RG : interview

Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal, June 6

Interview with Rafael Nadal
June 6, 2007


Q. One thing is at 5-3 in the first set, I remember that at a moment Carlos hit a great wide forehand, killer, stroking, high forehand. Two points later you did exactly the same replica, like it was like almost identical, identical shot from high forehand from baseline. It was like almost photocopy. And which made me think, as a technical thing, like, can we say that it is a fact that maybe you worked together, or looked at each other's game, or you watching his game can make it so resemblant. And the second thing is, he tried to take many of his balls on his forehand, and you, instead of hitting the backhand, he hit forehands. And he opened the forehand court wide to you, and did you work --

THE MODERATOR: Okay, let him answer, let him answer.

RAFAEL NADAL: I answer the first one?


Q. Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when, it is true we practice together. But that doesn't matter, not the same like another match, no. Not special. If he have one winner, I don't -- after two points, I have the same winner. But it's not --


Q. Stylewise.

RAFAEL NADAL: Style? But the style, he has his style. I have my style. No, it's ten years difference. We wasn't practicing in the same school, so it's not -- the style, I am left; he is right. It's not comparable in my opinion, no. So he has his game; I have my game. Nothing. The game is totally different. Whatever. We're friends, but the game is not the same.


Q. How amazing is it that in three years of playing here, you haven't lost one match? How amazing do you think that is?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, happy for making semifinals for the third time. So good. Yes, very happy about my game, especially after the first set. It was important for me, because I am playing so much better, especially after the first three rounds. And I am in semifinals, that is very good result for me. And yes, I am. Now I am close to the finals, so I play my best against Djokovic. It is a very, very tough match.


Q. Third set blowout, not a very good way to treat a friend, huh?

RAFAEL NADAL: What? Can you repeat?


Q. Not a very nice way to treat a friend as you call Moya.

RAFAEL NADAL: Not very nice? No, yes, no. I was speaking a little bit in the locker room after, but nothing about the match. So, well, the match was better for me, like than for him, that's for sure.

And I was just trying my best, no? We maybe begin the match with some shots each other. But after that, I played a little bit better, and he had some mistakes with the backhand, so that's easier for me later, no?

Anyway, he played a very good tournament. And I'm very happy for him, because he's coming back in the top positions, and he's coming back to his best level, no? So, semifinals in Hamburg, quarterfinals here, that's very good results.


Q. Can you compare your form now to this time last year when you go into the semifinals? Do you feel better?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's difficult have the comparisons always, because it's another year, different situation. So not only have to compare it, I can say I'm playing better this year than last year. But not -- not here. In all tournaments, no, I improved a little bit my game, and I'm very happy for that.

Now I'm feeling better on court, more comfortable. And I am here in semifinals. But two days ago and today I play good matches. And I feel better, because I feel I can play little bit different. I can play a little bit more aggressive. I can play some defenses sometimes, but I can attack, too. So that's a little bit advantage, than in preparation last year, huh?


Q. Big picture. How important is it to you to have another great player on the tour like Roger? Would you prefer that he is here so you can find out how good you are as a player? Or would you prefer that he didn't exist so you could dominate tennis much the way he was before you came along?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the second option better (laughing). But you never know, if Roger's not here, another one. No, well, for me, always it's nice, and always it's a special motivation to have another one better than you, no? It's nice go on court every day and practice, and, you know, you can play so much better than much better than what I am doing.

So, and that's the thing, Roger can do that. You know, he can play so much better than the rest. So that's always very nice, because if you watch his game, and after you go to practice, you can think more about the game, no? If you are No. 1, and you don't feel no one better than you, always, my opinion, have a good mentally for that, and always I want to improve, but it's easier if you have a model.


Q. Next match you are playing Djokovic, if I'm not mistaken. What can you tell us about his game, and what tactic are you going to use against him? You already played with him in Miami, and I believe that he won.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, in Indian Wells and Miami and Rome. Yeah, so, yes, he is playing very, very good game, very good tennis, and he's the No. 3 in the world in the race position this year, no? So he's doing very well.

