like a pyramid," he said.
"They were all Wimbledon towels but they were the cheap, white ones. They weren't the nice ones you see them go on court with. But they were all dirty. So I had them all laundered and I have been using them for years. I had about 30 or 40 of them and I'm now down to the last six or seven."
NADAL'S KNICKERS
Lim's experience is not an isolated case.
"Often owners come back and find a lot of tennis clothes left for them," explained Doniger, whose company takes a 15 percent cut of each rental and turns over about half a million pounds a year.
"Tennis shoes, tennis balls, clothes, they are always leaving those behind. They are usually worn, left in the washing machine... forgotten. I once had Nadal's knickers left behind," she grinned.
"You should see some of the shoes left behind. John Isner's shoes are huge, they are like this," Doniger, 56, indicated by holding her hands about a meter apart. "He needs a suitcase for each shoe."
Her partner Ken, who is roped in to help during the championships, added: "They (players) get a lot of clothes and shoes from their sponsors so it's not worth their while packing."
During the Wimbledon fortnight, Doniger's black Mini becomes the nerve center of her business and she can be seen whizzing around the streets surrounding the All England Club.
Despite its small size, she crams a multitude of items in every available space in the car.
"Players are far too focused on tennis to have prima donna demands. They want something very spacious, very modern, very clean and very private.
"The one thing they do want is blackout blinds. I have to go and put up blackout blinds.
"We travel in the car with yards and yards and yards of material for blackout blinds. We have scissors and Velcro and staple guns. Everything goes in the Mini."
From Monday, Doniger and her Mini will once again retreat back to their Chelsea base -- for the next 50 weeks anyway.
Courtesy: Reuters
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Rafael Nadal - The Aftermath
Courtesy & Video: Official Wimbledon Website
The sign of a true champion is how well he takes defeat. And judging by the way he explained his four-set pummelling by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal is a true champion. He may have been outplayed and out-manoeuvred for the best part of two-and-a-half hours but the beaten finalist took the defeat on the chin and owned up to his failings. There are not many men who would be as honest or as open in such a situation.
The reason for his defeat could be explained simply and swiftly: he was just not good enough to beat Djokovic. He did not take his chances, he was nervous and he was outplayed. After losing four Masters finals to the Serb this year - in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome - he was twitchy in the pressure moments on Centre Court. Nadal made it all sound so logical and so normal.
"I lost because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and
I am the second," he said. "And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is [to] lose. That's what happened the last few times.
"He's doing great. He's doing fantastic. I had to play better to win, and I didn't today. I played a little bit less aggressive. And to win matches here, to win tough matches like today, like two days ago, the most important thing is to play well in the important moments. A few points can change the match, and I didn't (win them) today. When one player beats you five times, it is because my game doesn't bother him a lot. Today probably against me he's playing better than my level. And I have to try to find solutions..."
You don't often get that from a player who has just lost the one title that means more to him than anything else in the world. From the time he first played tennis, Wimbledon was always a dream for Nadal. Growing up playing on the slow, red clay of Majorca, he knew that Spaniards were expected to do well at Roland Garros - sure enough, he did not disappoint and to date has won six times there. But on grass? At Wimbledon?
Now, that really would be something. So when he won his first title in 2008, it meant everything to him, and after that win he extended his unbeaten run in SW19 to 20 matches until that man Djokovic did for him in the final. That must have hurt. Apparently not.
"I lost against him five times," he said. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well (but) probably not against him. That's what I have to change. Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me, because when I arrived at 5‑4, I played a bad game from 30‑0. When I arrived at 4‑3 in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve. To change that (I) probably (needed to) be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I going to try next time. If not, I am going to be here explaining the sixth [loss]."
Nadal was defeated, then, but not beaten. No one has been able to come close to catching the Serb this year as he sailed around the world collecting titles like they were going out of fashion. He has only lost one match in the past seven months and now, with the Wimbledon trophy sitting proudly alongside his No.1 ranking, he has reached every target and made every dream come true. That is a nice feeling, as Nadal can attest, but it will not last forever.
