RMille

New RM 27-03 Tourbillon Shock Resistance

5/25/2017Rafaholics ™

MadridOpen: Final Photos-Transcript-Video

5/17/2017Rafaholics ™

View post on imgur.com

videos:

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 14, 2017

Madrid, Spain

R. NADAL/D. Thiem

7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English and Spanish, please.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) It was a great match. Very few times we see you playing a player like Thiem, that hits the ball so high.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) I think it was a tough match since the beginning, especially here in altitude, which is difficult to make breaks against a player like Thiem. Returning the ball is difficult, especially when he hits it so high.

Since the beginning, I was playing with a lot of pressure. Fortunately I managed to come back and break. I think he made an error, so I managed to break again.

After that, I calmed down. I think I played a good first set. Anything could have happened at the end of the first set. But I think I played well the important points at the end of the first set. I saved a few set points playing some good shots with my forehand. After that I went for it.

I knew at the beginning of the second set, it was going to be very important. Once you finish a first set like that, it's normal to lower your level a little bit. I had to play well in the second set. I started with a break, so that was very good towards what I had to do after that.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Three clay tournaments, No. 1 in the race. At the end of last year's season, were you expecting to be where you are right now?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Normally, I don't expect anything. I go my way and things happen. I just try to do things as best as possible. After that, I am conscious that if I am fit and I can play well, I have the capacity. I see myself being able to win important titles and achieve my goals.

After that I don't think whether I can or whether I can't do something. I just play every single tournament without thinking a lot of things. I just try to focus. I'm not thinking about the race or anything like that.

I just try to go to each tournament to give the best of myself, being conscious when you are in the good way, as I am this year, I have confidence and security in myself.

But in December or January, I was not expecting to play badly, because I knew I was doing a very good off-season. I was expecting to play well. Of course, things are working out, and I'm very happy for that.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Now you're ahead of Roger in the rankings. That's very good for you going to Roland Garros. Perhaps it allows you to play with more calm in Rome.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) To try to win Roland Garros, you don't need to be No. 4 or No. 1 or No. 5, what you need is to play tennis very well. This is the situation right now.

If I am No. 4 and I played badly, I'm not going to have chances. If I am No. 5 and I play well, I will have the same chances as if I'm No. 4 or No. 5. It's just circumstantial.

In my career, being No. 4 or No. 5, I don't think it changes a lot for me. What I'm really happy about, I really enjoy, is to achieve a title like here in Madrid, to win a title like this.

Today is a day to be satisfied, to be happy, and to have this trophy. I thought I was going to take it, but apparently it's going to stay here. After tomorrow, I will think about Rome. That's everything I'm thinking right now.

This is a very emotional period of the season. I really enjoy these tournaments. I just try to go for all of them. I try to compete. In Monte-Carlo and Barcelona I did well, same here. I hope to do the same in Rome.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Do you have some injury on your left knee? It seemed you were not walking very well because of your left leg. Moya said you had made sacrifices out of the court. Can you say something about what he said?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) No, physically I'm feeling fit. It's logical that after a hard week, I've been playing a lot of matches, a lot of hours out there on the court, I feel like it's sore, a little bit tired.

Because I'm not walking perfectly doesn't mean I have an injury. I'm just a little bit sore, tight. I'm 31 years old. That's all.

As far as sacrifices out of the court. I think I've been working well. I've done things the way they should be done, the way I think they should have been done. I try to do things the best possible way, on the court or off the court, without doing anything crazy. When I care about is being happy. I try to do things that make me happy.

But I think that I'm working in the right way for quite a long time. Right now the results are there, and that gives me more capacity to keep on doing things. Tomorrow I'll wake up with joy, and I will want to do things even better. That's the joy that keeps you going, that keeps you alive.

At the end of the day, training for training is dull. You don't want to do that. But you need the motivation to do things better, to change some small details. That's what keeps you motivated to keep on going day after day.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) You spoke about going to Rome, about being 31 years old. Does it ever enter your head to not go to Italy?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Well, it's difficult, whether to choose one option or another, either going to Italy or not.

If I don't go to Italy, it doesn't guarantee that I will be better shape in Roland Garros. Not going doesn't mean that I'm not going to be in good shape in Roland Garros. No matter what you choose, no matter what you do...

I try to go day by day. Last year perhaps I made a few mistakes. I made a mistake going to Rome. But I think I wasn't wrong last year because my wrist was injured here, then I went to Barcelona to have a checkup. They said everything was fine, my wrist was fine. They said I could go to Rome. After that, I think it was a bad decision.

I think today the decision is completely different, the situation is different. I don't have any problems, any injuries. It's a very important clay tournament. I'm playing with a lot of joy.

I think what is logical is to go to Rome, try to give 100%. After that, I think I have a few days to rest. I mean, it's difficult to think about all these things right now.