And, well, very young, and he improve a lot this year. He has unbelievable potential. I know I going to have a very tough match in the semifinals. But the tactic is always the same: Play good. That's the better tactic, then you can win, you know.


Q. Aggressive, I imagine?

RAFAEL NADAL: Play good. If you play good defending, if you play good aggressive, play good. You play good, I can lose, but I'm going to have my chances.


Q. That is what he said he's going to use against you, to be aggressive as much as he can.

RAFAEL NADAL: Nice (laughing). I'm going to prepare tomorrow (laughing).


Q. Do you see him as being able to challenge you and Roger at the top, for there to be three of you, rather than two of you, and then everyone else?

RAFAEL NADAL: Roger, me and Djokovic?


Q. At the moment there's Roger, you and everyone else. In the future could there be a future of Novak?

RAFAEL NADAL: In the future, no. Right now, it's not just Djokovic, no? But sure in the moment this year, me, Roger, and Djokovic, we have little bit different of, if I am thinking, about the points, like those ones. If you look a little bit in the race, maybe we have so much different about the others.

But it's not three, no. If Roddick, one, going to come the grass; after, the Har Tru, it's going to improve a lot, for sure. Davydenko is doing very well. And Murray, he have really the lag, he have a lag because of the injury. But he was doing very well before the injury. So when he comes back, he's going to be another time in the best positions. Always, it's not easy to come back after one injury. But he has unbelievable talent, too, no?

And more players. Not just our three.


Q. I know you just had a birthday. I'm wondering, as a two-time champion, do you still feel young when you play here?

RAFAEL NADAL: Why not, no? I have turned 21 right now, so, yes. And now you think Djokovic is the new one, and me not the new one, so just one year less than me, no? So I have a lot of years here, left playing Roland Garros. It's just the third year, no?

I have maybe this one is the fourth or five year, fifth year in the tour? I don't know. Fifth? Yeah. 21, I'm five years, unbelievable. Very old. On the tour, very old. But the age is not.


Q. Also, I wondered if you could tell us what you think was going on back home during the match? Do you think people were torn? Their hearts were maybe divided a little bit, seeing you play Carlos? If they were maybe quiet watching? What do you think?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know, no. I really don't know. Carlos is a very nice person, and the people loves him, no? And, well, I don't know about me. I can't say nothing about me, but just someone wants to beat Carlos, someone's me, I think. I don't know, 10%. I don't know the percentage.


Q. I think you're a little bit tired and not so strong at the end of Hamburg. How long did it take you after Hamburg to feel better, more strong, and not so tired? And how do you feel now?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, look my style. If you look, I was here on Tuesday? Thursday? Yeah, Thursday. I just have three days at home, two, because one of these days I have a TV spot in Barcelona and one presentation with Nike. And I have Monday -- no, Monday, no, Tuesday, and Wednesday for be off at home. But nothing else.

I am very happy for that now. Always is important. It's not much time, but two days out of everything, tennis, that's important for refresh the mind. And I am tired. Not right now. I was tired in Hamburg, because every day the concentration, five weeks in a row. So it's not easy every day thinking about the match, doing everything, thinking about the match. So it's not easy, no.

But well, after that tournament, after this tournament, I'm going to change the place. That's important, too. Because you're fresh a little bit. You have to improve another surface. And I am not tired about playing on clay, but when you change the surface, always it's a little bit different. You change a lot of the things, and you think about your game on that surface, and that can help that for tired, no?


Q. Do you think that this tournament is looking very much like the 2006 tournament with you and Federer playing high, and Djokovic and Davydenko forcing the situation? And do you think that you are as confident against Federer if you get to the final both after your last loss on clay?

RAFAEL NADAL: I see the tournament, and I see the tournament -- four play in the semifinals and four have chances for the end title, no? I don't think about Roger, and I don't think about if I have chances against Roger to the final, no? I know Roger is the best in the world, and Roger beat me last time, so my opinion, he's the favorite for the tournament. But right now we are four in the draw.


