Une entrevue de...

August 21, 2009

Rafael Nadal

CINCINNATI, OHIO

R. NADAL/T. Berdych
6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How pleased were you with that performance out there tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, very happy, no? I think I improved every day a little bit more, so today I played very good match. I think normal level when I am on rhythm, so that's very good news. Win against Tomas on this surface is very good win for me, so I'm very happy for that.
Sure, very, very good news being in the semifinals. When I arrived here, I didn't expect to be in this round, so very happy. Anything can happen right now, because my tournament is very good for me.

Q. Are you looking forward to playing Novak again tomorrow? You played him last year here in the semifinals, and you've played him a lot.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, sure I gonna try to be competitive to try to fight to win. So that's what I gonna do, and we will see what happens later.

Q. In the volleys, were you putting more spin on the ball? Looked like you were putting more spin than you had previously.
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I had a very good feeling, especially on the forehand. So I went inside more. I was going inside more times. So I think especially in the beginning I played almost perfect match.
Later Tomas starting to serve very, very well, and it was difficult to return the serve. With the second serve he is going higher too, and he had the position inside the court early. It's difficult to put out Tomas of this position, no?
But I didn't lost court. I was all the time close to the baseline, so that's what I -- when I went through the match, that's what I tried to do. So I did, and very happy, because I think I did and I did well.

Q. Why did you not expect to make it to the semifinals? You made it the semifinals here last year, even though you lost the match. Is this not a tournament that you think normally you're going to win?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, sure, it's a very good news being in the semifinal, no? After two months outside, the second tournament, playing two matches like this, like against Mathieu last night and against Berdych today. So it's very good news, no?
Sure, if I am in normal conditions I am coming here with the goal play a good tournament and try to win the tournament. But in this conditions, being be in semifinals is perfect for me, because I think that's more confidence for the US Open.
For sure it's very important, this tournament. And this tournament, be in semifinals is very important. We will see right now.

Q. As you try to get back to the form you had before your injury, does it really help to you play the top guys? Does playing someone like Djokovic help you get further along?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think the match is tomorrow. Any result gonna help me more to get more level, no? Because it's another, I don't know (Through translation) another step of level. I had to push myself to this new step to try to win. That's what I gonna try.
I know if tomorrow I have a good match and the result is there, it's close, I am there.

Q. What is the most difficult thing for you when you've come back from injury? What's the hardest thing to get good again?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, get the routines. You know, when you are playing and you are with confidence, you don't need to think a lot about every point, no, because you do automatically. You do the things.
Right now it's more difficult because it's the beginning and you have to think a lot of time. But I think I today I did very well, no? Because when I have 15-30 -- well, I don't have a lot of 15-30, no, but when I had Love-15 or something like this I had a good serve, good forehand.
So when I had to play aggressive and when I had to win a point, I was there playing the point, no? So sometimes when you are coming back off an injury in the beginning you know the point is very important and I have stupid mistake.
So that's more difficult thing, no? Try to do the right things in important moments.

Q. Looking back to last year when you played Djokovic in the semifinals and lost, what do you have to do differently tomorrow that you perhaps couldn't do last year to win?
RAFAEL NADAL: A lot of things, no? I think I arrived last year to the semifinals very tired. I did my goal here, being in semifinals to be No. 1.
So, you know, I wasn't pleased about my result, but I won in Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Toronto, and it was a lot of efforts, no? It was too much, no? So maybe I was a little bit tired.
Tomorrow maybe I can lose 6-2, 6-2, but the mentality gonna be different.

Q. Will you watch any of Federer and Murray or just stay focused on your match?
RAFAEL NADAL: What time they play?
THE MODERATOR: 2:00.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, gonna see a little bit.

Q. Did you watch Wimbledon, Rafa?
RAFAEL NADAL: I watched the final.

Q. How did it feel to watch that fifth set?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it was emotional, no? A lot of emotion in one important match like the final of Wimbledon. The match was so close. Roddick had one 15-40. So, yeah, these kind of matches are special. For everybody I think it's nice to see these kind of matches.

