lundi 31 mai 2010

Une entrevue de...

Rafael Nadal

Monday, May 31, 2010

Rafael Nadal

Q. You beat Bellucci two years ago in three sets, and today again in three sets. Was it more difficult today, and in what way?
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn't remember exactly, no? But that match was a tougher one in the tournament for me in 2008. That's the true, no?
I don't know. But, you know, my feeling was I was closer to lose a set or something like this in 2008 than today.
But the score was closer this time.

Q. Are we going to have a Nadal/Federer final, or don't you let yourself think that far in advance?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am in quarterfinals. I am very happy to be here, and you will have Nadal/Almagro, sure.

Q. What made this kid so difficult? Because he was left handed?
RAFAEL NADAL: Was difficult, but was in three sets, so every match is completely different. Sure, every match is difficult in fourth round of one Grand Slam. In Roland Garros every matches can be very, very difficult.
Bellucci is a very good play, especially on clay. Good serve, good forehand, good backhand, too.

Q. His opponent was good, too.
RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. His opponent was good, too.
RAFAEL NADAL: I played probably my best match today in the tournament.

Q. There are certain shots that can change a match. When you played your backhand pass at 5 All, did you think that was a moment when you established yourself in the match and maybe he was a little upset and perhaps he went down a bit?
RAFAEL NADAL: Was very important moment, because I lost the serve two times. So I had the match under control set and 3 2, 40 15 I think I remember. Playing well in that moment. I had two mistakes: one net outside and another one long.
But without play bad, playing two good points. After that, everything was difficult. Sure, in the 5 All was the key of the match, because after that I gonna serve in the 6 5 with the wind. (In Spanish.)
Q. Between Verdasco and Almagro, for instance before the they played the match, do you have a preference on, Oh I would like to play this or that player, whoever wins, or you don't care about who's going to be the next point? Do you sometimes have preferences on the next round, I would rather play this or that person?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, first thing, I didn't have any preference before because I didn't play, so I was focus only on me. To try to play against Verdasco Almagro, sure later you never know. Believe me.
I don't know if I don't care, but I don't know which one I prefer, I think. Both players are good players. Gonna be very good match.

Q. Can we say that after the Soderling match of last year, this has like made you be even more careful than ever before with the earlier rounds, before the final that you're accustomed?
RAFAEL NADAL: No.

Q. Same?
RAFAEL NADAL: Same.

Q. You always play your matches at a certain level of intensity. It's always very strong. Do you think it's possible to win this title or win any Grand Slam playing at anything below your best intensity?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me?

Q. For you or for anyone, but for you.
RAFAEL NADAL: I think some players can play some moments more relaxed because they have the serve and they can play a little bit with that, no? But not for me.
Sure, I can play a few games if I have the match under control probably a little bit more relaxed, but not normally not.
I try my best every day. I think every day a little bit better here in this tournament, and that's because I am very focused all the time to improve.
I go on court and try my best in every point. That's what I try.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.

Q. This was probably a very important victory for you, I suppose. Last year you managed to reach this level, but now you're going to go even further.
RAFAEL NADAL: It's an important victory if you look at the points, that's true. But I knew he was a very tough opponent. It was a very important match for me. I succeeded well because I managed to play even better. I could shoot into the balls the way I wanted to, mainly the backhand shots, but also my forehand.
Unfortunately, my shots were a bit too short. I wanted to have longer and deeper shots. I wanted to improve this. Sometimes, you know, these details are such that the opponent could take this opportunity so as to dominate the game. It's better to have deeper balls so as to dominate the game.
I think I served better today than any other day, and I'm very satisfied because I think I've improved. I've not yet dropped a set. Well, a set, yes. But no, no, I have not yet dropped a set.
The most important thing is that I won my match.

Q. You're going to play against Almagro. He won a set in Madrid against you. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's going to be very difficult, because the way he plays is really excellent. He's managed to maintain the same level here in the tournament. It's going to be complicated; he's going to be very aggressive. It's normal. He knows how to do this.
And as far as I'm concerned, I'll try and play my way and do my best. I'll do my best so that he feels a bit uncomfortable.

Q. Do you think you could say something about his serve, because you played in Madrid not long ago against him?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I can tell you his second serve is really very good, but there's nothing special about it. The ball bounces back really high. Okay, it's a good serve. Not bad.
In general, his first service and even the second serve are good, are excellent, one of the best servers in the world.

Q. This is your 200th victory on clay. That gives you a total of 98% of victories on clay. This result is even better than Bjørn Borg's. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't really think that much about it, but it's really good. What I'm thinking about is practicing tomorrow morning, and of course today's match and tomorrow's training and practicing, and then the following matches. All these statistical data, you know, as I've said before, as I'd like to repeat, are quite valid when you've finished your career, but not before.
There's never one day when I think, Oh, okay that's my 200th victory or umpteenth victory. No, I don't think in these terms. We never know when these statistics are still valid or if they're going to continue to be as good.
Now, I can tell you that from the year 2005 onward my statistics have improved, but I never really think about this very much.