Q. Why do you think you're so superstitious?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Can you repeat the question? You can change, because I'm not very superstitious. Why? I put the bottles? And I always say that little bit the ass is not superstitious. There's problems with that (laughing), little bit bigger than usual.

But, no, yes, the socks is not superstitious. When I am playing, after this style of shorts, not more large shorts, it's going to be easier. I'm going to finish about the socks.

What? Nothing else, I think. What do you think? What more? Nothing else, huh?

The lines? The lines? No, the lines. Just on clay, because I like the white line (laughing).


Q. You don't think you're superstitious?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, really, no. No, little bit. I am repeating a lot of things. But no, no, no. If Moya go on my place and put the bottles outside, I can continue in playing the match with the same -- with the same chances, I know that. The bottles not going to give me a power for win, not one point, I know. I am not stupid about that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.


Q. This was a match against Carlos that you played at the same level as the final.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's always different from what a standard match is. But it was just a quarterfinal. And that's it. When I go on and play a match, I think I'm playing my place in semifinal. And this is all I wanted to think about. I didn't want to have more pressure on me. And the idea was to play my quarterfinal and reach the semifinal.


Q. Were you happy?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I started with some doubts. Some people made comments on both of us, and it's true that we both speculated on how the other one would play. But then I was very happy I could win the first set. And then the match was totally different. At 1-Love in the second set, that was very important. Then I served two aces, and this is when I think the match was totally for me. I started being confident.

He started making mistakes with his backhand. I created the momentum of the match, and I took points at decisive moments of the match. I knew I should not base my game just on his backhand, because I knew that he would warm up and start hitting burning shots. I knew I had to be careful about his backhand.


Q. You both said at the beginning of the match, that you were opponents on the court. But wasn't it difficult to defeat him 6-Love in the third set?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, not at all. It's not painful, not for him, not for me. That's part of the game. Probably hurt him a bit to lose 6-Love in the third set, but I think what was most painful was losing his quarterfinal in Roland Garros.

And for me, I was just as happy as if I had won against anybody else, because I'm reaching the semifinals. And reality, well, if I had lost, I'd be sad, as if I would have been sad losing against anybody else. But, for sure, this is the player I didn't want to lose to.


Q. What about your semifinal against Djokovic, whom you know well, and who is rising at the moment?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I see him as a great player, as you do. He's a great player. He has great confidence. I see him as a winner because he wins many matches in difficult situations, like this year. And his potential is huge. He has a great serve, which is a great advantage, and he is young, which is also a great asset. He is a potential future No. 1.


Q. Federer-Nadal, Nadal-Federer, that's kind of a tradition. Do you reckon that Djokovic-Nadal could become a traditional match in tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I can't answer this question. All matches at this level are good matches, especially when you have the top players playing each other. And Djokovic is one of the top players at the moment. I'm No. 2, and for him, I think he is 5th, 6th in the world, so it's going to be a very good match.


Q. Given what we expected, you are very good friends, Carlos Moya and you. Do you think it was difficult for him to lose like this, because you always try and play your best level against a friend?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we are very good friends, so we don't want to lie to each other. We both know that we're playing a very important tournament for both of us, so playing a very long and difficult match. Had we played this type of match, we would have been very tired. This is a kind of match you need to play in a final. But here, you know, when you play 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, that was a straight victory. I realize it was probably a bit painful to him, but I didn't want to overdue it on the court, and hugging him on the court.

We know each other, we have great confidence in each other, and we know that well. We're just the same on the court. We're opponents and we're both fighting for the same title.


Q. Could you come closer to the mic, because we need to record what you're saying.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, yes, I know. It's always the same thing. And when you broadcast it, I feel as if I have my head bent, and you don't give me the mic. So I don't know where to sit, so I'm sitting back, and it's terrible. So you'll need to provide me with a special rotating armchair.