End of FastScripts

Bilan satisfaisant pour Rafael Nadal à Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal, sorti samedi en demi-finale du tournoi Masters 1000 de Cincinnati, s'est dit très satisfait de son parcours dans l'Ohio.

L'ancien numéro un mondial, surclassé par Novak Djokovic 6-1 6-4, a reconnu que battre le Serbe était encore une "étape trop lointaine", après deux mois sans compétition pour cause de blessures.

Mais pour l'ancien numéro un mondial, un quart de finale la semaine dernière à Montréal, où il effectuait son retour, et une place dans le dernier carré à Cincinnati sont déjà bien mieux que ce qu'il espérait avant l'US Open, qui débute le 31 août.

"Cette semaine a été très importante pour moi", a-t-il dit aux journalistes. "Trois victoires ici, deux victoires à Montréal ces deux dernières semaines, soit cinq victoires et sept matches au total, c'est assez de matches, je crois."

"Je suis heureux de tout. Heureux d'être là, heureux d'être davantage prêt pour l'US Open que je ne l'espérais avant cette tournée américaine."

Le fait d'être encore un cran au-dessous de Djokovic n'affectera pas la confiance de l'Espagnol.

"C'est une autre étape. Physiquement, mentalement, c'est difficile pour moi d'être prêt", a-t-il expliqué. "Mais je crois que ce match est une bonne expérience, pour tenter de franchir cette étape à l'US Open."

"Je crois que j'étais pas prêt à 100% pour jouer à ce niveau. J'ai besoin de jouer à ce niveau plus d'une fois pour être prêt."

La tendinite aux deux genoux qui a tenu Nadal éloigné des courts pendant deux mois s'est estompée et le quadruple vainqueur de Roland-Garros assure ne plus souffrir.

La longueur des matches de l'US Open reste tout de même un défi à relever. "On verra comment je serai sur cinq sets."

Nadal redescend sur terre

Le Serbe a facilement dominé Rafael Nadal (6/1 6/4)., encore un peu juste physiquement contre un joueur du calibre du n°4 mondial. Absent des courts pendant deux mois afin de reposer ses genoux endoloris par une tendinite, le Majorquin s'estimait déjà heureux d'atteindre une demi-finale à l'occasion du deuxième tournoi qu'il disputait depuis son retour. Très agressif dès le début du match, Djokovic parvenait à déborder son rival en imprimant une cadence élevée, prenant la balle très tôt, comme à son habitude. Intouchable sur son service (75% de points gagnés derrière sa première balle), il ne devait sauver qu'une balle de break à 4/3 dans le deuxième set. Un peu nerveux au moment de conclure la partie (il laissait revenir l'Espagnol à égalité), le Belgradois réussissait toutefois à valider son billet pour la finale.

«Honnêtement, je suis vraiment satisfait de la manière dont j'ai joué aujourd'hui (Ndlr : samedi). C'est l'un de mes meilleurs matches de la saison. Cela arrive au bon moment, juste avant l'US Open», se réjouissait la tête de série n°4 qui, pour la deuxième année consécutive, s'offre le scalp du Taureau de Manacor à Cincinnati alors que ce dernier mène largement dans leurs confrontations directes (14-5). A une semaine du dernier Grand Chelem de la saison, Nadal ne semble, lui, pas encore totalement au point : «Je vais essayer de gagner mais le tennis est un sport difficile et tous les joueurs sont vraiment proches en terme de niveau. Ce sera vraiment serré dans un tournoi comme l'US Open…»

Rafa en photos

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 21: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during day five of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on August 21, 2009 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Nadal complète le carré

En battant Tomas Berdych en quarts de finale, Rafael Nadal complète le carré magique des demies à Cincinnati.(REUT)

Rafael Nadal n'a pas la mémoire courte et il aime bien mettre les points sur i. Contre Tomas Berdych, c'est chose faite avec une quatrième victoire consécutive (6-4, 7-5 en 1h41'). Ce ne sont pas les meilleurs amis du monde depuis le quart de finale à Madrid en 2006 où Tomas Berdych a nargué le public espagnol après sa victoire contre Rafael Nadal. Au-delà de l'aspect humain, le Majorquin craint le jeu du Tchèque, toujours imprévisible, et n'oublie ses trois échecs en sept confrontations face au 18e mondial. Il se souvient aussi de sa défaite dans ce tournoi de Cincinnati en 2005 (7-6) au troisième set. L'Espagnol a donc toutes les raisons de se méfier et sa vigilance se traduit par un match très solide.

