jeudi 31 mars 2011

Rafael Nadal Interview March 29

Miami, Fl., U.S.A.

24.02.2011

March 29, 2011

R. NADAL/A. Dolgopolov

6 1, 6 2

An interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. The weather today, did that cause you any disruptions, or just you know what you have to do in those sort of situations?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, you know, be calm and wait. That's all. Nothing else. You can't do a lot of things in days like today. Relax in the players' lounge, be with the friends. That's it.
It's nothing new. It's something that happen a lot of times in the tennis.

Q. Playing Alexandr today, did you feel that he was maybe a little bit tired having to finish off against Tsonga today?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know if he was tired or not, but you can ask him, I think. But maybe is possible, no? But I think when we play matches, five set matches in Grand Slam is more than what he had.
So I think probably is not easy play end of the match and after start of the match. That's sure. But that's part of the game, no? It happen to me a few times, and I think in general I played at very good level, no?
Probably he had more mistakes than usual, but I don't know if because he was little bit tired or not.

Q. Did you find the conditions heavy because of the rain from earlier on?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, heavy, very humid. That's why I am sweating a lot.

Q. What about playing Tomas in the next round?
RAFAEL NADAL: Difficult match always, no? We know each other. We played a lot of times, and I know just play my best tennis I gonna have chances against him, no?
He can play very, very good, and I have to play very solid all the time with my serve and wait a chance on the return.

Q. One question about being an ambassador for Bacardi. I was just wondering, was that a difficult decision, seeing that alcohol and sponsorship for alcohol might be a little strange for some people? Or was it more you saw the good it can do with the company?
RAFAEL NADAL: Did you see the campaign?

Q. Yeah.
RAFAEL NADAL: So, I mean, I am not presenting alcohol party, you know. It's a responsible campaign, a social campaign.
Anyway, I think alcohol is inside our lives, so is nothing new, no? But the campaign is not against alcohol but about be responsible when you go out.
So wasn't difficult decision, because I think is very important social campaign, and I believe in this campaign. So it was a very easy decision, because I think is very good thing to do for Bacardi.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Rafa en photos

KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 31: Rafael Nadal of Spain during his match against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during the Sony Ericsson Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 31, 2011 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Federer affrontera Nadal en demi-finale

KEY BISCAYNE, Floride - Roger Federer a connu une journée assez facile jeudi. Rafael Nadal a quant à lui dû travailler un peu plus fort.

Federer a atteint le carré d'as de l'Omnium Sony Ericsson lorsque Gilles Simon a déclaré forfait en raison de raideurs au cou après avoir perdu les trois premiers jeux du match.

Le favori Nadal a remporté son match de quart de finale contre Tomas Berdych (no 7) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 plus tard en soirée.

Face à Berdych, Nadal a eu besoin d'un traitement pour ce qui semblait être une blessure à l'épaule droite, mais le Majorquin n'a perdu qu'un seul de ses services.

Classé troisième au monde, Federer a remporté 12 des 15 points contre Simon, et le match n'a duré que 10 minutes. Simon a discuté avec un soigneur durant le changement de côté avant de concéder la victoire en serrant la main du Suisse.

Le Français a ensuite quitté le terrain sous les huées de la foule.

"Je ne savais pas que Gilles avait un problème avant le match, a assuré Federer. Après son abandon, il m'a dit qu'il avait le cou raide et qu'il ne pouvait pas le bouger. C'est dur pour lui de devoir sortir du court sous les sifflets. Ce n'est pas de cette façon que je voulais me qualifier mais je prends quand même."

"Mardi, j'ai joué le match le plus tardif de ma carrière (en huitième de finale contre le Belge Olivier Rochus) et aujourd'hui un autre scénario, il faut être prêt à tout quand on est joueur de tennis", a ajouté le Suisse.

mardi 29 mars 2011

Une entrevue de...

Rafael Nadal March 28

Miami, Fl., U.S.A.

23.02.2011

March 28, 2011

R. NADAL/F. Lopez

6 3, 6 3

An interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You think it's more difficult for you to play against good friends or does it make you more comfortable on court?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think nothing change, because when you are on court, you're on court. You compete, and is nothing new for us. This is ninth time against each other. We are very, very good friends. We had dinner yesterday together, so this is normal.
That's the sport. That's competition. One player have to win; other one have to lose. And accept both things, no? We were talking in the locker room.