Last year the Spaniard won three of the four Grand Slams - only Australia eluded him - and he was on top of the world. That is when Djokovic came roaring up behind him and knocked him off his perch. Life can change very quickly in professional sport and Nadal is already plotting a way to change Djokovic's view of the world.
"We can analyse that my game is not bothering him," Nadal said. "We have to find how I can bother him another time. I did it in the past. He's in the best moment of his career. I am in one of the best moments of my career, (but it's) still not enough for (me to beat) him. My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was winning three Grand Slams last year, my level is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But (I am) waiting for my moment to beat him another time."
Nadal, then, has flung down the gauntlet. He may be a true champion in defeat but, clearly, he is not planning on making a habit of it.
The sign of a true champion is how well he takes defeat. And judging by the way he explained his four-set pummelling by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal is a true champion. He may have been outplayed and out-manoeuvred for the best part of two-and-a-half hours but the beaten finalist took the defeat on the chin and owned up to his failings. There are not many men who would be as honest or as open in such a situation.
The reason for his defeat could be explained simply and swiftly: he was just not good enough to beat Djokovic. He did not take his chances, he was nervous and he was outplayed. After losing four Masters finals to the Serb this year - in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome - he was twitchy in the pressure moments on Centre Court. Nadal made it all sound so logical and so normal.
"I lost because I am playing against the best player of the moment, the best player of the world tomorrow, and
I am the second," he said. "And when you play against these players and they are playing unbelievable, the normal thing is [to] lose. That's what happened the last few times.
"He's doing great. He's doing fantastic. I had to play better to win, and I didn't today. I played a little bit less aggressive. And to win matches here, to win tough matches like today, like two days ago, the most important thing is to play well in the important moments. A few points can change the match, and I didn't (win them) today. When one player beats you five times, it is because my game doesn't bother him a lot. Today probably against me he's playing better than my level. And I have to try to find solutions..."
You don't often get that from a player who has just lost the one title that means more to him than anything else in the world. From the time he first played tennis, Wimbledon was always a dream for Nadal. Growing up playing on the slow, red clay of Majorca, he knew that Spaniards were expected to do well at Roland Garros - sure enough, he did not disappoint and to date has won six times there. But on grass? At Wimbledon?
Now, that really would be something. So when he won his first title in 2008, it meant everything to him, and after that win he extended his unbeaten run in SW19 to 20 matches until that man Djokovic did for him in the final. That must have hurt. Apparently not.
"I lost against him five times," he said. "The rest of the year I won almost every match. So I'm doing things very well (but) probably not against him. That's what I have to change. Probably the mental part is a little bit dangerous for me, because when I arrived at 5‑4, I played a bad game from 30‑0. When I arrived at 4‑3 in the fourth set, I played another bad game with my serve. To change that (I) probably (needed to) be a little bit less nervous, play more aggressive, and all the time be confident with myself. That's what I going to try next time. If not, I am going to be here explaining the sixth [loss]."
Nadal was defeated, then, but not beaten. No one has been able to come close to catching the Serb this year as he sailed around the world collecting titles like they were going out of fashion. He has only lost one match in the past seven months and now, with the Wimbledon trophy sitting proudly alongside his No.1 ranking, he has reached every target and made every dream come true. That is a nice feeling, as Nadal can attest, but it will not last forever.
Last year the Spaniard won three of the four Grand Slams - only Australia eluded him - and he was on top of the world. That is when Djokovic came roaring up behind him and knocked him off his perch. Life can change very quickly in professional sport and Nadal is already plotting a way to change Djokovic's view of the world.
"We can analyse that my game is not bothering him," Nadal said. "We have to find how I can bother him another time. I did it in the past. He's in the best moment of his career. I am in one of the best moments of my career, (but it's) still not enough for (me to beat) him. My experience says this level is not forever. Even for me when I was winning three Grand Slams last year, my level is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I'm going to be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment. I don't have to wait a lot, because I already won three tournaments this year and one Grand Slam. But (I am) waiting for my moment to beat him another time."
Nadal, then, has flung down the gauntlet. He may be a true champion in defeat but, clearly, he is not planning on making a habit of it.