En s'appuyant sur un service retrouvé (71% de premières balles et 85% de réussite derrière ses premières) malgré quelques inquiétudes aux abdominaux en début de mois, Rafael Nadal a pu dérouler son jeu et délivrer une prestation de qualité malgré une opposition plus conséquente au deuxième set. Au fil des matches, il gomme ses fautes directes et monte en puissance. Face au Tchèque, dangeureux dans le jeu en cadence, l'Espagnol varie bien et profite de la relative faiblesse de déplacement de son adversaire pour engranger les points. Jamais en danger sur sa mise en jeu (aucune balle de break à sauver), il peut se concentrer sur le service adverse et réussit à prendre l'engagement de Tomas Berdych à 5-5 pour conclure sur sa mise en jeu et rejoindre Novak Djokovic en demi-finales.

Rafa Shout~Cincinnati 2009 practice

Une entrevue de...

August 20, 2009

Rafael Nadal

CINCINNATI, OHIO

R. NADAL/P. Mathieu
7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It felt like you had bad calls go against you. How did you avoid getting too frustrated?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, that's just sport, no? Sometimes in your favor, sometimes against, no? Sometimes it's tough, because I had important in one breakpoint. But for the rest, doesn't matter.

Q. In the second set, you played so much better than you did in either of the two sets yesterday or the first set today. What was different? What clicked for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think I started the match playing bad, especially with my backhand I had a lot of mistakes. But during the match I change a little bit, and I, yeah, I improved my level when the match was coming, no?
So I think in the end of the first set I played better, and in the end of -- well, in all the second set I was playing very well, no? So very heavy for that.
Sure, very happy to be in quarterfinals and to continuing improve my tennis.

Q. What do you think the fans here in Cincinnati? When you're on the court, what do you like about the people here?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, there's good crowd always. Good atmosphere, so always I am very happy to be here.

Q. It seemed in the second set also your tactics were much more aggressive. You were more attacking the ball. Is this right? And was it because of having more confidence in your game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I started to feel better the ball with the forehand. I really played well with my forehand in the second set.
Sure, I feel it and I had the chance to go inside more times than all the matches in this American season, no? So happy for that, because I played in some important points some good winners with the forehand, and I finished playing much better with the backhand, and serving okay, all the match.

Q. What was the strategy going into the match in terms of were you trying to attack a specific shot of his, forehand, backhand, or...
RAFAEL NADAL: Today.

Q. Yeah, today.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't think about a lot of tactics, no? I just try to feel well on the court, try to, if it's possible, to play aggressive. And I know he has a very good backhand, especially if he has place to go. He always play very fast shot.
But for the rest, I only try to play aggressive with the return and trying to put a little bit more power behind the baseline, no? Sometimes trying to play a little bit long.
But I did better after, because in the beginning with the backhand I was playing very short.

Q. Did you feel your timing was better today? If so, it was a matter of positioning?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I lost less court than yesterday for sure, no? And I defended a little bit more inside the court, so that's important.
I finished playing better because I changed the directions easier than yesterday. In the beginning I only was playing cross backhand, and then I finished playing down the line, too. That's very important for my game, to have the confidence to change the place of the shots.

Q. How do you feel going into the quarters and looking on to the US Open?
RAFAEL NADAL: Very happy to be in quarterfinals, because I think that's important for my physical training, too, no? Playing matches, you get more rhythm and more physical performance, so I feel okay right now.

Q. What do you think about Berdych next? You've had some good matches with him in the past.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I lost a few times. I won another couple of times. I lost against him here in unbelievable match in 2005. I know the court is fast, and the conditions is good for him, I think. But I'm here to try my best and to find a solution to try to win.

