An interview with: Rafael Nadal.

R. NADAL/I. Karlovic
6-7, 7-6, 7-6
An interview with:
RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Rafa.

Q. There was a lot of back and forth
during the match to see which side his serve
was going to go?
RAFAEL NADAL: A lot of time like this
(back and forth). Was very tough match. Very
tough mentally.

Q. Your reaction afterwards showed
how important it was to win. A good win for
you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, very important
win, no? At the same time tough win because
tonight I have the Friday night in Mallorca
(smiling).
No, seriously, is a very important win
because I beat against one specialist on this
surface, big server. I practice my return. I think I
return well. But I didn't have lot of chances.
When I touch the ball, I return well.
I think was very tough mentally match,
but at the same time I was very focused all the
time, no? I have two Love-30 with my serve, but
never I had a breakpoint against, and I have two
breakpoints for me. And, you know, on grass,
especially these matches, anything is deciding in
two balls. So is very important to be prepared,
have the best concentration. And today after 7-6
against the first set, I think I was very
concentrate all the time. I'm playing important
points very well in the tiebreaks, the next two
tiebreaks.

Q. In the last tiebreak, you looked
very comfortable dealing with his slice.
Seemed to be like a coaching session for you
where you were executing the forehand.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when the match
was coming, especially in the third set, in the
third set I start to feeling the ball very well with
the forehand, no? I have a lot of winners, difficult
winners, some very good passing shots, too. I
finished the match feeling the ball perfect with
the forehand.

Q. You were never troubled with the
low ball?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is one of my best
balls, one of my best shots, no? When the other
guy is doing the slice against my forehand, I
have a very good shot there - normally, not
always (smiling).

Q. Can you describe what it is like
receiving a serve from Karlovic?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing. Is like a
penalty. You have 50% for one place to other
place. And after, with this 50%, you have 50%,
because if you go to the good place, after you
have to try to touch the ball good. And is very
difficult, too, no?

Q. Do you have to guess where he is
going to hit it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. Is impossible
wait in the middle, no? Is no chance.

Q. To be serious, you joked about
Friday night in Mallorca. Even for someone
like you, who is such a competitor, how
difficult is it after a long clay court campaign,
you've come to have some good grass court
preparation, wouldn't it be nice to have three
days' rest?
RAFAEL NADAL: I need, no? I was
joking in the beginning with the Friday night. But
the true, I need three days off, no? Four gonna
be amazing (smiling).
Yeah, is impossible to play -- well, after
this tournament I gonna have. If I lose
yesterday, I gonna arrive to Wimbledon on
Tuesday. But, you know, I am in semifinals right
now. I don't gonna come back before
Wednesday if I lose tomorrow. If I play the final,
probably Thursday.

Q. So whatever happens, you are
definitely going to go home for a few days?
RAFAEL NADAL: Go back.

Q. You've got to go back?
RAFAEL NADAL: I go back. Impossible
to be here for more time. I spend like nine days
in the last four months at home. I need play golf.

Q. We do have golf courses here.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I only play golf
with my friends, my family, and it feel like I am
not playing tournament, no? And if I am here,
anyway, if I go to play golf, I am thinking I am
here for play tournament, no? So I need be
there. I need be with the friends, be with the
family, and forget the tennis for a few days, no?
But I have important match tomorrow in
semifinals. For me is going to be important
match. Going to be good test. Well, the true, if I
win tomorrow and play the final here, is a very
good points for me.

Q. Did you mentally prepare before
the match today it was going to go to
tiebreaks, playing a big server?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know, no? I
just go on court, try my best every game, every
point, try to be very focused with myself. That's
what I thought before the match. If he has a
break, you're finish, no?
I said yesterday, wait. When you are
returning, wait your chance, because you're
never gonna break him, but he can break himself
sometimes, no? He can have one double-fault,
one volley miss. And if that's happen, and you
have one good return in that game, you can do
the break. So wait your opportunity, no?
You don't gonna have four good returns
and you're gonna break him. That's impossible.
But sometimes can happen something like this,
no?
But today I think Karlovic improves a lot
in the last time, last months, last years. He is
volleying very well. He has very good
movements on the volley. And he didn't have a
bad forehand, no? And the slice is tough here
playing on grass.

Q. Does a win like that today show
yourself how much you have improved as a
grass court player in two, three years?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no, I know if I
am playing well, I can play well in every surface,
and especially here on grass. I played two finals
in Wimbledon last two years. First one maybe
you can do by chance. But when you have the
second one, beating against very tough players
on grass, like Soderling, like Fish, like Berdych,
Youzhny, Djokovic -- Djokovic retired, but having
good chances for win the title against Federer in
the final, you believe you can play very good in
this surface, no?
So I know I can go to Wimbledon and
lose in first round because this surface you don't
have hundred percent control of the nothing. But
at the same time if I am playing well and the
draw is a little respect with me, I gonna have
chances for have a good tournament, too, no?

Q. Yesterday you complained a bit
about your health. How do you feel
physically today? How about your knees?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, no, is
a big change play to grass and in one day. So I
feel little bit pain in the right knee. But, you
know, I start the match feeling the pain, and
when the match was coming, I feel much better.
Is normal. Normal have little bit pain in
the beginning. But hopefully for the next week I
have some few days rest. I need this rest. And
after I prepare little bit more and arrive physically
hundred percent to Wimbledon.

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