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Shanghai Presser Transcript Nadal/Mayer

10/13/2011Rafaholics

Shanghai PreTournament PC Transcript

10/12/2011Rafaholics

Pre Tournament Conference Transcript
11 October 2011

An interview with: RAFAEL NADAL

Q. Why are you playing doubles? And why were you late?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, first answer, I play doubles because I like to play doubles and is much better play doubles than practice. If I can, that's good.
The negative thing in doubles, when you play singles, and after you have to wait until very late for the doubles. If not, I like to play doubles, no?
We arrived a little bit late because we had to take another way to go to the court for the people. And second thing because I am late almost always (smiling). That's the true.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about how you're feeling this late into the season. Looking forward to it ending?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am fine. I think I am playing well. I had a very good US Open. I had good matches in Davis Cup. I had a good tournament last week in Tokyo.
I happy I have enough motivation to keep playing. Today I don't have physical problems, so I'm happy. I am trying to keep try my best in every practice, in every match to find a few things I really need to keep doing better and better for next year.
I take the rest of the season, for sure is important tournaments still there, but like preparation for next season. Because practice, I don't have the chance to practice a lot.

Q. There was a lot of talk in New York about the players meeting here to discuss issues like the schedule. Do you expect to have those meetings?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think it's not the right time to talk about that. If there is any information that you have to know, you will know. There is something there, but is not the right moment to talk about it, especially when nothing clear is done. Don't to talk better than talk.

Q. You're one of the most popular players in Shanghai but you haven't got any titles here. Do you want to be the champion this time?

RAFAEL NADAL: That's what I think every time. When I go to tournament, my goal is try to play my best tennis and try to win.
I tried here few years when the Masters Cup was here. Last year I tried. I lost second round. 2009 I played the finals. So I had a good results and a few not that good. But win a Masters 1000 or a Masters Cup is very difficult.
We'll see this year. I will try my best. Tomorrow I start, so I will try my best to play well tomorrow. Think about the title before the start of the tournament is not my style.

Q. Talking about the match this afternoon, it seems you went all out and you tried to save every ball, but you lost. How do you feel now?

RAFAEL NADAL: About the loss?

Q. You tried your best to save every ball, but eventually you lost the game. Do you have any comments on the game?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, in doubles is difficult to have a lot of comments because especially the court, I saw the balls and the court very fast today, everything. Everything happen very fast.
I think we had a terrible second set. In the super tiebreak we had to win. We had chances. That's the doubles. The matches are close. You can win; you can lose. For me, I tried. Wasn't our day. Let's try in singles now.

Q. You said now is not the right time for the players to meet. Would the right time then be the big players meeting that takes place before the Australian Open or is it because Roger, as chairman of the Players Council, isn't here?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am the vice president and I am here. Is not that, the problem, in my opinion. Maybe my English is better but not enough good.
I said maybe some things are happening, but if I am not hundred percent sure about what's going on, I don't want to say nothing, especially because if I say something right now and after doesn't happen nothing, you know. Always is better talk about the things when you know exactly what's going to happen and when you know exactly what we are going to do.
So we'll see. We'll see. I am in touch always with the rest of the players. You know, I talked a lot with a lot of players last month. We'll see what we can do something.
The important thing is that, yes, I can say because I'm sure we are, most of us, almost everyone, in the same way. So like this we have power. Now we'll have to keep finding what we really want for the future and make that happen if possible.

Q. You've had some very difficult times physically during your career. Would you say this is one of the most demanding periods for you emotionally, just to try to get into a winning habit in big matches?

RAFAEL NADAL: Hard to win big matches? Big matches are not only finals, in my opinion. Semifinals are big matches. I lost a lot of finals these years this year, not these years. I am lucky. But this year, yes, I lost 7 to 10.
Is not a habit. My opponents played better than me. I not happy about a few matches. But I have won a lot of important matches. So I have won three very important semifinals against Andy in three Grand Slams this year. I have won him in Monte Carlo. I have won Roger in semifinals of Miami, in the final of Roland Garros. I don't gonna say now all the victories.
But is true, there is a few loses. I think that's not true. Is not one of the most demanding moments of the mental part for myself because I am happy about how I am doing. I understand everything is a transition, everything is a part of your career. You cannot expect to play perfect every time.
I did very well this year, not perfect. That's why I lost a few important matches. I understand that maybe that can be positive for the future or negative. You never know.
The only thing that is going through my mind now, I have enough illusion to keep practicing hard, enough motivation to keep trying my best and to keep finding solutions to be better player for next year.
Probably if I have won these matches today the situation is different and I will be very happy about everything and I will be with less mental attention than what I had today.
So you never know. Hopefully it's positive. That's what I have to think. I will see. We'll see what's going on. Let's try to end the season well.
That's true, I tried my best, being here in Tokyo and now here in Shanghai. The other player who played more matches this year is not in these two tournaments, so maybe he gonna be little bit more fresh for the last few tournaments of the year. But is a risk that I have to take because I believe I am good, am enough fit to be here.
I will try my best. We'll see.