Q. Third semifinal in a row. 2003, we had Argentineans in the semifinal. But it is the first time since 2003 that we have nobody from Argentina. Do you have an explanation for that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, an explanation? No, I have no specific explanation. You know, there are ups and downs in tennis. So we had Cañas in quarterfinal, Monaco. I don't think that Argentinians are going through a particularly difficult time. Gaudio played Hewitt, and you know, some tournaments, things turn out right. On others, they don't turn out that right. And sometimes you reach the semifinals.


Q. Two things: How would you compare this game to the one you played against Hewitt, and what you were talking about when you answered questions in English, when you felt tired after Hamburg, and how you freshened up your tennis after Hamburg?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you probably didn't understand my answer in English, so that probably why you ask me this question again (laughing). So what was your first question?


Q. Do you think you've played better tennis than when you played against Hewitt?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Carlos is somebody I know very well, so we know what to expect from each other. And it's true that I played very good tennis today.

And your second question, I have no specific answer. I was a bit tired in Hamburg, mentally speaking. I had been playing competitions at a very high level for five weeks in a row. And, you know, you have a very tight schedule when you play these tournaments. And when you've played five weeks in a row Hamburg, Rome, then I played Federer. I played Federer on Thursday -- on Wednesday. It was on Wednesday. Then on Monday, I had a commercial. I had to shoot a commercial in Barcelona, and I had no time to rest. And well, you have to pay the bill at one stage, you know.

I won't try and say this is an excuse to my defeats against Federer. Federer was playing very well. But it's true I was a bit tired in Hamburg.

And, well, I said, that changing surface can sometimes help. So from here, I'll go directly to play Queens. But the worst-case scenario would be for me to lose the semifinal on Friday, then go straight to London and play Queens.

You know, it's a good thing to change surface. It's good to play on grass. You have to change your game. And it's a tournament I usually play with a very small pressure, because everybody knows it's very difficult to adapt your game in two days. So you play, you're far more relaxed when you play. And all you know is that you need to give your best and to hit your strokes as fast as possible, so you have very little pressure. And you get all your daily routine back. And all you need to do is adapt your game. I quite enjoyed this change. I like practicing on grass. It's a totally different feeling. Mentally speaking, it's good as well. It helps me not to be tired, mentally tired all the time.

You understood me? Did I explain it well in Spanish now? Okay (laughing).


Q. Talking about the match today, the only difference we saw was against Carlos Moya. You did not show your joy and happiness after you won points on the court.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, maybe, you know, when I'm playing somebody from Spain, I don't like celebrating that much, unless the match becomes very difficult, and then I can't control myself that much.

But, you know, this match, there was -- in this match there was no reason for me to celebrate that much, apart from the first set when things were a bit more tense. But the two other sets, I just played the match. I was just playing and I had my great friend in front of me, and I was winning. So it wouldn't have been nice for me to celebrate each time I won a point. And that was it.


Q. We saw that Antonio Banderas was watching the game. I don't know if you realized that, but you know that Moya played in a film with Santiago Segura, so probably you could try to get in touch with Antonio.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I started thinking about it. He came to see me in the locker room. No, it's true. I couldn't see him in the crowd. But when I saw him in the locker room, I was quite happy just seeing him coming to congratulate us both. He is a very nice person, and I'm very happy I met him.


Q. That's your third Roland Garros tournament, and it's the end of your second week. Do you have a feeling that this is something that you know already, or do you still experience special feelings?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Three years in a row, of course you have different sensations and feelings each time. And the experience, having been through that already, is helpful.


Q. Carlos Moya explained that one of the key factors to his defeat was the wind, when he was playing against the wind, it was difficult to hit the return, and vice versa. So wind was apparently a key factor to him. So was there any bet between you concerning the match? And if 6-0 was the result of a bet you had between you and him?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't think the wind was a key factor. Of course there was wind, and that was a bit of a problem to him. But it was also a bit of a problem to me, because the ball bounces very high, and it was very windy. And it's often the case

Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal, June 4

Interview with Rafael Nadal
June 4, 2007

Q. A little bit of a bump late in the match, but this was your best tennis of the tournament, no?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I'm very happy today with my game. I'm happy about the win. Very good win against Lleyton. So, yeah, I played the best match of the tournament, sure, my best match, I mean.