Q. What's the difference between having Francisco and Uncle Toni in the stands?
RAFAEL NADAL: Not much. Not much. I feel very comfortable with both.

Q. In the second set especially it seemed you got to several balls that seemed like they were winners. You know, you ran them down and returned them for winners also. Did you sense that demoralized him a little bit or made him try desperate things or affected him?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. That's one of my best shots on the tennis court, no? When I had the very, very tough point in very difficult condition, a lot of times I save a very difficult shot with another very good shot.
So that's very important part of my game. When I am with confidence and I'm physically well, I can do it.
So it's a very good news if I start to do shots like the passing shot with the backhand.

Q. You seemed absolutely thrilled after the match with your level of play. How great does it feel to be back smacking around tennis balls after such a long layoff?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's nice to be on court another time. I said in Montreal, only be here is very nice feeling for me. Sure, when you start to play better and you play your best match after coming back off injury, I must be really happy of that, no?
So for that reason I'm happy, because I think I played my best match after injury.

End of FastScripts

Rafa en photos

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 20: Rafael Nadal of Spain against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France during day four of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on August 20, 2009 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Une entrevue de...

August 19, 2009

Rafael Nadal

CINCINNATI, OHIO

R. NADAL/A. Seppi
7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First game of the match you broke after Seppi hit a lob and you had to sprint. Is the knee okay?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, the knee was good.

Q. I noticed you weren't wearing a brace like you normally do.
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn't have the band, the tape, for a long time, no? In Monte-Carlo I didn't play with tape, but I didn't play with tape because the problem is not in that position of the knee, no? The problem is in the top of the knee.

Q. Do you feel that you're getting better with each match at the moment? Do you feel better on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Here the ball is fast and the ball is not getting bit topspin, so it's tough. It's difficult conditions for me, no? My results here in this tournament say that. It's not easy tournament for me. My best result was last year semifinals. Always difficult for me to play a good tournament here.
But, you know, I don't know if I play very well, but I was there all the time, no? I was fighting every point, and that's the important thing, no? I don't know if it was a very good match for me, but it was very important, because these matches help me a lot to get my best performance and to get physical training, too.
So everything is positive. And, you know, the most positive thing I gonna be tomorrow another time on the court. That's important for continuing improve.

Q. I would like you to talk about your serve today. It worked well and you saved nine breakpoints from ten in the match. You had eight aces. Is that what you've been working on lately?
RAFAEL NADAL: The true is I didn't work a lot with the serve these days, no, because I had the problem in the abdominals. So it was all inspiration. (Laughter.)
No, no, sure, the serve is very important part of the game. If you are serving well, you can play the rest of the match with more calm, no? So it's important.
Today it was important. In important moments I had good serves. I had three aces in breakpoints, so that's ver good news and very happy for that.
I have to improve always my serve, but I have to continuing serving like this if I want to have chances to win tomorrow.

Q. When you say the knees are good, are you saying they don't hurt at all?
RAFAEL NADAL: Always perfect is impossible, no? But when I say it's good, I can play with no problem, no?

Q. Did this match tell you things about your physical condition, the state of your game, that the last two days of practice did not?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, the match is always different than practice, so I played better than I practice.
But I must play better tomorrow. That's the true.

Q. The match was a very close one that turned on just a few points in both sets. Did he just play extremely well, or is that just the proof of how competitive the game is becoming?
RAFAEL NADAL: In this level there's no easy matches. All the matches are in a few points. We are playing the top 50 players of the world here. You can't win an easy match, especially in this fast court, no? So that's normal.
Sure, probably I am not playing, that's true, my best tennis. But if I play my best tennis, the match never gonna be easy against Seppi, too.

Q. Given the injury layoff, what goals do you have for the end of the year? Do you have a year-end ranking goal that you want to hit?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, the goal right now is improve every day. That's the goal, no? In one week and a half we have important tournament. You know, we have US Open, so maybe that's the -- the first goal is try and improve my tennis here a little bit more, and the second goal is try to be as better as possible in the US Open.

Q. When you say your goal is to get better, are you talking about the pain or your timing? In what way do you need to get better?
RAFAEL NADAL: When I talking about the goals, right now I'm talking about the tennis, not the knees and not that, because I hope to be okay.

