Day 11 - Rafael Nadal
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 |
Q. Last year you had a tough game against a Swede, Robin Soderling. Yesterday he won over Roger Federer. Were you surprised over the way he won that game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, no, for me Roger was the favorite, but Robin played unbelievable. I think his serve was very difficult to return, the first serve and the second serve, too, was very hard.
And from the baseline, all the balls, he touch all the balls. He's 100%, I think, and most of the ones was very close to the lines inside. It's very difficult to win against Robin when he is play like this.
Q. If you will meet him this year again, do you feel that you have a big revenge to take out on him?
RAFAEL NADAL: I never think about revenges. And I am in semifinals against Melzer. Will be very difficult match. So I am focused on that match right now, no?
I gonna tell you that right now. When I go on court, I don't think if I lost last time is gonna be revenge. I never go by this way. I think that's if you think of that, you think this way, your mind is not 100% calm to think what you have to do.
Q. It seemed to me in the first point of the second tiebreak you served and volleyed.
RAFAEL NADAL: You like it today, no?
Q. Yeah. Is that fun for you? All the thinking, is this the right time? Should I try now? Is that enjoyable to think of all the tactics?
RAFAEL NADAL: I gonna repeat the same like last time: I am not thinking I gonna do serve and volley before the serve. But if I see the serve is good and the opponent was like this, I have the chance to go inside?
Today I served much better the rest of the days, especially the slice serve, so I had the chance to go inside a few times, and I did well.
Q. When you do that, is there a satisfaction because maybe it's very clever, very smart that you surprise your opponent?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am satisfaction because I won a point (Smiling.)
Q. How pleased were you with your focus throughout the match today, Rafa? Because Nicolas was hitting a solid, clean ball for most of the match. You have to stay very strong.
RAFAEL NADAL: I started terrible. I started the beginning of the match terrible. I threw all the balls outside. I have a chance in the 2 0. I played little bit better that game, but Nicolas give me the chance himself because he had some mistakes, too.
But after that, was very difficult to play against him, because I came back very soon with the 3 All. So that was very important for me in the first set.
After that was very difficult to have a break on him because his serve is hard, and he was playing very hard from the baseline, touching the ball very well, long with the backhand, with the forehand, and quite difficult, no?
You know, I was a little bit nervous to play as long as I really would like to play. I really wanted to play a little bit longer, but I can't today. But is because of the opponent too, no?
So I am very happy how I played the tiebreaks. I played very aggressive, very focused, and in important moments I think I played better than the rest of the match. That's a very good news, no?
Q. Do you prefer to play Soderling or Federer on clay?
RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer to play that match, because if I have to play that match, well, will be because I am in the final. So for me it doesn't matter the opponent, because I think about my part of the draw.
I know how difficult this is be in the final of Grand Slam, and the player who gonna be there will be the more difficult. If it's Roger, it's Roger. If it's Soderling, it's Soderling.
But I repeat: For me, the thing is be there. When I am in semifinals, it's very good news for me. But remain a lot of work to be in this time final, and a very difficult opponent.
Q. You're facing the Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the semifinals. What do you know about him, and what do you expect?
RAFAEL NADAL: He's playing unbelievable. He played against David Ferrer, I saw him in the match. Last round against who? Gabashvili really was difficult match, too, because Tiemuraz was playing really well, too.
And today is a big comeback against Djokovic playing high level. I saw him in the end of the match playing very aggressive, serving well.
So will be very difficult opponent. If he's in semifinals, is because he's the best of his draw.
Q. Does playing a left hander pose you any different problems?
RAFAEL NADAL: Always is a change a little bit the tactics and a little bit the game. But he's the third one for me in this tournament. I don't hate to play against left handers. I like.
Q. Someone was telling me that you changed your strings in December, January maybe. Are you playing with different strings now this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, the black. I had before yellow.
Q. Is it just the color or is it...
RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's totally different string, yeah.
Q. Have they helped the spin, or does it provide more difference for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe. I think it's easier to feel the ball. Probably feeling the ball better more times than before, so that's maybe is very important help.
Seems like the ball stays more time on the racquet, so is easier to have the control. I changed the string in December, yeah.
Q. Are you going to celebrate your birthday tomorrow? Because, well, at least this year you're here. Last year you went home and relaxed. But this year you have time.