Q. Now the battle for Mallorca?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, nice to be in quarterfinals again here in Roland Garros, nice play against one of my best friends, Carlos Moya.

So I'm very happy for him, because he is playing very well. He is coming back at the top position. So I'm very happy for him playing semifinals in Hamburg, and right now, he's in quarterfinals. I hope he stops here (smiling).

No, anyway, he's playing very, very well.


Q. From the very start of the tournament, did you see Lleyton coming in this round and that it would be a big test for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: I know. Now I know the normal thing, if I am playing well, and if he play well, have this match today, no?

So just, first of all, I just think about the first matches. You always look at the draw, no? And I know if I arrive to fourth round, Lleyton. Is always a very good test, and very tough match, because he's a winner. So it's difficult with him. I'm very happy about my game today.


Q. This is perfect for your confidence to beat a great champion like Lleyton in this round?

RAFAEL NADAL: It's perfect to be in quarterfinals and it's perfect play. Ten times better today than the last days, no?


Q. When you and Moya play 11's, do you play for a bet, and who wins normally?

RAFAEL NADAL: 11's? Oh, 11's. I don't know. Depends on the moment. Two days ago, I won. And in Mallorca, I have more loses than win.


Q. You ever bet for dinner?

RAFAEL NADAL: What?


Q. The winner buys dinner?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no winner of dinners or morning. No, we some -- I don't know exactly in English -- push-ups, or some (Spanish) Kangaroos.


Q. Lleyton just was talking about the forehands that he faces on clay courts, and he said Gonzalez has a great forehand, and Federer has a great forehand, but yours was the toughest on clay. What is the toughest shot that you face in clay court tennis, the toughest shot?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't understand very good the question, so. I did not understand what he said about Federer.

Well, Federer. Federer, in my opinion, have the best forehand in every single place, because he can play the best forehand in all places, on grass, on clay.

So, well, Gonzalez has big power, but not the same control, control, you know, exactly.

So I think I am not the best forehand of the tournament. No, I have some difference. I don't have a special big shot, no? I have a good backhand, good forehand -- well, a better forehand.

But Moya have a big forehand, too. So it's one of the top guys with the forehand.


Q. You don't think your forehand is a huge shot, a big shot?

RAFAEL NADAL: It is a good shot, for sure. I can't be the No. 2 in the world for three years and have a bad forehand. So, that's true. No, I have a good forehand. For me, in my game, it's my best shot. But I don't know if it's one of the best forehands on the tour. In clay, maybe, one of the best.


Q. You showed a lot of respect for Hewitt. Apologizing on a passing shot. Apologizing when you hit the line. Why was this?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I like a lot his game, and I like his attitude on court. So he is a fighter, so I like that. And I have a lot of respect for all the players, no? But especially, with fighter. I don't have any problem with Lleyton, so I like him.


Q. In the third set, Hewitt looked as if he wanted to try the outmost, and put it to the fifth gear, tried some incredible shots. Some of them worked. And then he started maybe getting tired and missing some easy forehands other than doing big shots. But at the third set, did you feel that even towards the end and the tiebreak, that if he kept playing like this, those big shots, he could get you in trouble in the match?

RAFAEL NADAL: All the way, the match was tough, no? Especially in the first set, he start to serving better, and that's put more pressure on the opponents. So when you arrive to a tiebreak, I know if I lose the tiebreak, I'm in the fourth set, and you start all the time the match, because he comes with confidence after returning for lose the game, for lose the match.

So always is tough if I lose the third set. It's going to be continuing in the match, fighting for the victory, but the match was very close.


Q. Do you remember watching Moya win the French Open as a boy?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, yeah, I remember. No, but not exactly. I saw him on TV a lot of times. I remember the final against Corretja, who he played very, very well, very good match. But I can't remember, really very good, no. I was very, very young.


