MonteCarloRolexMasters2015
transcripts
MCRM: Semifinal Press Conference Transcript
4/19/2015Rafaholics
MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS
April 18, 2015
Rafael Nadal
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
N. DJOKOVIC/R. Nadal
6‑3, 6‑3
6‑3, 6‑3
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. It is a defeat, but is not a terrible defeat.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I think I played well for moments. Remain to be played a little bit more. As I say yesterday, maybe I don't know if was too early. I was able to play at the right level for moments to compete against very, very tough player, best player of the world like Novak is today.
But I get a little bit tired and little bit too early. Then when you get little bit tired, you play little bit shorter. Then is impossible against him, no?
If I'm able to play like the beginning for three hours, I can do it, then is a different story, no?
But in general, I think I was not that far. For moments I was playing at very high level. Him, I think he played great. Just congratulate him for the way that he's playing, the way that he's winning almost every match of the year.
For me is a very positive week ‑ the most positive week of the season, without any doubt. I think if I am able to keep doing that in the next tournament in Barcelona, that I have a tough draw, I will say that I am very well again.
The way that I played yesterday and for moments today is the way that I want to play. Just with more matches playing like this, I will be enough confident to play. That level will not be the exception, will be the normal thing. That is the thing that I need to make happen.
But in general, from where I came one week ago, two weeks ago, after what happened in Miami, I go to the next tournament with the feeling that I make a big improvement in my game, in my mental part.
I hope this tournament is a key moment for my season.
Q. Do you think the game at 3‑All in the first set was kind of a turning point because you started very well. This game was super long, amazing.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, that game was very important. Yes, is true. I had a breakpoint that he played unbelievable. That's it.
Was 6‑3, 6‑3, but can't be much closer. I know that. I think he knows that, too. Everybody knows that. 3‑All in the second, 40‑Love for me, too, for 4‑3, and let's see.
But today was 6‑3, 6‑3. Just congratulate the opponent, congratulate Novak, accept. I know without a doubt if I'm able to keep going the same way that I was doing this week, I going to have my chances.
Q. Just looking at the numbers of this match, I notice that he played 12 winning forehands, and you just six.
RAFAEL NADAL: David or Novak?
Q. Yes, Novak. On the unforced errors with the forehand, you made 14 and he made nine. I want to know if you had the feeling that your forehand was today a little more problem than other times or not?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I was hitting great the forehand. I had some mistakes when I lost little bit the intensity of my legs. When I was the right intensity, when I was playing with the right intensity in my legs, I was able to control the point all the time.
But when I lose little bit that speed, that extra movement on my legs, he's a fantastic player, no? He's phenomenal the way that he can move the ball to everywhere. If he take advantage from inside the court, you are dead. That's what happened, no?
I had more mistakes, yes. I had less winners than him, yes. But at the beginning of the match, I was having enough winners with my forehand. I was having enough times the control of the point. That's the way that I need to play.
No, I think was more in terms of movements. The forehand, in particular, I am happy the way the forehand moves. I was able to play, again, with that high topspin, changing directions.
Remain little bit more, but definitely I think the forehand is close to be back.
Q. How do you explain the drop in intensity? The fact that you are not used to playing big games since the beginning of the season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Probably. And I play a very tough match yesterday. We cannot forget that I get injury last year for six months. So for six months I didn't play no one match of intensity because when I came back I played three tournaments ‑ well two tournaments. Shanghai we cannot count. The rest of the tournaments is the first come back after four months. Is difficult to have a feeling on that.
Then Basel, having that appendicitis, probably is like I was not playing also. So six months without. I started the season without playing that kind of level matches. Only once for me. That was Indian Wells against Raonic. That is a different story, different style, different thing. But was a long match, high‑level match, only that one. Then yesterday, before yesterday, two more. That's it. Today another one. Even if it was 6‑3, 6‑3, the level of intensity and the level of tennis has been high again.