Q. I have the impression that this was an easy match. You've not really suffered. Is it something you deserve, or is it due to the opponent and the way he played?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the match was not easy. It was a very difficult match. Now we've reached quarterfinals, which means a good tournament for most of the players here.
My objectives are still very high and very demanding. All matches are complicated. All players are difficult to play against. It's very important for me, you know, considering what's happened to me in the past months.
I couldn't win last year, as you know, so it was very difficult. I wanted to tell you this, because for 11 months now I've not really won that many matches. I know what it means to win a tournament.

Q. Despite your excellent results, despite the fact that you've not yet lost any sets, you're not boasting about it. You're not that happy.
RAFAEL NADAL: What do you want me to say? Do you want me to jump and shout?
Of course I'm very happy. I'm still in the tournament. I've reached the quarterfinals. But then, you know, this is a press conference, so I'm quite normal. I try and be myself, and this is it.
I'll start jumping when I've won the tournament. For the time being, it's only the quarterfinals. My objective is you know, I'm very demanding and like to be here, but I like to continue and move forward and do my best.

Q. Robin Soderling is ready. He is going to fight back strongly. So what about Soderling's chances? What are the odds?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't really know. He has chances, I think. I think he's not the favorite, but I think he can win. I think he's not yet lost a set. I think he's going to play well.
We can say the same about Federer. I think it's been his 23rd or 24th semifinals. He's not going to lose this, I think.

Q. Well, the second set was very difficult for you. Bellucci made your life harder. Could you tell us more about this, how the end of the set ended?
RAFAEL NADAL: I had the impression I was dominating the court and I had taken control, but sometimes I was playing against the wind. It was very difficult. It was not really the wind. It was a slight breeze.
The other day it was so windy that it was difficult to play when the wind was blowing in your back, but today as well it was difficult. When we were at 3 2, 40 15, I played excellent points. It was a bit difficult at that moment.
But otherwise, I can't really explain this 4 2. I could have had a tighter match. But as you know, what's done is done. We can't play the match again. Bellucci plays really well.
I can tell you he played really well on the points that I gave him, more or less. He took advantage of this. It was a bit complicated for me sometimes.

Q. What seems to be a bit of a paradox is that the only man who could perhaps win Roland Garros could become No. 1 again.
RAFAEL NADAL: If I were No. 1, I would be very happy. But what is important to me is to play well, to play a good match, and, of course, to win the tournament.
And if I am No. 1 or No. 2, never mind. It doesn't really matter. Last year my level was not excellent. I don't really want to think about this. It's only quarterfinals. I'd like to win the tournament.
Now, whether I want to be No. 1 or not is a different thing. To be No. 1 I think I should play a good tournament and reach the finals. We'll see. We'll see what's going to happen next.
If I reach semis, we'll see. In this case I might be No. 1. But if I don't reach the finals, then I think that Federer would be the favorite. Because as you know, the second half of the year is better for my opponents because the other surfaces are more difficult for me compared with clay.
As you know, if it's a hardcourt or other surfaces, the other players play at a high level. But this is pure speculation.

Source: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2010-05-31/201005311275331717469.html

Rafa Nadal vs Bellucci

Rafa en photos















Spain'S Rafael Nadal against Thomaz Bellucci during their men's fourth round match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on May 31, 2010 in Paris. Nadal won 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. AFP PHOTO/ JACQUES DEMARTHON (Photo credit should read JACQUES DEMARTHON/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal poursuit sa reconquête du pouvoir aux Internationaux de France

PARIS — Rafael Nadal a poursuivi sa reconquête du pouvoir aux Internationaux de tennis de France en dominant en huitièmes de finale le Brésilien Thomaz Bellucci sans concéder une nouvelle fois le moindre set.

L'Espagnol l'a emporté 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 face à cet autre gaucher qui lui a donné du fil à retordre. Mais il est qualifié pour les quarts de finale où il retrouvera son compatriote Nicolas Almagro, qu'il a battu six fois en autant de confrontations.

Nadal, pour conquérir son quatrième titre à Roland-Garros en 2008, avait battu Bellucci au premier tour et Almagro, déjà au stade des quarts de finale. Tous les voyants semblent donc au vert.

Le Majorquin, revanchard après sa seule défaite concédée à Robin Soderling en 8e de finale l'an dernier, la première après 31 victoires consécutives à Roland-Garros, se méfie cependant d'Almagro, qui lui a pris un set récemment à Madrid.

«Je vais faire en sorte qu'il se sente mal à l'aise. Il a un deuxième service très bon, c'est un des meilleurs serveurs du monde, a déclaré Nadal, en pleine confiance.

«J'ai joué mon meilleur match du tournoi aujourd'hui, a-t-il dit après avoir évincé Bellucci. J'ai bien dirigé mes revers, je suis toujours un peu court en coups droits. Mais j'ai mieux servi, je progresse. Je n'ai pas perdu un set, je suis content.»

Almagro a décidé de ne pas faire de complexes face à Nadal.