Q. Was him winning the French Open an inspiration to you when you were young?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't have any idols, any heroes, nothing, no. But sure, having a player like Moya in Mallorca was very, very important for me. And for sure, I have the opportunity for practice with him a lot of times. That's helped me a lot. And having a model close to you is easier, no? So that's important for me.


Q. Because you're close to Carlos, and maybe you will bring different emotions to this match, how will you approach it?

RAFAEL NADAL: It is true we are very, very good friends, but we are fighting for the semifinals of Roland Garros. So that's not a joke. We're going to play the best always with the respect. The respect I'm going to have. I have big respect for him, so, always with fair play. But just trying to do the best for win the match.


Q. Can you put the friendship out of your mind?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I play a lot of matches against him. I played when I was young matches against my best friend, too, Thomas, a friend of mine in Mallorca, important matches. So, when you play these matches, normally you play important matches. But when you're on court, always your friend, you don't want to -- say one ball is out, I'm not going to be, well, Rafa going to win the ball. No, because I have confidence with him. But I want to win, and I can forgot that for one moment, for the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.


Q. It was a beautiful fight with Hewitt. For the third set, there was some danger. Even when you were 6-3, 6-1, he was still trying to fight, and we saw you using your tactics to try and save your energy and play with a slow ball.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he played then in the third set -- in the first set -- in the two first sets, he was not playing that well. But in the third set, he was definitely improving his game. And at one stage, it was not as accurate, because at 6-5, I couldn't find exactly the right way to play. Then I managed to score the last point, and that changed the game.

But I'm very happy with the way I played today. And as for my strategy, I tried to play my game, and I tried to define the momentum. I also tried not to play on his backhand. And in Hamburg, this is a mistake I had made, so I didn't want to do that again.


Q. We saw that you were really saving your energy, but that you were having great fun on the court.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, saving energy, not that much, but because when you play at Roland Garros against Hewitt, you don't save any energy. Having fun, yes, this is something you can say. This is one of the matches I suffered less because -- in which I suffered a lot because the pressure was great. When you get closer to the final, the pressure increases.

Although, I am very much in the tournament right now, I'm more confident. I feel I played better. However, the opponents I have to play now will be very difficult opponents. And you can't predict how they will be playing. And this is when I'll start having fun.


Q. Which were the emotions you had thinking about playing Carlos in the quarterfinals?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, as I said in English, he is a friend. He is somebody important to me for my career, and I need to thank him. He's always been a gentleman. And I had wonderful experiences with him. We won the Davis Cup together, and that brought us together, really. I must say that when he stops playing tennis, I'll still have a few years to go, but I will miss him because he is a friend. We can have dinner together every evening and have conversations together.

So this should be a very beautiful match, whatever happens. One of us will reach the semifinals, and at that stage, I will -- all I could say is I'd like to reach the semifinals with him.


Q. Is it with him you'd like to play the final? Or is it against him you'd like to win?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's always a sort of bitter aftertaste when you win against one of your best friends. But to a certain extent, I'd prefer not having to fight him in the quarterfinals, but meet him in the semifinal or in the final. But the positive thing about this is that one of us will reach the semifinal, and we'll have one Spanish player in the semifinal of a Grand Slam tournament, and that's very positive.


Q. We asked Carlos exactly the same question, we asked him if he would meet an opponent or a friend. So what about you?

RAFAEL NADAL: On the court, an opponent. Five minutes before, a friend, and five minutes after, a friend. When you walk on the court, you have a total respect, total confidence for the person, because if there's one person I trust, it's him. But when playing a match, you play a match 100%, not thinking about anything else.


Q. He also said that whether on the court or on the Playstation, he won't give you any point. Because you're friends, he won't be as tense as with other players. He'll be more relaxed because you know each other very well.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we're at the top of our physical condition, the two of us. We're both be very happy to be in semifinals. And we'll do ten push-ups, and I won't ask him to do his push-ups before he leaves the court (laughing).