That's what I need. I am sure that if I am able to keep going, as I said before, in Barcelona, keep playing at that level, I will have a chance to be competitive again. If that happens, will be a big improvement for the season.
Q. Don't you think that the change of racquet at this stage of the season affected your game at all?
RAFAEL NADAL: Positive or negative?
Q. I'm asking you.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I played the best tournament of the season this week, so I don't believe. If I am having mistakes, it's me, it's not the racquet. I was having mistakes with the racquet that I was playing all my career the last couple of months.
The racquet is helping me. But the most important thing, what's helping me really, is I am with the motivation, the right motivation, to play tennis, the right motivation to work hard every day, and with the right attitude. That's why I was able to play better this week than the previous week.
I am working hard since I came back. But, you know, everything is a process. Arrives the moment that is a very important moment in my season, and I need to make that click that I need to be competitive again at 100%. This week was the first very positive news of my game after my comeback in the beginning of the season.
So the racquet, I don't need to talk about the racquet. The racquet worked well. I was able to play at a very high level with that racquet.
Q. Compared to last year's French Open final, do you think Novak has changed a little bit his way of playing on clay, or was it the same player you faced last year?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, I don't know. I am not in condition to answer that. Let's see how the things are improving during the whole clay court season.
Always when somebody wins against the others, and the opposite is always the same thing: the opponent changed something. Novak was able to beat me in 2013 here in the final, too. He beat me in Rome last year, too.
He's a fantastic player. He can beat me all the time. But I am confident that if I am able to keep playing at that level for more matches, I will have my chances in the next couple of weeks. I going to try it.
Q. How much would you be surprised if tomorrow Berdych is going to beat Djokovic?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, one player is winning everything. That player lose, always going to be a surprise.
Q. But for you.
RAFAEL NADAL: I answered you. I don't know how much. Oh, what a surprise! I don't going to be like this (laughter).
But Berdych is a fantastic player. He's playing very consistent. Almost in every tournament he is there fighting for the final rounds. But is obvious that Novak is the favorite.
Q. You said yourself in the beginning that Novak is winning pretty much every match at the moment. He's won the only Grand Slam, all the Masters, on his way to another here. Is it possible for one player to win all the Masters and all the slams in one season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes.
Q. Do you think it's possible in this season?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, always is possible. Difficult, but possible (smiling).
Q. Will you be 100% for Paris, 100% fit?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen in three weeks, one month. I cannot predict the future. I am not that arrogant to say yes because tomorrow anything can happen in life. You have to respect all the things that can happen in this life to answer yes or no.
The right answer is that we'll see. I will do all the things I can to be ready for Barcelona, then for Madrid, then for Rome, then for Paris, if I have the chance to do it. Every tournament is very important. We'll see what's going to happen.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
MonteCarloRolexMasters2015
transcripts
MCRM: Qtrfinal Press Conference Transcript
4/18/2015Rafaholics
MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS
April 17, 2015
Rafael Nadal
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
R. NADAL/D. Ferrer
6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑2
6‑4, 5‑7, 6‑2
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. It seemed to me the moments you were struggling on the court, you had troubles with your forehand. Maybe there was a lack of depth.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry?
Q. You had troubles being deep with the forehand. Do you agree?
RAFAEL NADAL: When?
Q. The moments you were struggling on the court were because you had troubles with your forehand. Do you agree?
RAFAEL NADAL: I am not agree. No, not today.
Q. Another strong win. How do you feel?
RAFAEL NADAL: Very happy. I think I played at highest level after long time, for a long time, three hours almost.
Since beginning I played a great match. I had a big chance to be 4‑Love in the second. Probably if I was able to make that game, the whole match change and I will have the chance to win a little bit easier than what I did.
But at the same time a victory like this helps me more in terms of confidence, in terms of physical, in terms of mentality. The way I played the third after losing disappointing second, it was a great third set in terms of tennis, in terms of physical performance, in terms of mentality.