«Je me dis qu'il joue à un excellent niveau, mais que je peux le battre. Ça va être un match magnifique», a pronostiqué l'Espagnol de Murcie, âgé de 24 ans.

Lors de son dernier sacre en 2008, Nadal avait aussi battu Novak Djokovic qu'il pourrait retrouver en demi-finale. Le Serbe, troisième tête de série, a dominé l'Américain Robby Ginepri, 98e joueur mondial, en quatre sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

dimanche 30 mai 2010

Roland Garros 2010: Rafael Nadal incontra i bambini alle Piscine Molitor 2

Roland Garros 2010: Rafael Nadal incontra i bambini alle Piscine Molitor

Une entrevue de...

Day 7 - Rafael Nadal

Saturday, May 29, 2010
Rafael  Nadal

Q. I have a different question for you. Everyone in tennis loves Roger, respects Roger. He is said to be the best of all time. Yet two out of every three times you play him, you win. You've won six of the last seven times. Who's a better player?
RAFAEL NADAL: You like this. You are focused on the Roger thing, eh? (laughter.)
Yesterday with the clay. Today with the if somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person don't know nothing about tennis. That's my answer.

Q. How so?
RAFAEL NADAL: Why?

Q. Yeah.
RAFAEL NADAL: So you don't know nothing about tennis.
You see the titles of him and you see the titles of me? It's no comparison. So that's the answer. Is difficult to compare Roger with me now, because he has 16 Grand Slams; I have 6. Masters 1000, yeah, I have more than him. But for the rest of the things the records of Roger is very, very almost impossible to improve.

Q. Still, it is interesting when you step out on the court...
RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. Still, it is interesting, Rafa, when you step out on the court...
RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.)
Sorry, I interrupt you. What's the question? Sorry.

Q. The question is: Still, for the fans, it is interesting when you step on the court with him, you usually win.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am No. 2 in the world for five years, so I think I am a good player, too. Sure, I can beat him. No. 2 can beat No. 1. That's the thing. It's not a lot of difference between No. 2 and No. 1 or between No. 1 and No. 10. That's the tennis, and the tennis very close, the level, all the time.
But I can beat him, yes. The same time, the thing is I beat him a lot of times on clay. I beat him on other surfaces, too. But the most of the times I beat him on clay, so I played with him more times on clay than on the rest of the surfaces.

Q. How do you feel at this point in the tournament? Do you feel like you always feel at the French Open coming into the second week, physically and mentally?
RAFAEL NADAL: Physically I'm fine. I don't have any problems, so I happy for that.
Mentally, too. I am with a lot of allusion to play well and to play a good tournament here. And I am doing, you know. I defend my points already, so I think now is all to win.

Q. You will follow the World Cup for football, especially Spain?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure. I love the football, yeah? I know we won 3 2 today.

Q. Spain is your favorite to World Cup?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me, yes. But for the rest, for the Brazilians, it's gonna be Brazil, and for Argentines, Argentina. That's football, no? And gonna be difficult to say something.
I think we have my opinion is we have the best team, but in one competition that all decides in one match. Gonna be very difficult to say something, because just little thing can change the rest of the match.

Q. If you could predict the opening round against Switzerland, what will the score be?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, here we are better. (laughter.)
Not in tennis, but here we are better. That is no comparison to.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.

Q. On the subject of football, on Monday Mourinho is going to sign to join the Madrid team. What do you think about him and his charisma?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I'm no one here to talk about other people's choices. As a trainer, he's always been a good trainer. He's always done a good job. We'll see.
And also, I think this is simply a follow up of what has been taking place in the last few years.

Q. Can we go back to tennis? We've seen you happier here than when you were on the court. You seemed to be fairly tense. You weren't happy?
RAFAEL NADAL: I was a little bit worried. The weather conditions weren't very good. I don't know. The weather conditions can make for a difficult match.
I saw the clouds gathering. When I walked on the court, I looked at the sky, and I kept looking at the sky because I really wanted to wrap up this match. I did not want to continue playing this particular match tomorrow.
I really want to have tomorrow off to take a break, and also to work. In the first set I believe I played well, then I believe I had a bit of a dip. The second wasn't so good, but the third one, until 6 3, I played well, really well.
I had to play against the wind, I played the whole match really well. I was very comfortable with my forehand, my backhand, but there was the wind. Because of the wind, you know, Hewitt takes the ball really early, and so the ball came to my side fairly low.
Sometimes I had trouble catching the ball because I was playing against the wind. But those were my main difficulties. In spite of all these difficulties, I felt fairly comfortable.

Q. Such a wet day and rain threatening, are you still with your 25 25 strings, or are you going to change?
RAFAEL NADAL: I play 5.5; 26 in Madrid; 25 here. I decided to go for 25.5. I did ask myself the question before the match, but already I had already four racquets at 25.5, and I thought, I'm not going to change everything.

Q. (Question off microphone.)
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, the balls were heavier, and therefore, the fact also that there was no sun, that the courts were slightly wet. This all made for heavy conditions. The balls were heavy, so these conditions were not favorable.
Because the spin that I like to give to the ball simply does not work in those conditions, and Hewitt plays really flat.