Saturday, 2 July 2011
Rafael Nadal - Practice Session Photos
Saturday afternoon practice session ahead of tomorrow's final against Novak
Rafael Nadal - Semi Final Press Conference Audio
Please use this link to find the audio from Rafa's Semi Final press conference. I am having trouble using their links
Rafael Nadal - Semi Final Press Conference
Q. You didn't look very much like the No. 2 player in the world today.
RAFAEL NADAL: For me, seriously, that's something that really doesn't matter a lot. You know, I said last year when I was No. 3 or No. 4. I said when I was No. 1 for me is not a big goal for me.
For me big goal is be competitive, be healthy. Be competitive every time when I am on court and try to be at my best in the important moments, no, in all the tournaments, because all the tournaments are important, no?
Yeah, today I lost the No. 1. I did lost the No. 1. One guy played unbelievable the first half of the year so he's the new No. 1. We just can congratulate him because what he did this first part of the season is something really impressive, really fantastic.
I am happy about how I did. I think in normal conditions I would be No. 1 ‑‑ or a lot of chances to keep being the No. 1 for me for a few more time, because my results are really good the first part of the season, too. But one guy did unbelievable, and congratulations.
Q. Zero unforced errors in the second set, two in the third, one in the fourth. How did you manage?
RAFAEL NADAL: Total seven, yeah, and 37 winners, so the statistics are really unbelievable. The true, I don't know. The statistics is something that ‑‑ we have to have a look about the statistics, but not everything is statistics, no?
In general, I think Andy played very, very high level especially the first set and the beginning of the second, too. Seriously I felt he was better player than me at that moment, so I just waited for my moment.
I felt that I am playing well the first set, too, but he was playing really good, really aggressive, serving really well. I was there all the time. I was little bit lucky ‑ I don't know exactly ‑ the first or second game of the second set with 15‑30, he had an easy forehand in the middle of the court and he miss. He miss the shot long. So after that was probably the turning point of the match.
I think after that he had a bad game with his serve. He had 30‑15, and he had unforced error with the forehand, double‑fault, and after he miss a smash.
After that, the match was close, because I was playing well, too. He lost probably little bit the intensity of the beginning. But that's true, play like he played in the first set is not easy. Is really difficult. He played really complete tennis.
After that I think I played little bit better than the beginning. I was playing well the beginning, but probably I improved little bit the level, and I played probably my best match this year here.
Q. Statistics are not important, but you played five finals in Wimbledon of the last five tournaments you played here. That is a great statistic. What do you think about that? Because only Borg, McEnroe and Federer have done it.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's something for me very important. Always Wimbledon was my dream. After is my 2003, 2005, and after five finals, so it's my seventh Wimbledon probably in my career. Seventh? Eighth?
Q. Seventh.
RAFAEL NADAL: Seventh, so... I never thought that I gonna be able to play five finals, so today is a very important victory for me and very happy for everything, no?
I think is a great effort after, you know, four years without a Spanish playing the semifinals or finals here. After the last five years ‑ well, not 2009 ‑ but in five years we were there, have a Spanish in the final, so that's a fantastic news for me, but I think for our country, too.
Q. Back in 1999 Agassi became No. 1 in the world and he had to play the final with Sampras and he but lost to Sampras. The next day Agassi was No.1 but Sampras was the Wimbledon champion. Would you like to see the same scenario?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes (smiling).
Q. When you walked out of the court you said you were sorry for Andy. How do you manage to be so competitive when you're on the court, and as soon as you are off the court you think with your heart about your competitors?
RAFAEL NADAL: I felt that during the court, too. I'm not a robot when I'm playing. I think.
Andy probably deserved to be Grand Slam winner. He's the best player without a title of Grand Slam that I ever see. So he deserve to be a champion of Grand Slam. Always he was there: final in Australia, semifinals Roland Garros, semifinals here another time. That's tough. I understand, no?
Is not easy for him be there all the time and finally he lost another time. But he's doing well. He's in the right way to win a Grand Slam. I always say the same. But that's what I feel, you know. I feel the reason is he needs little bit more lucky for moments and he will win. I still don't have any doubt on that.
Q. What are your thoughts about playing against Novak, and what do you think is the key to the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: The key is play really well and to wait the opponent don't have his best day. That is the key in these kind of matches, when you play against the best players of the world, you know.