I just finished a great match. I've been talking with my team, with some people that are here to see me. The only thing I care about today was to win this trophy. I was really happy about it. I really wanted to go for it. Tomorrow I'll think about something else. Today I'm not going to think about that.

Today I'm very happy for what I achieved. I think it's did I to win three different trophies in a row on clay. They are all important championships. Tomorrow we'll think about what happens in Rome. I'll think about Rome.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) How important do you think it is for Spanish tennis to have such an important tournament as this?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Well, I think that we are very lucky. There are many places in the world that would pay a lot of money to have a tournament like the one we have here in Madrid. We first of all have to be very satisfied about it, look after it.

I think that the city is backing it, and it is very important. It's very important to have a tournament of this category in our country.

It's true that the city makes an effort to make this happen. I think the return, economically, taxes, all of the things that a tournament like this produces, hotels, sponsors, everything, I think that the benefit that the city gets out of it is bigger than what it puts into it.

But the city, of course, supports the tournament. We have to be grateful to Madrid, all the sponsors, which are also here from Madrid. They support us every single day.

Hopefully we'll be able to look after this tournament, the way we are doing it until now. Today this is a very important tournament globally. It's one of the most important tournaments in the world. I think that after the Grand Slams, there's very few tournaments ahead of this one, generally speaking.

I think we have to look after it. Hopefully the community of Madrid, the sponsors, will continue to support this tournament so that this tournament turns into something even more important.

This tournament should keep on growing not only when Spanish players are here, but also in the future when we might not have so many Spanish players. Hopefully we'll keep on working on this.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

madridopen2017 presser-photos transcripts

MadridOpen: SF Presser Transcript

5/14/2017Rafaholics ™

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 13, 2017

Rafael Nadal

Madrid, Spain

R. NADAL/N. Djokovic

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English and Spanish.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) There were seven losses in a row. Was that too much? Were you thinking of that? Can you analyze today's match.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Yeah, good. When you have played a couple of matches in a row, and you have lost them against Djokovic, it was just there. Maybe it happened back then because of a reason.

The circumstances nowadays are completely different compared to those seven matches that occurred before. I think that the last two years perhaps haven't been my best two years. For Novak, they were. They were really good years for Novak.

Today's match was a tough match, a match that I went into the court knowing sometimes these kind of tournaments, even when you play them well, you cannot win them. But today I managed to win the match.

I think I played a really good first set. The second set I was a little bit more nervous. I played a little bit shorter. I think then the match was a little bit more even.

Finally I managed to win it. It's a very important victory. It gives me the possibility to play another final and to continue in a positive line. I am happy the way I played today, being able to make it to the final once again. I'll try to be 100% and ready for tomorrow's match.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Djokovic said before that you are the favorite for Roland Garros. What do you think about what he said, about his words?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Well, I said it yesterday. At the end you like to talk about this thing, the press likes to talk about this. I just try to walk my way through. Then when we get to Paris, you will be talking again about the favorites and not the favorites.

After all, to talk about all of this right now, we can talk until tomorrow, but it's nonsense. The only favorite is the one that plays really well during those two weeks. The reality is that whoever achieves that is going to be able to win the trophy the second Sunday.

I know that I am playing well. I'm in a good way. I started the year really well. I'm in a very important final, important tournament. That's the only thing I'm thinking about right now. All the other things, regarding tennis, I don't really care about that.

It's really important being able to make it to another final in a Masters 1000, especially here in Madrid, at home. Right now I'm not thinking of anything else.

Q. (In English) You controlled the game from the beginning to the end. What were your key success factors today?
RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) No, I have been playing well. I think it was a great first set. I hit good the forehand in the first set, good the backhand, too. I was serving well.

When I was playing that well at the beginning, it's true that I felt for moments under control, and in the second not. In the second, the match was much more equal, and anything could happen.

It's true that I played a little bit shorter. I changed less directions in the second set. I needed to play more shots down the line with my forehand.

But that's normal, no? An important match for me. That's it. But in general terms, I think I played a great match.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) I don't know if you prefer any of the two possible opponents.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) It's going to be a tough match whoever I face tomorrow. That's the reality. We're saying I will be playing against Thiem. He's No. 3 in the Race, came from the final in Barcelona. He's young, has a lot of talent. I think the altitude helps him here. The ball bounces high and it's difficult to control.

Talking about Pablo, it's more or less the same. He is doing really well. He played really well in Monte-Carlo, when he beat Wawrinka. Playing really well, then he lost after that. But it was a very tight match, too.

Whoever is my opponent tomorrow, it's going to be a very tough match. The only way to win these kinds of tournaments, because you are playing some of the best players in the world, so you have to play at a very high level to be able to beat them.