Q. To be successful on hardcourt, do you need to play a more aggressive style of tennis? Do the tactics need to be the most aggressive?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, that's true. When I have the very good results on hardcourt I played really aggressive. I played big shots with the forehand and big shots with the backhand and playing inside the court.
But you can play inside the court when you have a good feeling. If you don't have a good feeling, it's difficult to go inside the court, no?

Q. I'm curious about what you're saying. Do you have to be entirely 100% confident in your movement and your strokes in order to play aggressive?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I am okay in my movements. Sure, I have to improve a little bit more, because that's -- in one week is not enough to be a 100%. But I feel okay in my move.
But after feeling okay of my move, I need a little more time to adapt the speed of the ball and to get confidence. Winning matches like today is the only way to take this confidence, no?
So that's it. To be confidence and playing inside the court, I need to be in the back on the court running before.

Q. Do you think you moved well today?
RAFAEL NADAL: I can move better. I think I moved better than what I touch the ball.

Q. Do you think there's a favorite for the US Open right now, or a group of favorites? How many guys do you think have a chance of winning the Open?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I am?

Q. You or anyone. Is there a specific favorite right now, would you say?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, favorites, when one player won the last five years he's the favorite, no? But, yeah, he's favorite.
But a lot of players are coming well, no? Roddick is playing really well. Murray is doing really well. Djokovic always have his chances. He's a good player. And I hope myself. Del Potro, too.

End of FastScripts

Nadal a besoin de deux tie breaks face à Seppi

'Espagnol Rafael Nadal, N.3 mondial, s'est qualifié mercredi pour le 3e tour du tournoi Masters 1000 de Cincinnati en battant l'Italien Andrea Seppi 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) dans un match à rallonge, interrompu deux fois par la pluie. Au prochain tour, jeudi, Nadal, qui a bataillé 2 h 10 min sur le court sans compter les pauses pluvieuses, affronte le Français Paul-Henri Mathieu. Nadal n'a pas eu la partie aisée face à l'Italien, 45e mondial. Comme Andy Murray plus tôt dans la journée face à l'Espagnol Nicolas Almagro, le joueur originaire de Majorque a dû sauver une balle de set contre lui à 5-6 dans la première manche. Mais il l'a fait avec maestria, sur un ace. Le match a été suspendu une première fois pour près de 45 min à 4-4 dans la seconde, sur une balle de break en faveur de Seppi. Là encore, Nadal est parvenu à repousser cette menace avec un ace qui a effleuré la ligne de couloir. L'Espagnol a au total défendu avec succès 9 des 10 occasions de break du surprenant Italien, bien aidé par son service (8 aces). Dans le tie break du second set, l'Espagnol, pas vraiment perturbé par une deuxième interruption, cette fois d'à peine dix minutes, s'est ensuite rapidement détaché à 6-2 pour l'emporter finalement 7-3. Nadal rejoint au 3e tour le Suisse Roger Federer, N.1 mondial, son dauphin écossais Andy Murray - tenant du titre dans l'Ohio - et le Serbe Novak Djokovic (N.4), qui n'ont pas trébuché pour leur entrée en lice mercredi. Djokovic a ouvert le bal sur le court central en disposant du Croate Ivan Ljubicic 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. Federer a suivi le Serbe et dominé l'Argentin Jorge Acasuso 6-3, 7-5 alors que Murray a dompté dans la foulée Almagro 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, dans un match interrompu vingt minutes par la pluie.

Rafa en photos

CINCINNATI - AUGUST 19: Rafael Nadal of Spain vs Andreas Seppi of Italy during day three of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters on August 19, 2009 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Nadal prend son temps

Rafael Nadal n'est pas préoccupé par le fait d'être descendu à la troisième place mondiale. "C'est juste un chiffre, ça n'a pas d'importance", a commenté l'Espagnol qui débutera le Masters de Cincinnati mercredi.