I was doing that very often last couple of years. That's the line. That's the way I have to do it to be back where I want to be. Today I have to say that I played the way that I want to play.
I was in the third, yes, because dynamic of the last couple of months have not been perfect. When you lose matches, the confidence sometimes is not there, and you don't catch the points you need to win the match a little bit easier.
But the way that I was playing today tennis, if that happens with more victories on my shoulders, I think I will have a good chance to win in straight sets.
Q. It was a kind of match you were looking for to get more confidence?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every day is a different day. Every day is a chance for me to improve, to be more confident, to find the feelings I need to find to play my best game.
I think, without doubt, this tournament have been the best tournament since the beginning for me in terms of concentration, in terms of nerves, general nerves. I didn't play with that nerves that I was playing with in the previous tournaments. I felt in the important points I have been able to play the way that I wanted to play.
Is true that I lost that game with 5‑4, but I didn't have mistakes. Probably in that moment I didn't play that deep with my forehand. But, you know, it's an important match for me. Is not easy to play that aggressive in that moment when you were not doing that for a while, no?
I lost that game. I accepted. I didn't have mistakes. He played well. He played aggressive. That's it. I could play little bit more aggressive, yes. But I didn't make nothing wrong. I didn't make nothing perfect in that game, but nothing wrong.
I accepted that and tried to find, again, the position in the third, playing aggressive game, open the court with the backhand and change the direction with the forehand.
Is a very important victory for me. Today is a very important victory for me for the confidence for the next couple of months.
Q. Tomorrow you have to play Djokovic. Maybe at the beginning of the tournament you were not too confident on your chances. What now? Has something changed after today? Do you know he lost five games in the first, four in the second, three in the third.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, tomorrow I am not favorite, that is obvious. When you play a player that is winning everything like he is doing, it is always going to be a very tough match to win, no?
He's playing almost perfect. He's doing everything well, winning all the matches with no many problems. So when the things go that well, is difficult to stop a player like Novak.
As I say before the tournament, no, is not my fight today. But tomorrow is a good match for me. Is another chance to be on court, to enjoy the match, to find again the feelings that I found today. Then we'll see what happens.
I love this court. I love the tournament. I am in semifinals again. That's a very, very, very positive result for me, especially the way that I get to that semifinals.
Let's play the match of tomorrow, try my best, fighting for every ball. I hope to be recovered physically because obviously I am not used to play at that level of tennis and that intensity for three hours in a tough match, battle, on clay. I don't know how I will be physically tomorrow. I hope to be ready.
If that happens, I am ready, I going to do my best as I do all the time. I know is a big, big challenge, but I don't have nothing to lose tomorrow. Is a good tournament already for me. I think I did the thing that I wanted to do here. I am sure that will help me for Barcelona, for Madrid, for the next few weeks.
Q. Facing Djokovic in the semifinals here is also a sign that you're back with the best. I would like to know if facing your main rivals ahead of major tournaments is something you like or do you prefer to avoid them before taking them on at the majors?
RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer to win. I not stupid. Playing against the best players, the chances to win are less than playing against another players, no?
I don't believe the players who say, No, I want to play against the best in the final. They are lying you. Everybody wants to play against the easier opponent possible to have the title at the end. The most important thing is win the tournament. Sometimes at the end of the day matters against who you do it because for personal satisfaction is a little bit better. Depends the opponent. But what stays there is the title for the rest of the story, not against you, not against who you won that title.
I prefer to play against an easier opponent than Novak, without any doubt. But I going to play with Novak tomorrow. I don't going to change that.
I have to be ready for it. It's a little bit early for me because I was playing little bit not consistent for the last couple of months, but I was consistent here. I don't know if three matches are enough to play that match of tomorrow. Tomorrow we will see.
Q. I'm sorry to move to a completely different subject. Martina Hingis will play singles in Fed Cup after 17 years of not playing singles. I would like to know if you think anything about it, what your reaction is to that.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think Martina, what she did in the story of tennis is very important. She was a big star. Is good to have the big stars around our sport. You know, is something that is great.