Q. Several times we saw you looking at your racquet.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I only looked at my racquet once, because I took a backhand and I hit the ball. I hit the racquet, sorry, against the ground, and I thought maybe I had broken it. I checked it, but it wasn't broken.
I looked at the frame simply to check for a crack. In Spanish I don't know how to say this, but in my language, in Mallorcan, we say cruit (phonetic.) It's a kind of a crack. (laughter.)

Q. Can you say a few words regarding your next opponent?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he's top level opponent. I think in 2008 he went really deep into the tournament. The last time I played him he was very difficult. He's a clay specialist. He has recently beaten he has just beaten Ljubicic, so he is quite confident.
It's going to be very difficult, and it will also be a test for me to check my level of tennis.

Q. Three Spaniards reaching the fourth round this level in the tournament. Is that a surprise for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, it was a surprise, the fact that Juan Carlos lost. I could not watch his game, so I can't really make any judgments. But I'm quite surprised that he lost. I saw him he lost the first few sets, and I saw him sort of coming back into the match, but apparently he didn't come back.
And also, I think that David played in a Kamikaze way, and it was difficult for him to stop on time. David played too flat. As I said, the weather conditions today are not favorable. He had a very good serve. That, I noticed.

Source: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2010-05-29/201005291275162647888.html

Q & R avec Rafa: Paris is the best place to spend a birthday

How do you usually celebrate your birthday? Mine is also the 3rd of June! Vamos Rafa!
Assel from Kazakhstan

Rafa says: I have celebrated my birthday four times in Paris in the last five years. Obviously last year it was the only one that I had the chance to celebrate it at home. And to be honest I would have preferred to have been in Paris...Anyway, that's the past. I normally go out for dinner with my team and the family here in Paris.

6a00d83451586c69e2012875b75803970c-400wi

My question is about the change in the strings for your racket. Will you be using the new strings in grass too?
Vie

Rafa says: Nope, same ones!

Novak did the parody of the "Gypsy" video for the jukebox segment. Have you seen it yet? What are your thoughts on it? I hope we still get to see you duet with Marc! Best of luck for the rest of the tourney! VAMOS! :)
Julz, Philippines

Rafa says: I have seen it. No problem. But I have to say that previous things were funnier! Hopefully Marc will do it!

Hi Rafa, my friends and I are big fans of yours, good luck at Roland Garros. We were wondering, in a match, just before service, a player is given three balls. Then they look at them, and then drop one and use the other two. Why is that? What do you choose between? Thanks!
Love Jasmine

Rafa says: I try to chose the faster one for the first serve.

I don't know how you remain patient with some of the silly questions asked to you at your post match press conferences! So I have a silly question, but hopefully one you've not heard before...It was the Eurovision Song Contest this weekend, do you ever watch it? Spain's entry is not the best this year, I'm afraid! My friends and I are having a party for it so I'm going to attempt to cook paella to go with the European theme! Good luck with the rest of Roland Garros!
Kirsty, UK

Rafa says: I have not watched it to be honest.

You have had epic battles with Roger Federer over the years. Do you now feel that everyone expects a five-set marathon every time you play together? How do you cope with the pressure? Keeping fingers crossed for you for this tournament! Bueno Suerte!
Lawrence Head from Leicestershire

Rafa says: I am sure that everyone expects a great match. I would love to be back in the final here and if Roger is the opponent, more than happy. The important thing is to be in the final and for that there is still a long way to go!

Rafa, you truly amaze me in so many ways - you are such an inspiration! My question - Can you remember the longest rally you have ever played? How many shots? Good luck - really looking forward to seeing some entertaining tennis from you as always and great to have you blogging.
Kim, Australia

Rafa says: Not really. I have had some long ones over the years...

What trophy do you like the best, aesthetically speaking?
Marija

Rafa says: I would say... Wimbledon?!?!???!!?!?!

Hola, Rafa! You are a fantastic guy. I enjoy watching you playing very much. When I watched the tie-break quiz videos on atpworldtour.com, it really amazed me that a lot of players could remember the exact scores of the matches they played long time ago. Can you do that? For example, can you still remember the score when you defeated Coria in Rome in 2005? Thank you. Good luck for the rest of the season. I'd like to see you in Shanghai this October.
Marjorie, Shanghai

Rafa says: Many thanks. Sure, I remember almost all of them. Against Coria it was one of the best and the most exciting I ever played. The final score was 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6)!

Blog de Rafa : Everything's getting better in Paris - except the weather

Nadal_1C_585x350_718218a

Hi everyone,

It is raining! But really raining hard. I am writing this post and the water that comes down is amazing here in Paris. Thank God it is happening now and not before or during the match. If that would have happened, that would have meant that I would have had to play again today!

Anyway, into our business. Some of you that follow tennis and that watch the match yesterday might ask if I am playing my best tennis. I think I ended really well today and I have good sensations. I have not been playing great, but today I felt towards the end of the match I was in control of my game and especially my forehand. Just to say, bottom line, that I am feeling better and better. I don't know why these things happen. I mean, I have been playing great in Monte Carlo, especially there, in Rome and at some point in Madrid. Then I get to Paris and my practices are good, but once I am playing matches, then I have not been playing well...strange. But I have to say that it has also happened in 2008 where I feel I played at my best here in Paris.