LES FEUILLETONS DU CIRCUIT : NADAL LE GLADIATEUR

D'accord, Rafael Nadal n'est plus N.1 mondial. D'accord, pour la première fois depuis 2004, il n'est plus non plus N.2 après la perte du bénéfice d'un 6e titre ATP remporté l'an passé, battu en quart de finale de Montréal par Juan Martin Del Potro. D'accord, Roland-Garros et Wimbledon ont été un désastre sur le plan comptable pour l'Espagnol qui pointe désormais à une 3e place mondiale qui lui est réservée depuis l'explosion d'Andy Murray cette saison. Mais l'important n'est-il pas ailleurs ? Avec deux oedèmes aux genoux, l'Espagnol n'avait en fait qu'une peur : ne plus rejouer au tennis cette saison. Alors penser qu'être N.3 mondial le contrarie est loin de sa réalité. Ce n'est en tout cas pas cela qui l'empêcherait de dormir.

"Être N.3? Ce n'est pas grave. Ce n'est qu'un numéro" , avouait-il en conférence de presse à Cincinnati. "Andy Murray fait une bonne saison, mais pour moi, cela ne change pas beaucoup. Je suis très heureux aujourd'hui, autant que je l'étais il y a trois jours quand j'étais encore N.2 mondial. Bien sûr, j'aimerais retrouver la 2e place ou la première à l'avenir mais N.3, c'est pas mal non plus (rires). L'essentiel, c'est d'être suffisamment compétitif pour gagner des tournois." Depuis la perte de son titre à Roland-Garros il y a deux mois et demi, l'Espagnol a tout fait pour soigner ses tendons rotuliens le mieux et le plus vite possible. Loin du tumult du circuit, Rafa prend son mal en patience, comme il le faisait sur les courts. Si sa rééducation lui a pris la majorité de son temps, l'ex-N.1 avoue du bout des lèvres qu'il ne s'est que peu intéressé aux succès de Roger Federer à Roland-Garros et Wimbledon. "J'ai regardé la finale de Wimbledon et les deux derniers jeux de celle de Roland-Garros. C'est tout."

L'année prochaine, au pire...

Si son retour raté a pu en frustrer plus d'un, c'est avec joie que ses concurrents, fair-play comme Federer, voient rejouer l'Espagnol, conscients que, sans lui, la compétition a un autre goût. "C'est bien que Rafa revienne, ça rend la compétition plus intense, plus intéressante, analyse Federer qui a été éliminé en quart de finale de Montréal, comme l'Espagnol. On sait tous que s'il est descendu à la troisième place aujourd'hui, c'est à cause de sa blessure. Il n'a pas pu défendre ses chances dernièrement. Andy (NDLR: Murray) et moi en avons profité. Mais il est de retour et tout le monde a l'air en bonne santé maintenant et ça promet pour la fin de saison. Je suis sûr que Rafa va rebondir très vite s'il est en forme." Rebondir, reste à savoir quand. L'US Open, seul tournoi du Grand Chelem qui manque à son palmarès, reste évidemment un fantastique challenge qui le propulserait un peu plus dans la légende, auprès des deux seuls vainqueurs des quatre tournois majeurs sur quatre surfaces différentes (Agassi et Federer). Physiquement comme mentalement, il n'en est pas encore à se propulser à New York.

Avec environ 600 points de retard sur Murray, Nadal a encore 1500 d'avance sur Novak Djokovic, N.4 mondial, celui qui l'avait éliminé l'an passé en demi-finale du Masters de Cincinnati (6-1, 7-5), là même où la caravane du circuit s'arrête cette semaine. En regardant de près ses prestations dans ce tournoi, Nadal n'y a jamais très bien réussi. Mise à part cette demi-finale 2008, il n'a joué qu'un quart de finale en 2006 (défaite face à Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6, 7-6) et a été éliminé dès son entrée en lice à trois reprises en 2004, 2005 et 2007. Autant dire que s'il tombe rapidement, ce ne sera pas vraiment une surprise. "Je ne sais pas si cette fraîcheur est très bonne, mais je me sens frais, annonce Rafa. Si je peux travailler avec une intensité normale, comme je le faisais dans le passé, j'ai mes chances d'être prêt à retrouver mon meilleur niveau. Et si ce n'est pas cette année, ce sera l'année prochaine." S'il rejoint le dernier carré, la surprise ne sera pas loin non plus.