She's going to play singles, great. But is important to have the past champions, historic champions of our sport, close to our sport, no? That in my opinion is something the golf makes very well. You see in important tournaments always the past champions and the most important players of the history of golf there supporting the tournament. The tournament makes things for the historic players. Is something that in tennis will be good if that happen more often, too, because what makes the sport important are the new things combined with the old things, no?
Martina, she's a great champion, and is good to have her on tour, without any doubt.
Q. It will be the 43rd time you play against Djokovic tomorrow. At this point is there still something you can change in your game or guess in his game, or do you know everything there is to know?
RAFAEL NADAL: As I said hundreds of times, when you play against these kinds of players, when both are on the highest level possible, is just depends on the moment. The player who play better that win. The player who play worst lose.
I think is not the day we are at the same level. Is obvious he is in the highest level than me today, of confidence, of tennis, of titles for the last couple of months. Especially after Wimbledon last year that I didn't play.
Before that, we were there (equal). I am try my best to be back to that level to have again the comparation [sic] with a player like Novak.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
2015
MonteCarloRolexMasters2015
offcourt-photos
Rafa attends Grand Tennis Night at the Salle des Etoiles
4/18/2015Rafaholics
Social Media:
Et enfin... Rafael #Nadal @RafaelNadal @MCROLEXMASTERS @MonteCarloSBM #tennis #Monaco pic.twitter.com/2Uj0s3dWzw
— La Gazette de Monaco (@GazettedeMonaco) April 17, 2015
Current tournament:Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (Men's Singles)
3
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R. Nadal
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6
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5
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6
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Quarterfinals
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5
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D. Ferrer
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4
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7
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2
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Apr 17, Completed
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Rafael Nadal |
David Ferrer |
| Service Statistics | ||
| Aces | 0 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 74% | 63% |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 44/73 (60%) | 36/62 (58%) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 14/26 (54%) | 16/37 (43%) |
| Break Points Saved | 3/7 (43%) | 4/10 (40%) |
| Service Games Played | 15 | 15 |
| Return Statistics | ||
| 1st Return Points Won | 26/62 (42%) | 29/73 (40%) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 21/37 (57%) | 12/26 (46%) |
| Break Points Won | 6/10 (60%) | 4/7 (57%) |
| Return Games Played | 15 | 15 |
| Points Statistics | ||
| Total Service Points Won | 58/99 (59%) | 52/99 (53%) |
| Total Return Points Won | 47/99 (47%) | 41/99 (41%) |
| Total Points Won | 105/198 (53%) | 93/198 (47%) |
MonteCarloRolexMasters2015
transcripts
video
MCRM: R3 Press Conference Transcript
4/17/2015Rafaholics
MONTE-CARLO ROLEX MASTERS
April 16, 2015
Rafael Nadal
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
R. NADAL/J. Isner
7‑6, 4‑6, 6‑3
7‑6, 4‑6, 6‑3
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Yesterday you said it was probably the best win of the season. Is this one even better?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, is not even better. Is an important victory for me. I lost in three sets in Rio. I lost in three sets in Indian Wells. I lost in three sets in Miami. So break this straight three times matches in a row losing in the third set is important.
After the way that I play, I lost the second having Love‑40 for 5‑3, then lose 6‑4, have been little bit painful.
But very important the way I played the third. My mentality I think in the third have been very positive. The game, the level of tennis, improved a little bit in the third than in the previous two sets. That's very important for me.
Very happy to be in quarterfinals. Very important result for me.
Q. Is there anything in your game you're especially satisfied with after this match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is very difficult to play against John. You play under a lot of pressure all of the time. Is difficult to analyze all the things.
But in general I think at the beginning I played little bit too much behind the baseline. I think he had the chance to go for the winners too many times ‑ something that didn't happen in the third.