Q. I can't imagine when you play Davydenko, for instance, and you play Feliciano, is it not different for your mind or...
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is different because we know each other 100% better. But about being the friend, I don't know, maybe if something is close ball, you can say was good, you can say, I don't know...
That's the difference, I think. Nothing important.

Q. What did you like about your play today? What would you like to improve on?
RAFAEL NADAL: I like almost everything. I think I played solid match in general. I played good shots, very good passing shots. I served well for moments, much better than Indian Wells.
And seriously, no, I think I play with the right rhythm. Always is difficult play against Felly, because is not comfortable. He play slice, he play aggressive, he has a fantastic serve, he doesn't want to play long points.
Always is difficult to find the right feeling, and I did. I think I had the right feeling against a difficult player, so that's a very positive. I am happy how I am playing, serious.

Q. Are you planning to play the upcoming Davis Cup tie in Austin?
RAFAEL NADAL: Remain a lot. Remain a lot. Remain a lot of months to go there and a lot of things can happen. We will see what's going on here, in the clay season, grass season. Is difficult for me.
Too important things for me to come to think about the Davis Cup next round, no?

Q. I was wondering what do you remember at this tournament in 2004 when you beat Federer? It was a big upset at the time; you were 17. Do you remember that match and do you remember what it meant to your career at that point in time?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, at that moment was the most important victory in my career, no? I think I played fantastic match. For sure Roger didn't play his best in that moment, that day, so I was able to beat him, no?
It was a very important victory, big confidence for me at the moment. But seriously, I lost at the next round against González. So was a good victory, but at the same time wasn't a fantastic tournament, because I lost against González in the next round, serious.

Q. Can you talk about your position now, sort of as the dominant No. 1 guy? You've got people now chasing you rather than you chasing them. How do you feel in that position of being No. 1 and feeling that?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, I don't think about the No. 1, no? I think about every day, and doesn't matter if I am No. 1 or No. 2 or No. 4. I think about go on court, practice hard every day, try my best in every moment, and when I am playing matches the same, no, try to play well, try to win.
But for sure most important thing is try to work hard every day to be better player, no? I think about the race more than the ranking. I know I'm No. 1 in the ranking right now, but in the race I am No. 6 this year. I didn't play for a month.
Last week's final was a very important result for me, and I have to play well here to keep improving the situation in the race, to be in good position when the clay season start.
So I am here to try my best, and we will see what's going on, no? I don't feel I am better than the rest because I am No. 1, no? No, I feel I played fantastic last year. For that reason I am No. 1 today.
But we will see what's going on next months, no? I know I have to defend a lot of points, but seriously, I don't feel that I have to defend the points. I feel in every tournament that I am going to play I have the chance to win points, not to lose points, no?
For me every year start from zero. Right now I am No. 6, and I would love to play well next tournaments and have the chances to be in better position.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

Nadal et Djokovic passent en quarts de finale à Miami

Agrandir

Rafael Nadal

Photo: Reuters

Agence France-Presse
Miami

L'Espagnol Rafael Nadal, numéro 1 mondial, s'est qualifié mardi pour les quarts de finale du tournoi Masters 1000 de Miami en battant l'Ukrainien Aleksandr Dolgopolov (21e) 6-1, 6-2.

Nadal, qui n'a jamais gagné à Miami malgré deux finales, affrontera le Tchèque Tomas Berdych (7e) pour une place en demi-finale.

Le numéro 2 mondial Novak Djokovic a pour sa part battu son compatriote Viktor Troicki (16e) 6-3, 6-2 en huitièmes de finale pour enregistrer sa 21e victoire d'affilée depuis le début de saison et rester invaincu en 2011.

Depuis 30 ans, seulement deux joueurs ont fait mieux que le Serbe de 23 ans pour commencer une saison: l'Américain John McEnroe avec 39 victoires en 1984 et l'ex-Tchécoslovaque Ivan Lendl avec 25 victoires en 1986.

Dans sa marche triomphale, Djokovic a remporté les Internationaux d'Australie et les tournois de Dubaï et d'Indian Wells (Masters 1000) et s'est installé au deuxième rang mondial en lieu et place du Suisse Roger Federer.

Djokovic a enregistré sa neuvième victoire d'affilée contre Troicki, la troisième en deux mois.