His mental position over me today is probably a little bit better because he won the last four finals against me. And that's what it is. I'm here. I'm try my best. I think I'm playing well, really well.
We will see what's going on on Sunday, no? I will try my best. I have to play aggressive. I have to play with intensity, with rhythm. That's what I gonna try.
Q. What aspect of Novak's game will you find most challenging to overcome?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everything. Yeah.
Q. With Novak, do you think you have any advantage, perhaps even on this surface, more than clay against him? And do you think since you've been to this stage of the tournament before and he hasn't, that that might also be an advantage for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't have an advantage here more than clay. I am better player on clay than grass. That's the true.
Q. Maybe you're a better player on grass than he is on clay.
RAFAEL NADAL: You know what? Playing two semifinals and now the final, probably he's not a bad player on grass, too. That's my feeling. Yeah.
Q. You're obviously aware of the magnitude of your achievements. How often do you think of the number 16?
RAFAEL NADAL: Of what?
Q. Grand Slams.
RAFAEL NADAL: The number 16? I think about the number 10. That's what I have at home. That's what I'm able to see when I go back home in my bedroom. I don't have 11, I don't have 12, I don't have 15, or 16. 16 is very far. I believe the number is not gonna stop there. Roger will have more chances to win more.
Seriously, is not my goal. Disappointing is not my goal. But I am very happy about my 10. I gonna try my best to keep being competitive in important tournaments, and we will see in the next years what's going on. We'll see Sunday. We'll see in the future what's going on.
The career of Roger is probably impossible to repeat. You know, if you look of the history of tennis, he's the player with more Grand Slams in I don't know how many years of history of the tennis, 100?
Q. 125 this year.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is gonna be strange he's the player with more Grand Slams ever. Gonna be strange that three years, four years after one player win more than the best ever, no? So probably that's not gonna happen.
Q. You had issues with your foot earlier in the competition. Was that an issue at all today, and will it be in the final on Sunday?
RAFAEL NADAL: I talked about the foot the other day. I said how was the problem, how is my foot. Is exactly the same than a few days ago. I did exactly the same than in the previous match.
So I said two days ago I not worried about the foot. I know what's going on. I know with the treatment that I am doing to play I don't gonna have any problem. I don't feel nothing.
Q. This attitude of yours focusing on the competition and the preparation and the health, not so much on the numbers and the results, is that something that's always come that easy to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Don't think about the?
Q. When you speak about not caring about numbers, results, and records, you talk about focusing being on competitive, preparation. Is it an attitude that's always been like that for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Seriously, I care about records, I care about the statistics, and I care about the history of tennis, for sure. But, you know, is not the right moment for me to talk about that. I have 25 years old. I am playing.
And talk about the history when ‑ I don't know when my career is going to finish ‑ is probably something that is to talk. We will see when I finish my career where I am in the history of tennis. We will see what's going on.
Right now for me, my history is I am in the final of Wimbledon. Very happy for that. I will have a very difficult match on Sunday. Let's enjoy it. Let's try my best on Sunday. That's my history today.
The history of tennis, we'll have time to talk about it.
Q. There are many statistics in the game. Which ones to you are the most important?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know which way you are talking.
Q. Majors won, weeks at No. 1, Davis Cup.
RAFAEL NADAL: I am not a specialist on that, so we have to look around and see about different facts. In my opinion, for sure the Grand Slam is probably the most important thing.
But is a mistake think only about the Grand Slams, because the tennis is much more than four tournaments every year, you know.
For me the records of Roger are unbelievable. 16 Grand Slams are unbelievable. But he has a few probably more difficult things to do or more unbelievable things to do. I don't know. He have 23 or 24 straight semifinals in Grand Slams. That's really unbelievable.
In my opinion, for me is much more difficult win in the clay season Monte‑Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Hamburg a few years ago, than win Roland Garros. Seems like the most important thing is Roland Garros, is true.
But if we talk about the quality of tennis, is much more difficult win the other four than win Roland Garros. Probably that's for the history didn't count that much for the spectators.
But for the people of tennis and for the people who love this sport and who understand this sport from inside, everybody knows that's more difficult than win a Grand Slam.
