Q: Rafa -- did you expect him -- and to having such a long and hard match against Murray last night -- did you expect it to come out and play as if it never happens.

Nadal: He is a very good player and very own performance physically and mentally. This level of performance is very high and I expect nothing else -- probably playing late in the night and that did not help me a lot because I felt -- certainly my level felt much better today than it did in Madrid. I today I was able to go inside the court and move well and to play more aggressive and I think I did. I am not that today I am not disappointed about my match and I am not sad tonight. We will try next time.


Q: I had an opportunity to speak in the right actor the match and you played fantastically but he also said that this is the best match your is played so art. What you think about that statement.

Nadal: Today?


Q: That he played the best match

Nadal: I repeat the same -- but I did not see no match because there is no channel in the hotel – so -- I saw him playing very well and especially in the important moments he is something unbelievable because he had I had 15-30 and 15-30 and he played on the line -- on the line all the time. I try it but I just could not outplayed him and I will keep working and I am on the right way and I am going to do my way it all the time. I am all the time – 6 straight finals and I lost 4 and I am playing better than the rest right now. What she is doing is unbelievable and then there all the time and my goal is to be there the next time so, if I find the next time I will have another chance if not I will not have the chance. Both I am focused on my way -- today no not today -- the last few months he is in a different level and of the rest of the players and the second on the race will with good points and I am happy about my system -- seriously -- I have important persons………. about how I am doing this year. We will see what is going on in the future. I think this week was very positive for me and I finished the match -- I finished the week playing better than the beginning and so this is always very positive end when you are bored with start and it is not happening and that was with everything from Madrid. I am in the right way.


Q: Rafa -- it must be hard for you because you have lost their matches to match but can you appreciate how incredible this is good tennis what she is doing. We write the stories and it is something amazing that it is happening at the moment. Is not it?

Nadal: Yes -- he is doing amazing things. Is doing a really tough man and he is doing -- winning every match and he is doing and that is true -- he is playing fantastic and a lot of things very well and a lot of confidence so sure and that is the moment of that tennis. He is doing fantastic things.


Q: Rafa -- you have now lost two matches in a row to Djokovic on clay. From
Nadal: What


Q: You have lost two matches on clay from him. Everybody considers you to be the best player on clay….
Nadal: I was….


Q: Do you think that has changed now and you will now see you as more beatable now because of this

Nadal: Maybe but seriously it is not my problem. My problem is to be there and improving my level of working hard to arrive to the next turn in perfect conditions. It does not matter a -- the most important thing is to be confident with myself and be happy but what I am doing. I have doing everything that I can so -- I cannot ask myself more and I am trying and I am doing very well but one player is doing better than me.. The champion in my opinion is not only be able to win every week it is when they are able to wait at the right moments and I am waiting at every week trying to find solutions and we will see what is going on next time so -- I have to be with calm and I have a lot of calm because I have a lot of trophies at home -- more than what I have dreams that and so seriously -- one player is now winning every almost everything and the second -- let us keep trying all the time and that is not going to continue our S for ever because it is impossible. I wish him all the best and I had to wait my moment to win another time and that is what I am going to try.



Q: Leading on from that last question -- it is one thing to lose twice to note that on clay or three sets -- but how do you assess -- what you think about Nadal vs Djokovic on clay over 5 sets in the French Opens. Does that give you were advantage?

Nadal: No -- I really do not know. I lost straight sets both times and so it does not make a big difference if I do not play 5. The first thing is that I was close from lots of moments in the second set -- I was close -- and in the first set sorry I was at the end of the second I was there too. Nothing else -- we will see what else is going on next time. Rossini at the Roland Garros repeatedly in the final -- or if we are not in the final.




Q: I have big impression that sometimes you are playing a little short. I do not know if it was because Djokovic was eating so fast that you could not play longer. Do you think all so this string is could change sometimes the problem when you play two short….

Nadal: the strings?


Q: Yes -- the tension of the…. there is nothing you can do when you are playing too short.

Nadal: First of all I do not know if I am playing too short. I was happy how I played today and I think…. remain a little bit more when I hit that one has gone back and open a little bit more on the courts because I did not hit that ball but it seemed like he always says a better position to open the little bit more so it is not sure I can play a little bit longer -- I am going to try…. the point of the thing is probably I do not play as long as I am in love but I am more aggressive than one week ago and I was all the time in defence position today but I was able to attack a lot of time with my forehand and if that did not happen one week ago and so that is the way to go. Play longer -- maybe -- maybe I have to do it and so let us analyse a little bit more but sure -- the way is to play more aggressive and to play longer and group difficult balls because he is playing fantastic from all the places it is. The only way is to play like Bellucci play in Madrid were one set and a half -- playing very aggressive with the forehand -- that is the way. It