I need to be strong psychologically speaking.

Oh, no, come on, I'm just kidding. That wouldn't be nice.

We've both reached the quarterfinals. We both want to win. And whatever happens, five minutes before the match, five minutes after the match, we'll be friends. And we'll respect each other during the match. Thank God we are in quarterfinals together. And that's already very positive.


Q. You said you'd be very confident and positive. During the last nine days, were there any moments when you didn't feel confident, when you didn't feel very much at ease?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's always because of this experience I've accumulated over the years. I've been playing for a certain number of years now, and what would be strange would be for me to play at a lower level now. I've reached a good level. My tennis is good, and so far I was playing not to lose, and now I'm playing to win.

You know, when you win your match, you walk out, and you're ready to fight again, to win again. I've played a very good match. And when I walked out, I thought, "Whoa, I was lucky I won."


Q. Since this tournament started, everybody said it's going to be a final --

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, don't mention the name of Federer again.


Q. No, but do you reckon another player like Cañas could emerge?

RAFAEL NADAL: The question is not is there any other player. There were eight of us, there are eight of us in the quarterfinals, and each of us wants to win the final because each of us wants this. So don't talk about Federer and myself more than the others. Roger and myself have reached the quarterfinals, fair enough. But all the others have as well. So I don't want to think further ahead. I hope I'll be able to play the final against Federer.


Q. But do you think Cañas could be in the final?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, this is my personal opinion. I think Cañas will have to play a very difficult match before he can play Federer. He'll have to play Robredo before he plays Federer. So it's going to be difficult for him. And I don't think it's because Cañas has won twice against Federer that he can win again. But we'll see what happens.

Robredo is at a very good level. Cañas, Davydenko, also. These are players who are very fit at the moment. Like Andreev and Djokovic. You can't say what will happen; anything can happen.


Q. For us coming from America, it's not as easy to be close to you as for our European colleagues. So my question is as follows, we had two left-handed people, Marcello Rios, and Thomas Muster. After you saw them, is there anything you have learned from them?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I'd love to be able to answer this question, but I can't remember exactly how they played. I have seen them.

But if I were to answer this question and give you some information, I'd be lying. I remember. I remember some of their games, some of their matches, but I can't remember their style, exactly.


Q. Which is the left-handed player that most inspired you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I always try to play my way. And no matter whether your opponent is left-handed or right handed, what we try and do is copy what we like in other people.


Q. You obviously played a very high level game, but weren't you surprised to see Hewitt not being very strong during the first two sets?

RAFAEL NADAL: That's always the case. In Hamburg, he won me -- he won the two first sets, and here it was just the opposite. Maybe last time I was not playing very well, and he was playing his best level. And here he was not playing his best level, whereas, I was.


Q. But in the third set things were better balanced?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, he started playing very well, and that's quite normal. When you play like Hewitt, you're used to fighting and suffering.

Thank you very much

Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal, May 31

Interview with Rafael Nadal
Thursday, May 31, 2007

Q. This is a question totally unrelated to what's happened. But before we go to another language, I just wanted to ask you about the Australian Open surface that has been changed, and your thoughts on whether you prefer that or whether you prefer the old surface and how you think you'll go on the new surface?

RAFAEL NADAL: You change it for when? For next year?


Q. They're changing it for next year onward. They're going to Plexicushion?

RAFAEL NADAL: What?


Q. I think it's Plexicushion.

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't understand. I don't know exactly the surface. But the surface in Australia is okay. It was what I like, the original one. I don't know the future one. I don't know.


Q. It won't be as hot, and it won't have as uneven a bounce?

RAFAEL NADAL: What? Oh, being okay. The same? Faster? Is it faster or slower? What is this?


Q. More even. There won't be a discrepancy. It will be faster.

RAFAEL NADAL: Faster? It's not bad. I like, don't worry. If it's not very, very fast.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.