You know, Andy Murray today didn't win a Grand Slam, but he's much more better player than a lot of player who won a Grand Slam in the past. That's the true.
Q. Your head‑to‑heads against your opponents, is that important?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so. Is another fact, but is nothing really decisive, in my opinion.
Q. Having your family, your mother, father, sister, does it help you to relax or does it change the focus in any way?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. For me seriously doesn't matter, no? I am happy to be with them here. They are supporting me here. They are with me during the day off. I like to be with people. I don't like a lot to be alone. If more people are here is a little bit more fun for me during the free hours.
So for me is always a pleasure have the family around, have my team around, the people who are close to me around me, because that's makes me happy. Seems like I'm more at home.
Q. How would you describe Novak's ability to defend, his movements around the court compared to some other players you've played against? Is he among the best, the quickest or...
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think his game is really complete defending. When he attack, too. Probably he's defending a little bit better than previous years this year.
But in my opinion, his general game, his total game, is really complete: good serve, very good movements, very easy, his eyes are very fast, and he can go inside the court very easy playing very difficult shots. Very easy for him because he takes the ball very early.
In my opinion, his biggest ability is take the ball very early. That's something very difficult. Roger do very well, too. That's something very difficult, and they do very easy.
Courtesy: UBITennis
RAFAEL NADAL: For me, seriously, that's something that really doesn't matter a lot. You know, I said last year when I was No. 3 or No. 4. I said when I was No. 1 for me is not a big goal for me.
For me big goal is be competitive, be healthy. Be competitive every time when I am on court and try to be at my best in the important moments, no, in all the tournaments, because all the tournaments are important, no?
Yeah, today I lost the No. 1. I did lost the No. 1. One guy played unbelievable the first half of the year so he's the new No. 1. We just can congratulate him because what he did this first part of the season is something really impressive, really fantastic.
I am happy about how I did. I think in normal conditions I would be No. 1 ‑‑ or a lot of chances to keep being the No. 1 for me for a few more time, because my results are really good the first part of the season, too. But one guy did unbelievable, and congratulations.
Q. Zero unforced errors in the second set, two in the third, one in the fourth. How did you manage?
RAFAEL NADAL: Total seven, yeah, and 37 winners, so the statistics are really unbelievable. The true, I don't know. The statistics is something that ‑‑ we have to have a look about the statistics, but not everything is statistics, no?
In general, I think Andy played very, very high level especially the first set and the beginning of the second, too. Seriously I felt he was better player than me at that moment, so I just waited for my moment.
I felt that I am playing well the first set, too, but he was playing really good, really aggressive, serving really well. I was there all the time. I was little bit lucky ‑ I don't know exactly ‑ the first or second game of the second set with 15‑30, he had an easy forehand in the middle of the court and he miss. He miss the shot long. So after that was probably the turning point of the match.
I think after that he had a bad game with his serve. He had 30‑15, and he had unforced error with the forehand, double‑fault, and after he miss a smash.
After that, the match was close, because I was playing well, too. He lost probably little bit the intensity of the beginning. But that's true, play like he played in the first set is not easy. Is really difficult. He played really complete tennis.
After that I think I played little bit better than the beginning. I was playing well the beginning, but probably I improved little bit the level, and I played probably my best match this year here.
Q. Statistics are not important, but you played five finals in Wimbledon of the last five tournaments you played here. That is a great statistic. What do you think about that? Because only Borg, McEnroe and Federer have done it.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's something for me very important. Always Wimbledon was my dream. After is my 2003, 2005, and after five finals, so it's my seventh Wimbledon probably in my career. Seventh? Eighth?
Q. Seventh.
RAFAEL NADAL: Seventh, so... I never thought that I gonna be able to play five finals, so today is a very important victory for me and very happy for everything, no?
I think is a great effort after, you know, four years without a Spanish playing the semifinals or finals here. After the last five years ‑ well, not 2009 ‑ but in five years we were there, have a Spanish in the final, so that's a fantastic news for me, but I think for our country, too.
Q. Back in 1999 Agassi became No. 1 in the world and he had to play the final with Sampras and he but lost to Sampras. The next day Agassi was No.1 but Sampras was the Wimbledon champion. Would you like to see the same scenario?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes (smiling).