Q. You've always been very complimentary about Andy. Was that the best that he's played against you, particularly that third set, in Tokyo?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think so, yes. Yes, was his best match I think, in my opinion, against me. He played fantastic. No mistakes. Winners from every place.
I not happy about my third set for sure. No discussion about that because I cannot lose, even if he is playing fantastic, even if he is playing perfect, I cannot lose my serve three times in a row.
The easy thing is say he played fantastic, he played better than ever, he played perfect tennis. I really cannot win that third set. That's the easiest thing. And that's the true.
Probably if I played fantastic the third set, I going to lose that set anyway because, you know, that level two days ago I wasn't ready to play at that level.
But the things that I have to improve is I have to serve enough well to survive in the match when he's playing that well, and I didn't. So that's the wrong part, the bad part for me. I think that's important thing for the future. I have to serve little bit better because a lot of players are playing really well today. For moments you cannot do much when they are playing very well, so you have to be there surviving with your serve. That's something I have to do for next year, for sure.

Q. Does your new coach team bring something different to you? What approach do you have to beat Djokovic?

RAFAEL NADAL: My uncle stay at home as usual in this part of the season, so he didn't came. My uncle normally is coming to clay season, to Australia, to Miami sometimes. He's coming to all the tournaments in Europe.
But here, you know, he has three small kids and he cannot travel every week. Anyway, is not new coach. Francis Roig stays with me. Is the seventh year. Till 2005 he is with me when my uncle is not traveling. Is nothing new.
I am not finding approaches to beat Djokovic. I am finding approaches to beat tomorrow against Guillermo Garcia.
I believe 100% in my team. I always think when I am losing, is my fault, not the fault of my team. That's what all my life I thought that. So that's not going to change today, no? I don't going to be stupid and thinking if I have to improve something is because another people gonna come. I have to improve with my people who know exactly my game and know exactly what I have to do to keep improving. I don't need any change, especially because I feel comfortable and I feel happy with my team.
The only chance to change something will be because some one of my team wants to go. I don't gonna fire no one, no.

Q. You mentioned earlier you wanted to do some things better for next year. You mentioned your serve just now. Is there anything else you'd like to share about what you need to do better and better?

RAFAEL NADAL: Everything. Today the tennis is very competitive game, very complete game. A lot of players plays very well from all the places, backhand, forehand, serve. So if you are not improving every year more and more, your chances are less.
So I want to keep having the same chances as the past and that's what I gonna try. Don't forget is my seventh year on the tour being top two, between No. 1 and No. 2 of the world. That's happened because, first thing, I was in perfect conditions mentally all these years, but second thing because I always try to improve and play better and better.
That's what I did. That's why today I am better player than in 2005, and the results says that. I played much better in all the surfaces than when I played in 2006 or 2005.
That's the goal and that's what I have to keep doing if I want to keep being here for long time. If not, I can stop, I can be happy with myself.

Q. Andy Murray says that he thinks that the standard at the top of the men's game has gone up a lot this year; all the players are playing much better than this the past. Do you agree with that? Has the standard gone up?

RAFAEL NADAL: I not agree. I am not agree. I think Djokovic, yes. I played worse than last year. I was very regular, probably even more regular than last year. But I played a little bit worse, I think. I think Roger played well, but he lost a few matches than in the past he never gonna lose.

Q. So Rafa 2010 would beat Rafa 2011?

RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe. I don't know. I don't know. But I believe Rafa 2010 had something more special than Rafa 2011, especially in tough situations. That's the true.
Win or lose depends on very, very, very small things. And probably these very, very small things I did a little bit better in 2010 than 2011, so...
When I talk about improve or when I talk about being better player, doesn't mean making big changes, no. That doesn't exist. Just always are very, very small things.
Djokovic this year already won a lot of tournaments, three Grand Slams, he didn't lost matches. Don't believe that he changed his game unbelievable. He did a few small things better than a few years ago and that's why his big success this year.
That's what I gonna try. But I am not agree with what Andy said. I think the level, no, wasn't better than 2010 or 2009. I think was similar. For my part and Roger's part a little bit worse for the moment.