Today I am practising at 1 so that gives me time to sleep well and rest more than during these past three or four days. I will practise for one hour and a half and then I have a quick promotional activity with my new sponsor, the famous Richard Mille. Lot of talking about that lately and to be honest, that thing of the comments of the price of the watch makes me feel uncomfortable. Believe me, I am not pricing the watch, and that it is really an amazing watch.

Thanks,

Rafa

Q & R avec Rafa: I'm cheering on the LA Lakers

I heard Toni voted for Bjorn Borg as the best clay court player ever on a survey by L'Equipe. I think he's wrong and you are the best. What do you think?
Vanessa, London

Rafa: I don't know, really. I am sure he feels bad voting for me, it looks strange to vote for your nephew, I suppose. You should ask Toni actually.

What did you think of Novak and Troicki impersonating you and Shakira?
Kim, London

Rafa: I haven't seen it yet. I suppose it is funny...

I am a very happy tennis and basketball fan, with you playing so well and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA play-offs. Have you been in touch with Pau Gasol and are you hoping he wins another championship? Aly

Rafa: I am many times in touch with him and I hope they win!

Nadal_675783a

Sometimes you have to play against players you do not know, like Gianni Mina and Horacio Zeballos. Do you face these kind of matches in a different way then against players you have played for so many years now?
Ana, Madrid

Rafa: Not really. I always try to play my game on these occasions.


You always come across as such a modest person and enjoy your privacy. How do you manage to cope with all the attention you get?
Denzy

Rafa: It is part of the life I have and I try to be nice to everyone. Why change?

What you are thinking as you prepare to serve each time?
Beth, USA

Rafa: On where to put it, how to do it, speed, angle...

Why do you always bite the trophy? Why don't you kiss it like the other players?
Rose Dakin

Rafa: I always did it since I won my first tournament.

Do you have any plans to come and see any games at the World Cup?
Carmen Campbell, South Africa

Rafa: I am afraid I won't be able to come but I'll watch it on TV.

Apart from Spain who else will you support at the World Cup?
Lola Myme

Rafa: We'll see.

I really enjoyed watching you and Federer play doubles at the charity matches for Haiti earlier this year. Will we ever see you and Roger play a doubles event together in a tournament? I think you two would be unbeatable together.
Olivia, New Zealand

Rafa: I don't know; I am sure at some point we will play.

Blog de Rafa : Early to bed and early to rise at the French Open

Hi everyone,

Quite a good day today. It started very early for what we normally do since I left for the tournament site at 8am. Had my warm up at 8.45am which is a very early time to hit normally. The problem for me was to go to sleep - to get to sleep rather. I normally go to sleep around 12.30 and 1 am and so yesterday I decided not to go out for dinner, had some room service and go to sleep soon...That was the intention.

Rafaelnadal585afp_628922a

So had an early match which is also good since we finished pretty early. With press conference and a promotional act I did for IBATUR (Balearic Islands Tourism Board) at the tournament I was practically done by 3.30 pm. That is also very early for my standards. Other players spend less time on-site but I normally spend a lot of hours.

I have to say it was good to be back early. I got some rest in the afternoon and went for dinner with my team also early. Tomorrow I am playing again, something not common either at Grand Slams, so wanted to take things in an easy way.

Goodnight and thanks,

Rafa

Q & R avec Rafa: it's time to buy a camera

Nadal

Hola Rafa, I am thinking of learning to play tennis after years of watching. What advice/tips can you give me to get me started? Clare

RN: The first thing is to enjoy, to have fun and be patient with your improvement.

Dude, you have the coolest gear on tour. How is your wardrobe picked for each tournament? Jorge, Miami FL

RN: It is picked way in advance. We decide it with Nike months before.

Hola Rafa, congratulations on your victory over Gianni Mina. Did it feel a little strange to wear a watch for the first time during a match, or did you not notice any difference than usual? Thanks a million and good luck. Niamh in Ireland

RN: Not really since I had been practicing for a long time now. It has been almost two years since we started working on it and I have been practicing for some months now. It is not that I started on Tuesday with it.

Hi Rafa, you are ALWAYS being photographed on the receiving end of a camera - do you enjoy taking photos yourself and do you take photos of the tournaments you visit so that you can look back on them in future years? Thank you for bringing excitement back into the land of tennis! Sandra

RN: Not really but it is a good idea. Will start I suppose. Thanks for the tip.

You're playing with new strings this year and, to my untrained eye, it seems you might be hitting the ball harder and longer. What was the aim of the new strings and do you think they're working for you? Vamos for Roland Garros! Rachel from Berkhamsted

RN: Yes, absolutely.