Q: Which is the way -- that being you do not live in Djokovic game. What is his most difficult of the most biggest problem in his game for you because he is very complete player …. is -- he is in predictable and you do not know what is happening and it either way how to go through

Nadal: Or use the complex player and he can do everything and he can defend very well and he can attack very well liked before so -- I think the problem is this very very good and this is the biggest problem because when you play against a very good player and he has the chance and you do not have one point to attack in the game today he was playing fantastic but watching the positive things -- it is true that and see you put in at the last 4 Masters 1000 and that is the but I pulled away a lot of important things too, so -- during the careers of everybody there is always happens and the semi-finals of the Olympics, the final US open but two semifinals of Roland Garros and a lot of important things were true that I beat him in the past I can only is beating the last four times important matches to us. We will see what is going on in the future


Q: Rafa -- you try to change a little bit from Madrid with perhaps some high balls? You tried to change the rhythm

Nadal: What?


Q: With high balls -- change the rhythm.

Nadal: yes, that is true -- you know the problem is that the court because the rain and it was late night and not the ball does not bounce lots and so it was less difficult for him to play inside and to attack the ball and it is true -- I lost Madrid and I tried different things today to do and I try to play more against his forehand and all the time against is that an and it worked well I think. High balls coldly it did not work that well because he was playing with fantastic control from the back. We will see the next time.

Rafa Nadal lost today to Novak Djokovic in straight sets 6-4 6-4.

Clay Season is a time for Rafa fans to feel safe. We are always so use to the idea of Rafa destroying everyone laid out in his path. That this is so disconcerting for us all. I've been watching Rafa play since 2004, Ive been through all the injuries, the rivalries, the good & bad. But after today's loss I don't feel panicked or frazzled, because from what I see Rafa is not at his best. Both clay finals. His confidence is way down, playing too defensively, getting to net wouldn't hurt either.. Watching Rafa today it seemed that Rafa still can't figure him out, the same way Federer hasn't been able to figure Rafa out [on clay]. This is the only thing that really bothers me that Djokovic is actually in Rafa's head. Since 2009, when Rafa had that terrible year I accredited that to Rafa having to adjust his normal game [clay game] to suit hard court & grass. I think he's never been the same really on clay since he's been winning more hard/grass court titles. I think Rafa has forgotten how to grind it out, like he always did.

On a positive note, I believe that Djokovic has not seen Rafa play his best which leaves some room for improvement. I honestly have not seen a dominating Rafa since Doha in January when he caught that virus. That of course is my opinion only. The entire match Rafa was playing from behind always trying to catch up with Djokovic making it very difficult to be aggressive they way he needs to be to defeat Djokovic. I think it was clear that Rafa was trying to tire him out, from the baseline.

Djokovic is on a winning streak that is just incredible, he is playing within himself right now we have seen Rafa do this & Federer also. I honestly believe after today that the only person to beat Djokovic will be Djokovic. His body will eventually mellow out being an athlete myself , adrenaline will get you far!

The next tournament is Roland Garros a best of 5 setting. If these 1000 Masters Events best of 3, would these results be the same? I doubt it very much. We will see Djokovic's real strength & game here.

If being a Rafa fan has taught me anything it's to accept the current reality of this situation. Don't set your expectations too high without any real reason or cause that you can see for yourself with your own eyes, [when I see the real Rafa play]; and things will change eventually which is always inevitable. Whether Rafa will have the upper hand or not..That is entirely up to Rafa.

Like Rafa says all I can say is "Congratulate him & wish him best of luck for the rest of the season" That is all we really can do. Oh &..

Vamos Rafa!


No pics or videos from me today.. that's all folks!

Nadal beats Gasquet to reach Italian Open final 

"Every aspect of the game will be important," Nadal said about potentially facing Djokovic again. "I know Djokovic is playing at an exceptional level right now, but I just have to fight to the end like I always do. If I don't beat him tomorrow, then the next match.

"I'm happy with my clay-court season. How I'm playing in the last couple of matches is the way forward, more aggressively."

Nadal playing better every day as final approaches

“I am playing better every day. Another final – six in a row, it’s unbelievable. I had a tough week and so I am very happy for everything,” said the world no.1 in reference to his travails in the first round where qualifier Paolo Lorenzi, ranked 140 places below him in the world, took him to three sets, after which it was revealed that the Majorcan was suffering from a fever which almost led him to withdraw later in the week.

The match was of high quality, and for that to be the case, it needs two good players. “He is playing fantastic and he is scoring well,” said Nadal in praise of Gasquet. “It is fantastic – after winning against Roger (Federer) a very tough match and fighting a lot, all the time he was there, focused and fighting. I am happy to see him back at his best now. He is a good friend and he’s a really good guy. He played a very good first set, he played aggressive and he is better when he plays aggressive in my opinion. He stays three metres from the back of the baseline and he has enough potential to be more aggressive and he is doing some fantastic play in my opinion because he is a very confident player and he knows how to play tennis. It was a tough first set and I saved a few tough situations with myself and I played well today.”

