Saturday, 5 July 2008
Q. Yesterday you were practicing with John McEnroe. How did that come about?
RAFAEL NADAL: I said yesterday, no? I don't know exactly. My agent, Carlos Costa, asked me if I want to practice with John, and I said for me always a pleasure. I practice with him, and it was a nice experience. Q. What words would you use to describe the competition you and Roger have?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. We have a lot of important matches, but I think we did very well for the last years. But I don't know if it's rivalry. I don't think so. No. 1 and No. 2. That's it. Q. When you look across and see him on the court, what goes through your mind?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, always a special feeling play against the No. 1, and especially against Roger, because, well, he plays specially, very nice all the time, very easy. Sometimes you distract watching his game, no? Q. Specifically on grass, what do you feel has most improved between your game last year and this?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't think I can improve on grass. I think I improve my game in the rest of the surface, and my improves in the rest of the surface can adapt these improves on grass. But on grass I can't improve, because I only play two tournaments in all the year, no? Q. In the newspaper, there is a poll. They say 70% almost that you're going to win the Championships tomorrow. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think tomorrow we going to see what's happen, no? Everybody can talk a lot because everybody is free to say what he think. But finally, the whole important thing is what’s happen tomorrow, no? Q. Roger was talking about your rivalry in terms of the great rivalries during the years, you know, McEnroe/Borg. Where would you rank your rivalry with Roger in terms of the pantheon of greats?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know better than me. I'm not one for say what level is rivalry between Roger and me. We going to be play the sixth final in Grand Slam, so that's a lot important matches. Some more Masters Series finals, some important the rest finals. So sure it is a nice rivalry because we are No. 1 and No. 2. That's the main rivalry, because if someone is No. 1 and the other one is No. 5 doesn't matter, no?
But for the last years we did well, and I hope continuing like this for a lot of years. Q. Roger earlier said that you slowed the game down sometimes to suit your needs. It's not gamesmanship, but it's on the brink of being gamesmanship. What do you say to that?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know the answer. Q. The word gamesmanship means that it's not quite cheating but it's near to cheating.
THE MODERATOR: But that's not what Roger said. He said it was in the past, but it's now much better. Q. Further to that, Pat Cash on the radio yesterday, when he was watching your match, said that the fact that you slow down the game on big points, he said it was cheating. Wonder what you feel about that.
RAFAEL NADAL: (From Spanish) Well, everybody is free to says what they want. No, I'm not one for say if it's true or not. We have an umpire for decide what's happen on court, no? Q. It's a very special feeling Wimbledon final, and I know all your family are here. Do you have a special feeling to play when you have all your family on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. My family comes sometimes when I have the important matches. The same at Roland Garros. The same when I arrive to important rounds. But nothing special, no? Just happy because they are here, and for me it would help because I spend a lot of time outside of home, no? Q. Does to help you relax tonight? Do you do anything special tonight before the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, nothing special. At home like every day. Q. What sort the discussions have you had with Roger here at Wimbledon during these two weeks?
RAFAEL NADAL: Discussions? Q. Roger says that you talk in the locker room.
RAFAEL NADAL: We talk, but we speak every day, no? We spend a lot of hours in the locker room every day, and we spoke because we're two normal person. The last couple of years we are a lot of times in the locker room in the last days, and in the last days there are only four people, two people. We have very good relation. We speak a lot about football and a lot of things. I don't have nothing special to say. Q. Why did you decide to dress up as a footballer in the Journey to Beijing book, the Olympic book?
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn't decide. Q. Just below your knee you have some taping, below both of your knees. What is that for? Is that just preventive?
RAFAEL NADAL: The tape in the knees? Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: I play it all the year like that. It's only for prevention. | 
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