Hi Rafa, it's so good to have you blogging and answering questions again, I really look forward to it, muchas gracias! Do you have any dreams or ambitions, not related to tennis, something you'd love to do but haven't done yet? Juliette Westbrook-Finch

RN: Many thanks for your comments. I don't really have these kind of dreams. I think more every day on my goals instead and work hard to achieve them.

Hi Rafa, I would like to know if sometimes you ever have to sit back and pinch yourself to try and comprehend what you have achieved so far in your career? Taryn, Australia

RN: I suppose I will do that in the future but definitely not now.

Greetings from Serbia! If you had a chance to choose any court in any tournament to be named after you which one would that be? The one from Monte Carlo? Thanks and good luck at RG! Marija
Hvala

RN: Not sure I deserve that honor. I am too young.

Blog de Rafa : Paris rain makes for a gloomy day in the locker room

Rain

Hello everyone

I suppose most of you are saying the same thing as I am. I did mention yesterday the risk of not playing today, well, in the end it was worst than expected. I couldn't play as I thought I wouldn't be able to do but the weather was worse than they told us and most of the matches couldn't be even started. This means that tomorrow I am playing early and if I win I would play again on Saturday. Not ideal but always better than playing tomorrow and going back home after ...

I have to say that these days in tennis are kind of the worst. Not much to do, just wait, wait, more wait, play some cards in the locker room and continue waiting. Terrible. Clearly there are worst things in life but for a professional event and for the spectators who paid money to be here and watch tennis is not the best.

Tomorrow I am going pretty early to the tournament at 8am and get ready for an early match. Something that I am not used to but something equal to both players. No complaints.

Rafa

Article sur Rafa (anglais)


Service with a smoulder

Rafael Nadal, 23, on winning, losing and the family that means everything to him


Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal

The time I get up depends on what time I’m playing. Today I had practice at 1, so I got up around 10. I shower, get dressed. For breakfast I have hot chocolate, a croissant or toast with olive oil, and some fruit. Never coffee or tea — I don’t like them.

After breakfast I go to the sports arena and warm up with my coach, my uncle Toni. I practise from 1 to 3, then have another shower and lunch. What I eat depends on the country I’m in, but often it will be pasta, fish and salad. I don’t cook much, maybe some pasta. When I’m away on tour I might make my grandmother’s cake — it’s a typical Majorcan cake, her own special recipe. I love chocolate, especially milk chocolate. I eat it every day. I love Nutella, too, and crisps and biscuits. There are some salty Majorcan biscuits called Quely, and I always take a supply with me.

I was four when I started playing tennis, very young. That’s when my uncle Toni gave me my first racket. I won my first tournament when I was eight. I’ve always loved sport and I’ve always been competitive — I’ll compete at anything.

On a match day I start to prepare at least an hour before I play. I get my fingers and feet taped to protect them from blisters, then change into my kit and warm up, listening to my iPod — Spanish pop music or classical music. If I’m playing someone I know, we’ll chat maybe half an hour before we go on court. But not 10 minutes before — by then all I’m thinking about is the game.

My personality is relaxed. During a tournament I’m really calm, because I’m focused. I have a routine: practise and play — it’s easy. But when I go home to Majorca, I can’t relax. I want to do so much because I don’t spend enough time there. I want to see my friends, my family, go to the gym, play tennis. And I love golf — I’ll play for hours. I go fishing, watch football, see movies. And I swim in the sea, which is next to my house. I want to do everything, but it’s impossible; the days are too short.

I’ve won a lot of money, but I’m lucky, I live with my family in Majorca and I’m happy how I am. I don’t need anything else. I never like to be alone, so I like friends and family to visit me during tournaments and I never travel alone.

Late afternoon, back at the hotel, I have physiotherapy for two hours. Each day I do stretches and have a massage. Some part of the body always needs attention. Last year I had tendonitis in both knees. I’m getting better, but it was hard, after practising so much, that I had to miss tournaments, especially Wimbledon. But you accept it and try to recover as fast as possible.

I feel pressure, for sure. The biggest stress for most players is that the season’s too long. It starts in January and finishes in November — no time to rest. Second worst is the ranking — that’s a lot of pressure every week. But I’ve got more experienced at coping.

Sometimes I’m angry or unhappy on court, but I have to control myself. I’m not a very negative person. Mental strength is part of my personality — and it comes from my parents’ dedication to me and from my uncle, my coach. Living in a small town in Majorca, families are closer than they are in big cities. My friends are still the ones I was at school with, from when I was six years old. These are the people I go out to dinner with, to parties with.

On tour I always leave the hotel and go out to dinner. If I go to a restaurant with friends, I’ll wear jeans and T-shirt, or a jacket if it’s a less casual place. I like Japanese, Italian and Spanish food, and I love seafood. I only drink alcohol when I have a few weeks off and I’m out with friends. But I don’t drink much.

I call my family every night. Win or lose, my mother tells me to take care and sends me a kiss. Then I watch TV or a movie. One of the last films I saw was Avatar. I’ve been watching the DVDs of Prison Break and Lost. There’s also a Spanish series I watch, called Los Serrano. It’s a drama about two families.