Nadal: "Djokovic is the favorite"

Slideshow

He also added an event on his facebook:

Rafael Nadal created an event.

via Rafael Nadal facebook

Rafael Nadal riceve il premio Compeed da Lea Pericoli

Photos:

• Rafa in Rome Misc [ Rafa having dinner with Team]
• Rafa Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi [ Match Photos ]

Videos:

• Rafa watching Dolgopolov-Starace match via gandaines3
• Post-mach interview on court in Spanish via channty14
• Rafa Nadal vs P Lorenzi - Rome 2011 3rd set Part 3/3 - Last game via NadalwinLive
• Rafael Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi - May 11 2011 by joabulls
• Rafa's post-match interview with TVE
• Rafael Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi SET1 R2 ROMA 2011
• Rafael Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi SET2 R2 ROMA 2011
• Rafael Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi SET3 R2 ROMA 2011
• Hot Shots Rafael Nadal vs Paolo Lorenzi R2 ROMA 2011

Articles:

• Nadal struggles to beat qualifier at Italian Open 
• TENNIS: LORENZI LOSES TO NADAL IN THREE SETS AT ROME OPEN 
• Nadal survives scare as Djokovic thrives in Rome 
• Nadal struggles to beat qualifier at Italian Open
• Finding Your Fear 
• Disconcerting start for Rafa in Rome 

Rafa has a third-round match against Feliciano Lopez is the first one scheduled on Court Centrale on Thursday, starting at 12 PM CEST, 11 AM BST, 6 AM EDT.

ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011

CENTRALE start 12:00 noon
[1] R Nadal (ESP) vs F Lopez (ESP) - ATP
D Hantuchova (SVK) vs [2] F Schiavone (ITA) - WTA
Not Before 3:00 PM
[3] R Federer (SUI) vs [16] R Gasquet (FRA) - ATP
Not Before 7:30 PM
[1] C Wozniacki (DEN) or [Q] A Rodionova (AUS) vs Y Wickmayer (BEL) - WTA - Possible Court Change
Not Before 9:15 PM
[14] S Wawrinka (SUI) vs [2] N Djokovic (SRB) - ATP

PIETRANGELI start 12:00 noon
[Q] A Medina Garrigues (ESP) vs [5] J Jankovic (SRB) - WTA
Not Before 1:30 PM
[LL] J Nieminen (FIN) vs [7] T Berdych (CZE) - ATP
P Starace (ITA) vs [4] A Murray (GBR) - ATP
Not Before 7:30 PM
[5] R Soderling (SWE) vs [9] N Almagro (ESP) - ATP
[3] V Azarenka (BLR) vs [16] A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) - WTA

COURT 10 start 11:00am
J Gajdosova (AUS) vs [4] N Li (CHN) - WTA
F Mayer (GER) vs J Chela (ARG) - ATP
Not Before 3:00 PM
[11] M Fish (USA) vs M Cilic (CRO) or Lucky Loser - ATP
[10] S Peer (ISR) vs [7] M Sharapova (RUS) - WTA - Possible Court Change

COURT 1 start 11:00am
[6] S Stosur (AUS) vs [Q] P Hercog (SLO) - WTA
[1] G Dulko (ARG) / F Pennetta (ITA) vs V Dushevina (RUS) / T Poutchek (BLR) - WTA
[6] B Mattek-Sands (USA) / M Shaughnessy (USA) vs R Kops-Jones (USA) / A Spears (USA) - WTA
A Brianti (ITA) / P Hercog (SLO) vs [8] M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) / A Medina Garrigues (ESP) - WTA - After Rest
A Dulgheru (ROU) / J Gajdosova (AUS) vs S Peer (ISR) / I Senoglu (TUR) - WTA - TBA

COURT 2 start 11:00am
A Dolgopolov (UKR) / X Malisse (BEL) vs [7] M Llodra (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) - ATP
[6] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) vs M Baghdatis (CYP) / I Ljubicic (CRO) - ATP
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs M Knowles (BAH) / M Mertinak (SVK) - ATP
T Berdych (CZE) / L Dlouhy (CZE) or M Fish (USA) / A Roddick (USA) vs [8] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) - ATP - TBA
[WC] D Bracciali (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) or [WC] S Bolelli (ITA) / F Fognini (ITA) vs [2] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) - ATP - TBA

COURT 4 start 11:00am
E Vesnina (RUS) vs G Arn (HUN) - WTA
Not Before 4:00 PM
[7] I Benesova (CZE) / B Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) vs N Petrova (RUS) / A Rodionova (AUS) - WTA - TBA
Not Before 5:00 PM
C Berlocq (ARG) / J Nieminen (FIN) vs G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / A Montanes (ESP) - ATP - After Rest