RAFAEL NADAL: I gonna celebrate during the day, not during the night, I think. I gonna have time at Mallorca to celebrate the birthday during the night (laughter.)
Q. When you're watching Roger last night, are you hoping maybe he will win because he's No. 1, you're No. 2, you're very close, you're the best players so you like the best players to win? Or are you hoping maybe he doesn't win because maybe it makes it easier for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, the true is I always love to see the best players win, because I know that the loses for the best players are harder than for the rest.
For example, I sure if I lost today against Nicolas was much harder for me than for him if he lose today. Sure, for everybody is hard to lose, no?
But, well, if I have to say seriously what I prefer to play against, for me, I not thinking this way. We think about the ranking. Sure is better if Roger lost, no? But, you know, I always say the same. I believe if you are No. 1 or you are not No. 1, you can't be all the time thinking about No. 1.
We will see the end of the season what has happened.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. That was a very difficult, very tough match, wasn't it, at the beginning, and it was hard?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it was hard all the time. Well, not at the beginning. It was rather easy at the beginning, even for him.
I think that, yes, it was a difficult match, especially from a mental standpoint. I had to return well, and I had the feeling that I was not capable of playing the way I wanted because he was so powerful. I had to be very careful on the serve because I could make mistakes, and this is what I did.
At the beginning I lost my serve, and then I managed to win his serve and not to allow him to break me. When I really needed to play my best tennis, I had the opportunity of doing that.
So I'm very happy I played this match in three sets, because it was very difficult.
Q. In the Melzer/Djokovic match, there were 28 match points, and for you just a few match points. So it was very tight, very close.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, that's a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. I mean, you can't get an easy match. It's very rare you can get a rather easy match. But those who make it to quarterfinals, they deserve it. They play very good tennis.
So I managed to win, because there were some tiny differences on the tiebreak. So I played better. He had a beautiful game, but I managed to serve well today. And if I won this match, it's thanks to his mistakes.
Q. It's been a long time you've not had a warning from the umpire for the time you take, and at 5 4, did you talk about it with Carlos? Was it about time?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I talked to Carlos because well, on the first one to accept this, because if I deserve it, I deserve it. And I think this put a bit of pressure on me, and then I had to play with pressure.
But these are the rules, and I understand the rules. So if I need a warning, and if I deserve it, I deserve it. They told me already I was a bit slow and taking a bit too much time.
I said I would improve, and at 5 4 in the second set I had this warning because I was taking a bit too much time. I was a bit too slow.
I thought I was being very fast. I didn't even take the time to wipe my face. I need a bit of time to think, and I had the feeling that I was, you know, too much aware of the time. I didn't want to be fined or to get a penalty point. I was making big efforts to be as quick as possible.
But I couldn't be any quicker, honestly. I think the second warning was not a warning I deserved. But, well, okay. I have a watch. I could have watched it. I didn't. (laughter.)
Q. Last year Soderling beat you, and he plays very well; yesterday he won to Federer. So he looks like this giant eater. What do you think about him, and has your perception about him changed?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think that he's more solid from a mental perspective. He's won many matches, so he's capitalized with regards to confidence. He had a very good game level, but he lacked confidence. Now he has that confidence.
And that was strange his ranking was not that good when you consider his level. And in Spain, Fernando Verdasco, that's a similar case. We know he has huge potential, but at one stage well, you know he plays exceptional tennis, but it's a bit late now. He's 26.
Whereas Soderling, well, he started slightly earlier, and he is a great player.
RAFAEL NADAL: It's not I'm not thinking about it. That's the way it is.
My objective is to make it to the final, and then if I come out No. 1, fine. But, you know, it's a long year, and it's probably not Roland Garros that's going to decide it.
But that's not my objective. I want to be focused on each match, and I've seen that my next opponent is very solid. I've seen him play, and all I can well, some of you might think it's a surprise he makes it to semifinal.
But trust me, if he made it to the semifinal it's because he played extremely well. He has an extremely good level, and he is a very dangerous player.
What else can I tell you? Well, I'll try and do my best. I'll try and be positive. In any case, I'll be No. 2 after this tournament. We'll see later.
I think I played better than Murray, Djokovic, so maybe I'll score more points for the ranking. But my ranking will also depend on the final outcome of this tournament. Then we'll see. But I know I have scored many points so far.
Source: http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/interviews/2010-06-02/201006021275505457881.html
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