Audio:
Rafa ‪#‎Nadal‬'s R3 Press Conference (Spanish&English) bit.ly/1zQPFWL


Transcript:


“I played a bad match, there is no question about it. I wasn’t able to be aggressive, I made more mistakes than usual and wasn’t able to make the most of the advantage that I had at some points”.

“Right now all I can do is accept a situation that is obviously a serious blow, especially after the confidence I gained in Monte-Carlo. I can either accept this or die, and since I want to keep playing I can only learn from this experience and work even harder. All I can say is that I need to improve and I’ll do everything I can do be back on my feet again”.

“I don’t know what’ll happen in the future. Last week was extremely positive whereas this one was just the opposite. I have to begin again and try to get to the level I had in Monte-Carlo. I beat Ferrer and although I lost against Djokovic, I felt really confident”.

“As of now there is absolutely no hope. I want to thank all my fans, everyone who has supported me, the brilliant organization... This is one of the best ATP 500 tournaments and this club is definitely one of the best clubs in the whole world. The only message of hope I can give is that I’ll keep working”.
“I hope all the ups and downs will eventually come to an end and that I’ll be able to keep up with a good level. Sadly I wasn’t able to do so today...”.

“Fognini played well, I mean he won the match because he deserved it and it’s obvious I didn’t. I couldn’t push him back so I just want to congratulate him”.

“I have to work hard to be better at defending and attacking. Both my forehand and backhand were awful, I just didn’t hit the ball with strength. My strength comes from my forehand and if my forehand is vulgar my way of playing is vulgar... my forehand was in no way worthy of my ranking and my career. I am deeply ashamed and frustrated, such a performance cannot happen again”.

“It’s not a matter of anxiety, it’s a matter of technique. I’m obviously going to get nervous if I don’t hit the ball the way I should”.

“I am the one who wins or loses, the racket is just a help. I’m very grateful to Babolat for their contribution and I can assure you the racket had nothing to do with today’s defeat”.

“When you play with really small margins it’s extremely easy to lose because the match is decided in just a few balls. I should have made a difference before instead of waiting until the end of the second set”.

“Today was a bad day. I am convinced I’ll get to my best level soon”.

on facebook:

Audio of Rafa Nadal in presser (Spanish / English) http://bit.ly/1K5BZ0m
Transcript:

Quotes from the Pre-Tournament Presser in Spanish, English & Catalan

Press Conference: Rafael Nadal (ESP)

“I’ve got a very good feeling about the way I’ve been playing lately. It’s not only
about winning or losing, it’s about focus and being able to keep calm, so I guess
the tournament in Monte-Carlo has been the best week of the year so far. I didn’t
go through ups and downs, which had happened before, and it’s crucial since the
most important thing about tennis is perseverance. So I guess I’ve got reasons to
feel confident about the tournament ahead. Ever since I’ve come back I’ve been
trying my best, staying calm at all times and looking at things the way they are”.

“Monte-Carlo was a huge learning lesson for me since the match against David
was extremely difficult, because he’s such a good player. I also felt I had a chance
to beat Djokovic but then he just ended up being better than me and I can only
congratulate him for putting up such a great performance and getting amazing
results for the past few years”.

“Beating someone in particular or reaching nº1 is not my goal; I’m not getting ready
to defeat Novak Djokovic. I just want to keep improving one match at a time and
see how things go”.
“Last year was extremely complicated and when you come back after going
through such an experience, you’re going to get frustrated if things don’t go the
way you’d like. Everything can’t be perfect and you’ve got to accept that, like it or
not. But I’m feeling confident and I’m looking forward to participate in this
tournament”.
“I don’t like to talk about winning a tournament when the competition hasn’t even
started so right now my goal is to go as far as I can trying my best match after
match”.
“The matches ahead are going to be very difficult, but given the fact that I felt great
in Monte-Carlo, I hope I’ll get good results here. Playing against Almagro will
definitely not be easy because he is amazing on clay, but that’s how things are and
there’s nothing I can do about it except trying my best. Even if I lose it’s going to be
a great lesson that will help me improve”.

“All the competitions coming ahead are in no way some training for Roland
Garros. When I’m playing in Barcelona I’m not thinking about Paris, the same way
I’m not thinking about Rome when I’m in Madrid, because all these tournaments
are extremely important”.

Nadal: "I am calmer than in previous weeks"

I come here with positive feelings because Monte Carlo has been the most positive week of the year for me. I was focused and played calmly and smoothly. I did not experience the very bad moments of the previous weeks.

Not winning even with so many positive moments. Tennis is a game of regularity and now a 'break' leads to losing a set. Now that I'm calmer and it is clear that things do not go from zero to sixty my goal now is to play well every week.

Beyond winning or losing I hope that this was a turning point for playing with calmness and confidence. My goals are not to win against a specific player, either Djokovic or whomever, nor return to be number one, but seek continuity of the things that work. Miami was a bad tournament for me but in Monte Carlo and against Ferrer, it had been a long time since I played at that level. With Djokovic I lost with 3-3 and 40-zero in my favor. That cannot happen, and he was a worthy winner.

My attitude is always the same and since I returned I have tried to be full of enthusiasm and attitude to get the calm necessary to do what I want to do; see things realistically and undistorted and put them into perspective to return to play tennis at my level.

Are you more positive now?

2014 was a difficult and bumpy year and when I wanted to do it right it was not possible which caused anxiety. The truth is that I needed time to regain focus, but in my case when I came back I wanted everything to be as it was before and that's not possible.

The racket change was something I have been wanting to do since early in the season, but even in Miami I was not ready. At the end of Miami after returning home I tried it and felt that I was doing well while using it. It puts more spin on the ball but has less control. Even so, I do not think the problems I had come from the rackets because in the past I won everything that I won with the old one. I think it's more of a mental and tennis theme.

My goal in Barcelona is clear. It is true that I have had anxiety and had a good week in Monte Carlo, but it is more complicated. I really wanted and hoped to play here and I am prepared to go as far as possible and achieve continuity to a point that I think it is at my level of play.

I don't think of Roland Garros, or Madrid, or Rome, or anything because when I play a tournament like Barcelona just think about that; when I play in Madrid, just about Madrid and in Rome, only about Rome. Each tournament you have to play with maximum concentration and Barcelona is a tournament that I want and where I've had good results in the past.

For me Djokovic has been a big player in 2011, 2012 and 2015. In 2011 he had a flawless year and in 2015 he has been flawless again, this year is the best ever. Now I just want my level to match up.

Nico Almagro will be your opponent in the opening match. Last year he won in the quarterfinals. How do you see him now?

Nico Almagro is a very dangerous opponent on this surface and wherever. I will try to play well and complicate things. If he wins, well and if I lose I will go home and continue working.

(translated by Chris Boardman for Rafaholics)