This is my goal. This is what I'm thinking right now, to play really well. That's the only way to be able to have options for tomorrow's match.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) We've seen you play Djokovic a lot to his backhand. Do you think that's one of the keys of the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) No, I haven't seen that, at least from my humble point of view. I think it's not a good idea to play a lot against his backhand. Actually, when I started to play to his backhand quite often, I had more problems because he started to dominate the court a little bit more.

In the first set I played more cross-court shots. We all do that. In the beginning, I was just trying to hit to his backhand because I was attacking him. In the second set, I tried to attack him a little bit more. I had a few problems in the second set.

To play Novak's backhand is not a tactic. I don't think it's what I should do. After that, if I'm playing really well with my forehand. I'm a lefty. I normally do cross-court. When I start points, I always try to hit the ball cross-court. That's my game.

I know to have chances against him, it's important to change the direction of the ball continuously. If I continuously play to his backhand, I think he has the best backhand in the tournament, in the world, so it won't be easy.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) How important was it to beat Novak Djokovic today and stop the bad streak you've had until now with him?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) I said it yesterday. It's one more match. What's important to me is to make it to another final. As years go by, depending on the type of victories, can fulfill you a little bit more or less. As time goes by, what is important is the titles, not the opponents that you have beaten. It's just the titles that you have won.

It's true that some matches are more important than others. But I'm just here to try to make it the best possible way, to play my best tennis, and of course to beat an opponent such as Novak, it gives you a lot of confidence. It shows you you're working in the right way.

But it's just another match. As I said yesterday, it gives me another opportunity to win another title, which is important to me.

Q. (In English) Yesterday and today you played at a very high level. You said in the second set you started feeling nervous. Is that because you see that Novak was coming up?
RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) No. I get nervous because it was an important match for me. I lost a lot of times in a row. To break that thing is always... There is always nerves. I am humble enough to come here and say that I was nervous, no? Especially with that 40-15, then breakpoint for him, that was a very hard moment for me.

But I accept that situation, try to keep fighting for the next point. That's it. I think is a great result. To win against Novak with that score, you should be playing very well. If not, it's impossible.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

madridopen2017 match-photos

Madrid: Match Photos R2-Semifinal

5/13/2017Rafaholics ™

madridopen2017 presser-photos transcripts

MadridOpen: QF Presser Transcript w/ photos

5/13/2017Rafaholics ™

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 12, 2017

Rafael Nadal

Madrid, Spain

R. NADAL/D. Goffin

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English and Spanish.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) We know Goffin is a good player. You played a great match.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Yeah, I think it was a very good match, nice level, nice to watch. I think both Goffin and me, we played at a really high level. Generally it was a great match. Maybe perhaps in the first set, it could have gone either way because he was Love-30 when we were 5-All.

It's true that I think I was dominating a little bit more during the first set. Maybe I had more options. But it was a very tough match that I had to play at the highest level to be able to make it to the semifinals. It's one of the matches that you go back home with a lot of adrenaline and satisfied for the work done.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) What do you expect tomorrow from Djokovic after he didn't play today? How do you think this is going to affect both of you? You played two hours today.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Well, I don't know. I will let you know tomorrow after the match. Right now I don't know what to say. I don't know what can happen tomorrow. I think that those things are not going to affect me. At least I hope it's not going to affect me.

It's going to be a very tough match against one of the best players in tennis history. I know that to be able to have chances, I have to give 100%. Well, I think that I've been playing at a high level during many weeks. I know tomorrow is going to be a day that either I play really well or I'm not going to have many chances.

I think I've done my homework. Tomorrow is a day to try to give my best. Hopefully I'll be ready for that.

Q. (In English) Rafa, can you talk about how much you improved over the last year. You made semifinals here. This year semifinals again. Impressive performance today, talk about that.
RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) No, last year I was playing great here, too. That's the real thing, no? I got injured in this round, quarterfinals. Then everything was much, much more complicated, no?

Since that moment, I was at the same position that I am today, winning two tournaments and being in the semifinals.

It's true that the difference this year than last year is last year I have been competing for everything, just after Indian Wells. So Indian Wells, Miami, I get injured -- not injured, but I had to retire. Then Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid, you know, only four tournaments, then I get injured.

This year is a different story. I have been very competitive since the first event of the year, since the first match of the year. That's a lot of months already competing for all the tournaments, competing well.

I am very stable in terms of level this year, and that's something very, very positive for me.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Since Rome last year, you haven't played Djokovic. Since 2014, you haven't beat him. Back in the day he was No. 1. Towards tomorrow's match, given the changes in his life, do you think you're going to be the favorite tomorrow, or there's not a favorite tomorrow?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) I don't know, and I'm not worried about it. Nothing really changes. Whatever you may think or whatever you may write about this, whatever lines you may write, doesn't have anything to do with tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'll try to give my best. There are matches that if you play your good tennis, you have chances. If he plays at a good level, he's going to win.

