Nadal : Impossible to be tired
L'Equipe - Thursday, May 20, 2010
Rafael Nadal has shaken off every doubt about the state of his knees on Thursday.
The 2009 edition of Roland Garros ended with a face full of frustration and pain after his elimination in the 1/8th final and a knee injury. The 2010 edition will start with a more relaxed smile for Rafael Nadal, undefeated on clay this year and reassuring about his physical potential. A couple of minutes after his arrival in Paris on Thursday afternoon, the Mallorcan decided to put a quick end to the debate about his physical shape: “I don’t want to talk about my knees”, he declared in the press conference. These last months, I’ve shown that I was very close to my best level. If I had even a minor physical worry, I wouldn’t have been able to play such tennis.” He adds with a smile: “It’s impossible to be tired before Roland Garros”
The fact that his schedule in the springtime was a bit less crowded has undoubtedly contributed to feeling a lot fresher. After having withdrawn from Barcelona before the Masters 1000 in Rome, Rafeal Nadal returned to Mallorca in the last few days to relax and play some golf and to have a light practice with his uncle Toni. The contact with the Parisian clay will take place on Thursday afternoon: “Roland Garros does not start today. It has already started for me a very long time for me”, indicates the world number two. “At the moment, I’m experiencing a dream season on clay. The game level was there from the beginning of the year but winning Monte Carlo allowed me to be more at ease and more confident.”
No problem with the public. (those Frenchies better treat Rafa right! )
Rafael Nadal’s watch in three figures: 20 grams, a limited edition of 50 copies, 344.500 euros.
While waiting for Feliciano Lopez to train in the afternoon, Rafael Nadal accomplished a number of contractual obligations in the middle of the day: the 4-time Roland Garros winner will indeed start the battle to regain his title with a watch on his wrist that’s especially designed for him.
“I will be able to watch the time between the points”, he jokes referring to the criticism of his opponents.
Richard Mille, his watch sponsor, has taken advantage of the press conference to have a little go at the Parisian public: “Rafael Nadal does not have the popularity he deserves”, he thinks. “In France, they love losers. He is a winner….If only people knew him.” The world number two doesn’t dodge the topic:
“I think that I am very popular. On and off the courts, I receive a lot of encouragement from spectators. Besides, everybody is entitled to support whomever they like.”
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