Q. When you walked out of the court you said you were sorry for Andy. How do you manage to be so competitive when you're on the court, and as soon as you are off the court you think with your heart about your competitors?
RAFAEL NADAL: I felt that during the court, too. I'm not a robot when I'm playing. I think.
Andy probably deserved to be Grand Slam winner. He's the best player without a title of Grand Slam that I ever see. So he deserve to be a champion of Grand Slam. Always he was there: final in Australia, semifinals Roland Garros, semifinals here another time. That's tough. I understand, no?
Is not easy for him be there all the time and finally he lost another time. But he's doing well. He's in the right way to win a Grand Slam. I always say the same. But that's what I feel, you know. I feel the reason is he needs little bit more lucky for moments and he will win. I still don't have any doubt on that.
Q. What are your thoughts about playing against Novak, and what do you think is the key to the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: The key is play really well and to wait the opponent don't have his best day. That is the key in these kind of matches, when you play against the best players of the world, you know.
His mental position over me today is probably a little bit better because he won the last four finals against me. And that's what it is. I'm here. I'm try my best. I think I'm playing well, really well.
We will see what's going on on Sunday, no? I will try my best. I have to play aggressive. I have to play with intensity, with rhythm. That's what I gonna try.
Q. What aspect of Novak's game will you find most challenging to overcome?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everything. Yeah.
Q. With Novak, do you think you have any advantage, perhaps even on this surface, more than clay against him? And do you think since you've been to this stage of the tournament before and he hasn't, that that might also be an advantage for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't have an advantage here more than clay. I am better player on clay than grass. That's the true.
Q. Maybe you're a better player on grass than he is on clay.
RAFAEL NADAL: You know what? Playing two semifinals and now the final, probably he's not a bad player on grass, too. That's my feeling. Yeah.
Q. You're obviously aware of the magnitude of your achievements. How often do you think of the number 16?
RAFAEL NADAL: Of what?
Q. Grand Slams.
RAFAEL NADAL: The number 16? I think about the number 10. That's what I have at home. That's what I'm able to see when I go back home in my bedroom. I don't have 11, I don't have 12, I don't have 15, or 16. 16 is very far. I believe the number is not gonna stop there. Roger will have more chances to win more.
Seriously, is not my goal. Disappointing is not my goal. But I am very happy about my 10. I gonna try my best to keep being competitive in important tournaments, and we will see in the next years what's going on. We'll see Sunday. We'll see in the future what's going on.
The career of Roger is probably impossible to repeat. You know, if you look of the history of tennis, he's the player with more Grand Slams in I don't know how many years of history of the tennis, 100?
Q. 125 this year.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is gonna be strange he's the player with more Grand Slams ever. Gonna be strange that three years, four years after one player win more than the best ever, no? So probably that's not gonna happen.
Q. You had issues with your foot earlier in the competition. Was that an issue at all today, and will it be in the final on Sunday?
RAFAEL NADAL: I talked about the foot the other day. I said how was the problem, how is my foot. Is exactly the same than a few days ago. I did exactly the same than in the previous match.
So I said two days ago I not worried about the foot. I know what's going on. I know with the treatment that I am doing to play I don't gonna have any problem. I don't feel nothing.
Q. This attitude of yours focusing on the competition and the preparation and the health, not so much on the numbers and the results, is that something that's always come that easy to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Don't think about the?
Q. When you speak about not caring about numbers, results, and records, you talk about focusing being on competitive, preparation. Is it an attitude that's always been like that for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Seriously, I care about records, I care about the statistics, and I care about the history of tennis, for sure. But, you know, is not the right moment for me to talk about that. I have 25 years old. I am playing.
And talk about the history when ‑ I don't know when my career is going to finish ‑ is probably something that is to talk. We will see when I finish my career where I am in the history of tennis. We will see what's going on.
Right now for me, my history is I am in the final of Wimbledon. Very happy for that. I will have a very difficult match on Sunday. Let's enjoy it. Let's try my best on Sunday. That's my history today.
The history of tennis, we'll have time to talk about it.