If I’m watching a movie and it’s emotional, I’ll cry. It’s not difficult for me to cry. If I see a sports person win something important, I’ll cry. When I win a match I might cry too. But I don’t often cry when I lose. When I lose I go straight home to Majorca, every time.

I feel very lucky to be where I am today. To be famous is sometimes not that good, but it changes nothing in my life, though it may make things a little more showy. People ask me what it’s like having lots of girls after me, but I didn’t realise there were so many. Sometimes I like the glamour, but I’ve always been down-to-earth, pretty normal. At home nobody treats me any differently.

I go to bed between midnight and 2am. Six years ago, maybe, I’d be thinking about the next day’s match before I went to sleep, and that would keep me awake. Now I focus on watching a DVD in bed and I fall asleep while it’s playing. I have lots of dreams — all very different — and I always sleep well

Rafael Nadal competes in the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club, London, June 7-13; www.aegonchampionships.com

Source : http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article7133233.ece

Rafa en photos



















PARIS - MAY 20, Rafael Nadal of Spain during the men's singles third round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia at the French Open on day seven of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

vendredi 28 mai 2010

Une entrevue de...

Day 6 - Rafael Nadal

Friday, May 28, 2010


Rafael Nadal

Q. You said against Mina you don't play well. Do you think today you play well as you want to play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, I think I improved a little bit. I improved a little bit. I played a little bit better. But sure, not perfect, no?
But sure, is a little bit of improvement. That's always important to play a little bit better every day, no?
So I did. Today I happy for the victory. Never easy. He's a good player. He's a young player and he's coming well. So it's a good win for me, and I'm happy for that. But I hope to keep improving.

Q. What would be the difference in your tactics, the way you play compared from 2005 the first year you played here to now? How would you say your game has changed on the clay?
RAFAEL NADAL: I forget. I think I improved. 2005 I think I played well. Probably not here I played here some matches well and others not that well. But I think I am serving better, I have a better backhand, a little bit better forehand, too. I have the position on court much better than 2005.
Probably I am running like I did in 2005, 2006, no? I can win a lot of matches without run crazy all the time, so that's a big improvement.

Q. You obviously had problems coming into Roland Garros last year. Could you compare how you're feeling now after a couple of games and compare it to the same stage last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, impossible to compare, no? I answered these questions a lot of times, and, you know, is very difficult to compare every year. The conditions are different.
But you never know what's happened this year. Last year I arrived one of the favorites, too, and I lost. That's difficult to compare.

Q. I have a question on the balls.
RAFAEL NADAL: The what?

Q. The balls.
RAFAEL NADAL: Ah.

Q. Do you choose the balls in a different manner? Do you prefer to keep the ball if you win the point, or you change?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I never play two points with the same ball, no. No, no. I don't like. Is slower.

Q. I was just watching Djokovic play. I didn't see your match. Do you try to serve and volley maybe one, two, three times? If you do, is it for surprise, and do you do it on the first or the second serve? Which do you think is better? Just to try to surprise, to use the serve and volley?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am not doing.

Q. But why would you not do it one, two, just to surprise your opponent?
RAFAEL NADAL: We'll see. We will see if I did. I did a few times. Not here yet, but, you know, my idea is not before the point, matter my idea is never gonna have serve and volley. I never gonna have desire. Not here on clay.
But if I serve one good serve outside, good slice to the backhand of the opponent, I see if I see I can go, I go. But it doesn't happen yet here. I am not serving that well. (Smiling.) Not yet. I need to serve a little bit better next match.

Q. If I could, I'd like to ask you a difficult question.
RAFAEL NADAL: Very difficult? Gonna be difficult to answer.

Q. Right, exactly. Roger recently said that on clay you don't need a volley or serve. You just need legs, an incredible forehand, and backhand. You can be competitive even with a very incomplete game. What are your thoughts on that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Everybody has his every guy's free to have his own opinion. No, I think probably a lot of years ago when you play with the slower balls, with the slower racquets, you know, with the small racquets and you can't have a winner, was very difficult to have a winner, probably.
But in my opinion now, in the sport is important to think how to win the match. Probably in very fast surfaces that's not happen, because you can have one serve and one forehand. That's the only that's the only way for the moment, one serve or one volley, only one serve.
Here you can play with more tactics. You can change your style. You can play attacking; you can play defending; you can go to the volley; you can play with the baseline.
So you have many options to do, and I think that's nice for the sport, too. I think every surface has difficult things. But sure, have a good forehand, good backhand, good legs and good movements, that's not an easy thing.

Q. And if you had to, in terms of being an athlete, athleticism between clay courts, hard, and grass, where do you need to be the best athlete? How would you rank them in terms of being an athlete?
RAFAEL NADAL: You can be a good athlete on every surface. For me, doesn't matter that moment, no? Sure, if the court is very fast, you don't need to be you don't need to have unbelievable physical performance, no? You not gonna have very long points.
In the rest of the surfaces, you have to be fit. You have to be fast and you have to be an athlete to be in the top position. Not one player in top 100 is not fit.