RAFA PRACTICE CINCINNATI ATP/BLUEBIRD

RAFA SHIRTLESS PRACTICE/BLUEBIRD

Rafael Nadal kidding around before practice

Rafa films new KIA AD

Cincinnati 2009 Preview Interview Nadal

Une entrevue de...

August 17, 2009

Rafael Nadal

CINCINNATI, OHIO

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you feel physically coming into Cincinnati after getting a few matches under your belt in Canada last week?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I feel good, no? Yeah, I feel very happy to be here. And, sure, the last week was important week for me after few time outside of competition. Comeback, and it was a good comeback, no?
No, I played not a bad match second round, and against Del Potro I played a very good first set. Just very happy with that. Just practicing every day with allusion, and just try my best every day with my best positive attitude. Just like this I gonna have chances to improve.

Q. What would be, do you think, a good result for you here? Are you looking, I guess, for a specific result, or are you looking more for a feeling of how you move on the court, how you feel with your timing hitting the ball?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, sure, for me it's more important -- you have good result you gonna have a good feeling, that's...
Yeah, but, sure, the important thing is feeling -- anyway, if you don't have a very good result, the important thing is move every day a little bit better and try to hit a little bit the ball every day with a little bit more confidence, no? So that's, in the end, the important thing.
Sure, the US Open is very important, but after US Open remains a lot of the season, and I would like to be ready to play the good end of the season.

Q. You think in some ways you might be fresher now than you tend to be at this time of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Fresher, sure. I don't know if this fresh is very good, but I am fresher, yeah.

Q. With respect to the injury time-out and whatnot, I know you like to spend a lot of time on the practice courts. How much more time until you're able to practice like you did in the past at a 100% with the amount of time you spend there?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's impossible start from a zero to hundred, no? I need a little bit progressive and to go every day a little bit more. I did in Mallorca and I still doing here, no?
I practice, for example, today one hour 45. Normally if I have one more day gonna play little bit more, two hours 30. I need to go slow, no? The important thing is be good physically.
If I feel like this, I know with experience if I work hard and if I can work with the normal intensity, what I did in the past, I gonna have chances to be ready another time at my best level. If it's not this year, I hope next year.
Later or soon I hope to be ready for another time, but I have to be with calm.

Q. What do you make of the new world order with Andy above you now at No2 and you No. 3?
RAFAEL NADAL: What makes what?

Q. What do you think of the new world ranking system in tennis?
RAFAEL NADAL: It's very difficult to think a lot of things. It's only a number. Only a number change. I congratulate Andy. He's doing a good season.
But, yeah, I don't know. For me, doesn't change a lot my perspective and my goals. I'm very happy today, more than yesterday, or the same happy today than three days ago when I was No. 2, and I say before when I was No. 1.
So in the end, what makes me happy is be ready to play and enjoying playing tennis. Be happy and don't have a lot of problems to play, no? If it's like this, if I can compete with normal conditions, I am very happy to be here.
I spend five years No. 2, and No. 1 almost a year. So the ranking is important, but it's not the most important thing, no? For me, the most important thing is be competitive to try to compete to win important tournament, no?
The rest, I hope to be ready in the future, too, to come back to No. 2 or to be in the top positions. No. 3 is very good number, too. (Laughter.)

Q. You've been saying all here year that Andy is good enough to get to No. 2, and he's proved you correct.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he's enough good to be No. 2, no? I think I had the season under the control before my injury. I was playing well, having almost perfect season.
After the injury, it's tough. But I know myself. I know when I was okay, I was there, no? I was the No. 1 in the race this year after -- before my injury, so I know if I am ready, I gonna have chances another time to be there.

Q. In the next few years, do you think you'll have to change your schedule a little bit? Will you take more breaks?
RAFAEL NADAL: Take more breaks?