Q. There are many statistics in the game. Which ones to you are the most important?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know which way you are talking.
Q. Majors won, weeks at No. 1, Davis Cup.
RAFAEL NADAL: I am not a specialist on that, so we have to look around and see about different facts. In my opinion, for sure the Grand Slam is probably the most important thing.
But is a mistake think only about the Grand Slams, because the tennis is much more than four tournaments every year, you know.
For me the records of Roger are unbelievable. 16 Grand Slams are unbelievable. But he has a few probably more difficult things to do or more unbelievable things to do. I don't know. He have 23 or 24 straight semifinals in Grand Slams. That's really unbelievable.
In my opinion, for me is much more difficult win in the clay season Monte‑Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Hamburg a few years ago, than win Roland Garros. Seems like the most important thing is Roland Garros, is true.
But if we talk about the quality of tennis, is much more difficult win the other four than win Roland Garros. Probably that's for the history didn't count that much for the spectators.
But for the people of tennis and for the people who love this sport and who understand this sport from inside, everybody knows that's more difficult than win a Grand Slam.
You know, Andy Murray today didn't win a Grand Slam, but he's much more better player than a lot of player who won a Grand Slam in the past. That's the true.
Q. Your head‑to‑heads against your opponents, is that important?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so. Is another fact, but is nothing really decisive, in my opinion.
Q. Having your family, your mother, father, sister, does it help you to relax or does it change the focus in any way?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. For me seriously doesn't matter, no? I am happy to be with them here. They are supporting me here. They are with me during the day off. I like to be with people. I don't like a lot to be alone. If more people are here is a little bit more fun for me during the free hours.
So for me is always a pleasure have the family around, have my team around, the people who are close to me around me, because that's makes me happy. Seems like I'm more at home.
Q. How would you describe Novak's ability to defend, his movements around the court compared to some other players you've played against? Is he among the best, the quickest or...
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think his game is really complete defending. When he attack, too. Probably he's defending a little bit better than previous years this year.
But in my opinion, his general game, his total game, is really complete: good serve, very good movements, very easy, his eyes are very fast, and he can go inside the court very easy playing very difficult shots. Very easy for him because he takes the ball very early.
In my opinion, his biggest ability is take the ball very early. That's something very difficult. Roger do very well, too. That's something very difficult, and they do very easy.
Courtesy: UBITennis
Friday, 1 July 2011
Rafael Nadal - Semi Final Match Reports
The Age
Reigning champion Rafael Nadal and soon-to-be world No.1 Novak Djokovic will meet in Sunday's Wimbledon final after the cream rose to the top at the All England Club..... Full Story Here
Reuters (Canada)
Rafa Nadal delivered another command performance to withstand an early assault from a fired-up Andy Murray and beat the home favorite 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday..... Full Story Here
Yahoo
Rafa Nadal delivered another command performance to withstand an early assault from a fired-up Andy Murray and beat the home favourite 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday..... Full Story Here
Reigning champion Rafael Nadal and soon-to-be world No.1 Novak Djokovic will meet in Sunday's Wimbledon final after the cream rose to the top at the All England Club..... Full Story Here
Reuters (Canada)
Rafa Nadal delivered another command performance to withstand an early assault from a fired-up Andy Murray and beat the home favorite 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday..... Full Story Here
Yahoo
Rafa Nadal delivered another command performance to withstand an early assault from a fired-up Andy Murray and beat the home favourite 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday..... Full Story Here
Rafael Nadal - Into The Wimbledon Final
:-)
A slight dip to start the match but once he found his rhythm the result was never in doubt for me. Next is the man who has just taken (well, on Monday) his Number 1 ranking, Novak Djokovic.
These are my 2 favorite players so I will be a nervous wreak on Sunday afternoon. Pass the vodka please :-)
A slight dip to start the match but once he found his rhythm the result was never in doubt for me. Next is the man who has just taken (well, on Monday) his Number 1 ranking, Novak Djokovic.
These are my 2 favorite players so I will be a nervous wreak on Sunday afternoon. Pass the vodka please :-)
Rafael Nadal - Practice Photos
Here are some pics from today's session before the semi final match against Murray
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!
VAMOS RAFA!!!!!!
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