Q. When you were No. 1, were there extra mental pressures? We always talk about your physical, sure, but were there mental pressures?
RAFAEL NADAL: If you are No. 1?

Q. When you were No. 1, yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, less. No, no. Sure, no not. For me, I never thought about that. Probably I was more relaxed when I was No. 1, because I won a lot in that year. I won Australia not Australia well, I was in I was No. 1 when I won Australia; I won Olympics; Roland Garros; Wimbledon.
So I was very relaxed, because nothing to I won a lot, and that gets a lot of pressure out.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.

Q. In London you said you were not at your best tennis, but you said that with practice you would be able to reach this level, your best, that is, but you're not far from this.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, let's face it. I don't know if I'm playing my best tennis today, but I think I have almost reached this level for several months. I don't think that much has changed. I feel good this year. And what are you referring to? 2008?
I don't know. I think I've played really well throughout the year here. That's true, that's not yet my best tennis. But if you look at the season in general, I think that my level is more or less the same. My level is good, and I've worked hard on this.
I've always practiced, believing that I could improve. Every day I practice, every match I play, I focus very much on the aspects I have to improve so as to reach the level I'd like to reach.
Then I try and reuse this experience during the matches I play. That means you have to practice a lot and gain confidence. I think that I have worked hard for a long period of time. And then, you know, when we work a lot, when we practice a lot, when we're very positive, when we're highly motivated, then after a while things go on nicely.
If it's not nicely, at least you're satisfied because there's nothing you could reproach yourself with.

Q. What do you think about this very rainy day? Do you think we would need to have a roof, just like they have at Wimbledon, so that we're less subject to weather conditions?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, rainy days happen. Everybody was probably bothered. You were bothered. I was staying in the cloak rooms and the match was canceled. Then it rained again, and I was bothered. I didn't know if I had to stay or if I would practice later during the day.
But then we thought we will have a rest. It was not easy, because I'm not used to doing this. Then they covered the court. It's better for the players. It's better for TV channels, as well. So yes, I would say I'm in favor of a roof.

Q. I'd like to pick on this question. Would you like Roland Garros to stay in Paris? Would you like to move?
RAFAEL NADAL: Where?

Q. Would you like Roland Garros to stay here?
RAFAEL NADAL: As I said before, I think that Roland Garros has a long standing history, which is here. I think that Roland Garros should remain here, because here we can breathe the history of tennis within these walls.
It's very important, whereas if we move elsewhere, maybe the site is going to be bigger, we're going to lose part of our soul.

Q. The other day when you played a match you said, I didn't really play well. What do you think about today and how you played?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I played better today. I played better than the other day. I didn't really play badly. I wouldn't say this was an exceptional match. It was a normal type of match.
I didn't have enough rhythm. He was a lefty, and he wanted to change the pace with dropshots. But sometimes I had the impression I was playing well or very well, mainly when it was 3 2 during the second set. And then 6 2, 3 0, I think I was playing very well during all of these games. But then at the end I lost my concentration.

Q. During the first match you had opportunities to break. You only lost or dropped four points on your serve. During the second set it was 1 1; you could have broken then. What did you feel? What about your serve?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think I changed my serve strategy at that moment. We discussed this in the locker rooms before we started getting on the courts.
I thought I should have more first serves in, and then if it's a second serve, I should hit the ball more strongly so as to dominate.
With the second serve it's always more complicated. So I think I have a good percentage of first serves, and I should put some spin into the ball so that the ball would bounce very high. And also, I should work on my forehand.
I was gaining confidence except for the very last two or three games. But anyway, otherwise it was okay.

Q. When the press conference started, Hewitt and his opponent Istomin were playing their fifth set. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know Istomin at all, and I've never played against him. I've not seen him play. I know he's on the tour. I know he's played really good matches, but I've not seen him play.
Whereas Hewitt, I know him well. It's the fifth set, so that means Istomin is really playing well. That's an excellent match for him. We know Hewitt. He's a very dangerous guy and he plays at a very high level. He's going to do his best to win, of course.

Q. What do you think about the balls and the court compared with two years ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the balls are the same. I think so. Monte Carlo, Barcelona, all this was okay. I don't know about Barcelona, but Madrid and then Monte Carlo. There's a difference, a slight difference.
But let's be careful about one thing: Let us not change the balls between the tournaments. It makes things more difficult for us. At least this time any matches played on clay were played with the same balls. Well, if it's a sunny day, that's okay. The problem is that when it's wet, the balls are heavier.

Q. Can you tell us what you think about your opponent today? He's Argentinian, and he's a bit more than 20, I think. He played here during the second round against you, Zeballos. What do you think about him? Do you think he has great potential?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he's 24. I think he's probably 44, so he's well ranked. He's not been on the tour for a very long time, so he's improved quite a lot, and we'll see what happens in the future.
His forehand is really good. He serves well, as well, and this is very important on quick courts. He's got a very good slice, as well. He's a very good all court player.

Source: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2010-05-28/201005281275050914959.html

Rafa en photos
























PARIS - MAY 28: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand during the men's singles second round match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina at the French Open on day six of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, 2010 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)