Q. To protect your knees maybe.
RAFAEL NADAL: Depends. Depends, because depends what goals you have. It's very difficult to have a lot of breaks when the third week of January you have to play a Grand Slam. It's very difficult to have a lot of breaks when after three weeks you have two Masters Series in a row, and after you have three Masters Series in four weeks.
So what break can I do? After you have two Grand Slams in four weeks. Give me the -- well, give me the week. I didn't play a lot of tournaments outside of obligatory tournaments. I only played in Doha. Is normal tournament to prepare Australia. I only play in Rotterdam and Barcelona and that's it. I didn't play a lot of... Yeah, that's obligatory.
The schedule can change. The ATP can change the schedule. I can't change the schedule.

Q. But you did have a break for two months...
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, obligatory break. It's always the same: you stop or somebody stop you, something stop you.

Q. So maybe the knees stopped you and you had a break. What was that like? Did you follow tennis? Did you watch the French Open? Did you watch Wimbledon? Or did you completely tune out and try to not think about tennis?
RAFAEL NADAL: I was more outside than inside, yeah. Watch the final of Wimbledon, and I watched the last two games of the final of Roland Garros. That's it.
I watch the Davis Cup of Spain. I saw everything. But that's it. I watch Contador winning the Tour de France, and I saw Gasol winning in the NBA. A lot of good things for Spain.

Q. Was it conscious to keep away from tennis, or did you find yourself wanting to get back on the court and get back to the tour?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, sure, the first week is tough after you have injury. You arrive at probably one of the two more important tournaments of the year, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, with maybe your worst physical problems, your worst feelings with the physical.
Sure, in the beginning you go down a little bit, no, first week. But later, you know, the life is not only tennis. I was in Mallorca with family. That's always very important for me. With the friends, and a lot of support, no? A lot of fans was writing me on the website, writing on my phone, friends.
Yeah, it was very good time in Mallorca. The summer in Mallorca is perfect. Good weather, beach. Perfect. Nice water. So probably I was injured the worst time to be injured in the season for my tennis, but the best time to enjoy Mallorca, so...

Q. How much did you miss the competition? And how does it feel to be back in competition?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, I said before, the first two weeks, one week and a half, was I don't want -- I really don't want to speak about competition, no, because you go down a little bit, and it's tough moments.
But after that, I didn't miss the competition because I didn't watch myself ready to compete with my problem in the knees, no? I really wanted to come back, or try to come back, when I feel okay to come back, no?
Because you know, when I stop, I was a little bit tired to play with pain, no? When you go to practice every day with problems and problems in your knees and these are limiting you every day, you lost a little bit the allusion to practice. You cannot practice with your intensity.

Q. How does it feel to be back in competition?
RAFAEL NADAL: Very good. Very happy to be here. I lost last week and I go out of the court very happy, no, because I thought I had a very good first set with one of the best players of the world. So very happy to be here in Cincinnati and enjoying another tournament on the tour.

Q. You talked about friends earlier. During your obligatory break you lost a good friend. How will you remember Matthew, and is it weird to be at a tournament and not see him? Is that hard?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it was a shock, no, because when something like this happen, it's very tough for everybody, especially for the family.
But for us, too, no? Because you think a lot about these things, what happened in the last few years. You know, few weeks ago something similar happened in one important player of Spain, football player.
So in these moments I only can send all my support to the family, to the close people of Matthew. It's very difficult to accept, but that's the life, unfortunately.

End of FastScripts

Rafa en photos

MADRID - The government of the Balearics has turned to Majorcan tennis star Rafael Nadal to relaunch Majorca's image following the recent ETA attacks and the crisis in the tourist industry. He is the star of a publicity campaign, announced the tourism council on the eve of the world number one's departure for the Montreal Master Series. In the commercial, Nadal skippers a sailing boat in Majorca's waters, from Sa Rapita, to Estrenc and Capo Salines, from Majorca to Cabrera. It also shows the many tourist activities on offer on the island, for nature-lovers, hikers and golfers. The Spanish player is the best-known Majorcan at a global level, and the publicity campaign, which will be shown on national TV in Spain's main tourist markets will help to promote the Balearics as a whole.

Rafa en photos/ Montréal 2009