The third, my position was a little bit closer to the baseline, having more control of the point with my forehand. That's the most important thing for my game in any surface, but especially here on clay.
I think have been an improvement during the match. That is positive. But in general, as I say before, I am very satisfied about the reaction on the third. I think I played at the right level the third set.
Q. Playing on the baseline is something you have to make an effort to do because you prefer being further back or it depends on the confidence level?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I prefer to be inside. I prefer to be closer to the baseline, no? Sometimes when you don't have that confidence or when you don't feel it, it's more difficult, no?
At the end of the day is question of feeling, question of confidence. When I am able to do it, is because I am doing the right things.
In the third set, as I said, I played with the right position. I had more chances to go with my forehand down the line or change direction with my forehand. In the beginning I felt I was in a defensive position too many times. Was difficult to find the right ball to change against his forehand.
I know is very important when I am playing John, I know if he hit his forehand from the backhand side, is almost unstoppable. He hit too strong.
If I am able to open the court there, the point is a little bit more neutralized. Is the right way to play against John when you are playing the point.
I think I was able to do that in the third because I had closer position to the baseline.
Q. The improvement in the key points, is it just that before maybe you were thinking too much and now you just play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is something that is not 100% fixed. You need time, you need matches. You need to confirm that all the time.
Is true that in the last two matches I was able to do it better than what I did in the matches before, the previous tournaments. That's important thing for me.
As I say before, when I arrived here, I am not favorite for nothing. I am starting not from zero, but is a little bit like starting from zero. Every moment is important for me.
Talking about mentally, important thing is have the feeling I am improving things. I am feeling stronger again every time a little bit more. That will not come from zero to 100. Is by step by step. That's what I'm trying to do, being positive, trying to watch the things in a positive way.
As I say before, every match is important for me, important for my confidence. Today important thing is I played the decisive set with the right determination, at the right level. That's a good improvement for me.
Q. You just said you are satisfied. If I ask you to rate yourself today from 1 to 10, what would you choose?
RAFAEL NADAL: I will never answer this kind of thing because I don't know. 1 to 10, I don't know. If we compare with what? To say 1 to 10, we have to compare with another year, we have to compare with another moments of my career. I don't want to compare with other moments of my career.
Is a challenge for me to find again the positive feelings, the confidence, the feeling that I am strong again. Matches like today, third set today, helps to improve, helps to arrive to that place that I want to be. That's it.
There is no numbers. There is day by day. There is feelings. It was a good feeling in the third. Let's try to play another competitive match tomorrow against a very tough opponent. Probably will be David, as he is winning. Always is a big challenge play against David. Even when you are playing your best, he is a big challenge.
Tomorrow will not be an exception. With the moment that I am today, will be a very good test I think. He's one of the players that have been able to win more matches this year, so he is confident. He is playing well. He is one of the best players of the world. Is a good challenge for me. I'm excited to play that match tomorrow.
Q. If it was Gilles Simon?
RAFAEL NADAL: If it's Gilles, the match is a little bit different. But if is Gilles is because Gilles is playing very well. If you win against David, it means that you are playing very well. If is another match, will be a tough match.
Q. Rafa, does it feel like the new racquet can be the turnaround of your season?
RAFAEL NADAL: The turnaround of my season? There is no racquets, there is no strings, there is nothing outside of me, you know. There is myself. Always when I am winning, is myself. When I was losing, is not excuse for racquets, for strings, for shoes, for nothing.
The person who makes the things possible or not possible is myself. The racquet, always very satisfied with the work of Babolat, always trying to help. That's important for me.
But I know if I have to change the dynamic of the year, if I have to find the way that I want to find, is the work of myself. Nobody will do it for me.
Q. The weather has been cold a little bit. Does it affect your play? Does it change the way the court plays?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, the conditions change here. Can be like this. I played lot of times in my career here. I know how the situation can change. But that's not affect much. When the day is cloudy, is a little bit slower. Everybody knows that. But that's part of the game, no? Nothing else.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