I think it's not going to make a lot of difference. If we both play well, let's see what happens. It can go either way.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Tomorrow's match will take you to the final. But given the opponent you have tomorrow, do you think tomorrow's match is even more important than the final of a Masters 1000? Is it something more important?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) No, no, not at all. I don't think it changes anything. It's a very important match for both of us. We have the chance to make it to the final in one of the most important tournaments of the world. This is what is all about, about making it to the final.

It has no other significance. I don't think what may happen tomorrow will affect future things that may happen. It's just a semifinal match. It's a really great match, nice to see. I will try to compete the best as possible.

Of course, for me, well, winning would give me the ability to win another tournament on clay. I will have the opportunity to win another tournament on clay. If it's not that way, if I lose tomorrow, my season on clay would have been great. Even if I lose tomorrow, I would have signed for this months ago. So tomorrow is a day to give 100%, to try to win.

If it's not that way, I will go away with good feelings, too, no matter what happens tomorrow.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) You played three matches here. The conditions on the court were very different with the rooftop closed and open. Which conditions will suit your game for tomorrow's match?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Actually, I don't know. Of course, today's conditions were way better than the first days. Yesterday it's true that we played with the roof open. It wasn't windy. We played at night.

But I think that playing with the roof open, we can still feel the height. But the court is a little bit slower. Perhaps it's a little bit more similar to a regular clay court.

I don't know what is more convenient for me. I know if you want to have a good match, today's conditions were better than the other days.

Q. (In English) This forehand down-the-line shot, there were many great ones today. Is this the shot that you think, I'm really playing great tennis?
RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) I think I am playing better with my forehand this year. I said the first day, I didn't play well with my forehand, so that's the thing that I need to recover to keep having chances.

I think yesterday improved from the day before. Today I played better than yesterday with the forehand, no? So today is a day for being happy about what happened, and to think about try to do one more step forward tomorrow to hit a little bit better even if is possible. That is the work of every day. Every day that you win matches, you have more confidence. And let's see.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) (Question regarding rivalry with Djokovic).
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) At the end it has made me better. When you play people that are so good, well, it always makes you give 100%. I think we have harmed each other during our careers. We have taken one from the other titles. I have taken titles from him and he has taken titles from me.

The reality is that it's been a really good era because the matches between Djokovic, Federer and me, me and Federer, and Federer and Djokovic, I think I've already said the three of them, I got a little bit lost, we have repeated a lot of times these games.

I think we made it many times to the final rounds, competing in the important tournaments. I think it has made a lot of people to come watch tennis, so that's a very positive thing.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Talking about Djokovic, tomorrow you play for the 50th time. I think that is the most repeated in tennis history. What do you think about his level right now since he lost after Wimbledon last year? He's dropped. We have seen the worst of him over the last year. What do you think this is due to? He said he was not even motivated to keep on winning tournaments, that he has other priorities, perhaps being a father. What do you think about that? Since last summer he hasn't been playing so well.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Well, first of all, the dropping of his level, 99% of players would love to be in his position because when we talk about a lower level, we have to analyze the numbers.

His drop after Wimbledon, he was champion in Montreal. I can't remember what he did in Cincinnati. I think he made it to the semifinals. Then in the US Open final. Semis in Shanghai. Finals in the London Masters Cup.

Q. (Translated from Spanish) Compare 2011 to 2015.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Translated from Spanish) Those things are not normal. When you win every single match of the tournament, that is not normal. In history we have never seen what he achieved during those years.

The drop in the level of Djokovic was the fight to be No. 1 and winning as many matches as possible. Let's respect his level right now because it's true that perhaps it's not as high as he used to be, but I'm also telling you it's a lot of years. I know because I've been in his skin, too. Being up there during every single week, being No. 1 every single week, it's nearly impossible.

We always have ups and downs. We have better streaks, worse streaks. Perhaps this year he hasn't had the best start of the season, that's for sure, but let's not lie to ourselves.

He committed an error with Istomin in Australia. He lost to Kyrgios a couple of times. We know that Kyrgios can lose. He's lost against Goffin. Here he made it to the semifinals again.

So I think that Djokovic is not on the wrong line. I'm expecting a great Djokovic tomorrow. I cannot expect anything else from him.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

New RM 27-03 Tourbillon Shock Resistance

RG17: First Practice

MadridOpen: Final Photos-Transcript-Video

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 14, 2017

Rafael Nadal

MadridOpen: SF Presser Transcript

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 13, 2017

Rafael Nadal

Madrid: Match Photos R2-Semifinal

MadridOpen: QF Presser Transcript w/ photos

MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 12, 2017

Rafael Nadal

Translate

recent posts

Blog Archive

Total Pageviews

Sign up for our newsletter

Popular Posts

Video

Contact Form

Rafaholics.com