Q. I suppose this match is what you expected it to be, or was it easier?

RAFAEL NADAL: Honestly, I didn't ‑‑ it was difficult for me to expect anything. However, I know that if I played my tennis, then in theory, I had more chances to win.

And at the beginning he was a bit nervous. He would make mistakes. Third set was a bit more disputed, but on the first two sets, I couldn't see anything. The third set was nice to play, both for him and for me.


Q. Can you tell me what is your feeling? It is the third time you try and win Roland Garros. Are you doing exactly the same thing as you used to do in the previous years? Do you have any inside stories you could share with us?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, to be honest with you, I'm not doing anything special for Roland Garros. Just the same as for all tournaments. I focus on my objectives, and I never focus all my objectives on just one tournament. I am focused on the tour. Nothing special about Roland Garros.


Q. Yes, but Boris Becker and Wimbledon, he would always go to the same restaurant. He had this special taste for Wimbledon. Don't you have the same feeling here in Paris?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I always go to the same hotel, but that's it.


Q. Why do you go to this hotel?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, because all my team goes there, and if my team decides to change, then I'll change.

As for restaurants, I like the restaurants not far from the hotel.


Q. What positive feeling do you get from this match, apart from having won? And what do you feel about possibly winning a third title in a row?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, to start with, today's match, what was most positive was winning. It's not a match where I've been able to play my best tennis, but what is very positive today was the ‑‑ well, you know, warming up. I arrived on the court, and I really was feeling well.

You know, as days go on, you feel more nervous, but everything was fine. When I was practicing this morning, I was okay. As for the match, it was not an exceptional match.

But I'm playing better and better every day, and I'll fight every day a bit more. Tomorrow will be another day of practice, and that will be an opportunity for me to feel very good, to get very good feelings. And then I'm going to play against ‑‑ who is going to be my opponent, by the way? Gulbis. Oh, so he won in five sets. Well, I don't know who Gulbis is. He had a good season.

What was the other part of your question about pressure? Well, okay, yes. Pressure.

But just like every other day, we all want to win matches here, so I don't feel more pressure than all the others, than Federer, than Robredo, Carlos Moya, all of those coming here who want to win have to cope with a certain level of pressure. But that's, you know, business as usual, which is still a bit more than on other days. But then we meet and get over it.

There's only one way you can eliminate pressure, by playing well. And I didn't play very well today. I feel more comfortable when I play well.


Q. When the weather is not very good like today, when there's clouds, and the clay is quite heavy, the ball is slower and people say that when the sun comes back, there will be many surprises because the court will be much faster. Will it be a change for you? Will it change things?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, absolutely. I like it when it's sunny because then the ball bounces back far better. It's easier to find your shots, to place your shots. But when it's rainy, everything is much slower. The ball is very heavy and you don't get very good feelings.

But, you know, this morning, there was a bit of sun. So when I practiced, the courts were a bit faster. Yesterday I practiced and it was raining all day long, and it was windy and cloudy. Obviously, the feelings you get are totally different.


Q. People are talking about Montanes and Gulbis, but did you see a bit of Gaudio‑Hewitt match? What do you think about Hewitt?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I looked at the match, and then I saw it was beautiful match.


Q. It's been a long time since you had played drop shots. Was it a problem to you today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it was a bit of a problem, but I felt slightly more sharpened and fast enough. So, you know, when there is a drop shot, I can run to net. But that's usually the case. Today wasn't that good though.


Q. Carlos Moya said you played a lot with your Playstation and that he defeated you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, he won yesterday.


Q. He said it was more difficult than practicing.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I'm not going to make any comment on that, but I think we are very, very competitive with our Playstations together. Moya and Nalbandian played on a team, and they beat us. So we decided to turn off the play station, and they said, "Well, that's unfair."


Q. I think there is a crisis here ‑‑

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I know. Yes, I know, I know. He said I'm a pain in the neck. Okay. But he is. He is the one. He just doesn't accept anything. So I'm going to apply sanctions because he broke my remote control, and I'm just left with my Playstation. It's always very expensive, and I'm not the one breaking it.