Q. When was your last time you played in such a small court? Talk about the smaller court and the crowd being closer.

RAFAEL NADAL: I played a lot of matches in smaller courts, especially when I play doubles around the world. I think is good. I think the atmosphere is different. The only thing that I don't like is that the things happen faster, that the ball seems like, when you play in a smaller courts, is faster, is more difficult to return the serve.
The atmosphere in general inside the court is fantastic, have the crowd very close to the court. Is good for the crowd. I think is good for us. I think is a positive thing that we can do, we can play in different courts around the world.

shanghai transcripts

Shanghai Transcript NADAL /GarciaLopez

10/12/2011Rafaholics

12 October 2011 R. NADAL /G. Garcia Lopez (6 3, 6 2)
An interview with:RAFAEL NADAL

Q. It was a good revenge from last year in Bangkok, I suppose?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, was tough lose last year in Bangkok. Less painful because I came after winning the US Open, but probably was the more unbelievable lose in my career against him last year because I never had as many chances as I had in that match, and I lost.
Was a little bit in my mind today in the breakpoints, that's the true. And for the rest, sure, I am happy to be in the second round. I have the comfortable victory with two sets. I didn't play my best match, but is unbelievable the conditions how can change from Tokyo to here. The ball is completely different. Something must change because is too dangerous for the shoulders. For us is a big change.
Tournaments straight must be the same ball. That's my feeling. And here the ball are completely different than Tokyo.
But I am very happy to be in the second round. Tomorrow will have a difficult match. Hopefully if I will be able to win tomorrow, I will be able to more adapt.

Q. Can you tell us a bit more about the differences between the balls, how it affects the way you have to adjust.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, first thing is the ball changed unbelievable during day or during night. I practiced every day during day, and during night conditions are so different, no?
If we compare the Tokyo ball with this one, Tokyo was much bigger, slower. This ball is very fast, goes small, and doesn't stay on the racquet. The ball fly a lot and is tough. But I have to play well with this ball.
The problem is not the ball. The problem is the difference between two balls. I don't know how to say, but if you compare another sport, is difficult, but maybe golf you cannot change the ball in every tournament. If you give the players a different ball in every tournament, they going to be upset.
That's what's happening here sometimes. That's something that, in my opinion, can change. In my opinion, not difficult to change. Especially this time the change was really radical.

Q. Andy was saying the same thing yesterday. Have you two been having a chat? What do you want to see done? He wants the balls standardized.

RAFAEL NADAL: For me is not necessary a standard ball. But during a season when you have straight tournaments, for example, you start the clay court season, you have the same ball for the clay court season; you have the American hard court season, have the same ball. Indian Wells and Miami, that happens, there is the same ball in both tournaments, so that's positive.

But here, for example, you play in Bangkok one ball, Tokyo another ball, here another ball. That's something that can change. Is not put a standard ball for all the year. We can have different balls on tour. But you cannot change the ball every week. That's too much, in my opinion. Is dangerous for the injuries.

Q. Same was the case on the clay, wasn't it? They changed going into Roland Garros, Madrid and Rome changed to get in line with Roland Garros.

RAFAEL NADAL: For me, I understand. That is not very important change because you have one week to prepare Roland Garros. That's the true. In the previous tournaments before Roland Garros, I think was Nice and World Cup in Dusseldorf was the same ball, so that's positive.

But what cannot happen is have one ball in Rome, one ball in Madrid, one ball in Barcelona. That don't work, doesn't work, because are straight weeks.

You have a week to adapt to the ball, in my opinion is not a problem. But the problem is, for example, when you arrive to the final, for example let's say the ball is different between Madrid and Rome, you arrive to the final in Madrid, in one day you have to play with completely different ball in Rome.

Q. You know why it is, though? Because of the commercial deals that each tournament can make for itself. So do you think this is a problem that is an indication of everything that you're talking about?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am very happy to win less money and be more health.

Q. As we just heard, Andy has similar feelings about this as you've just been explaining. What about the other players? Is there a strong feeling?

RAFAEL NADAL: I talked with Gilles Simon this afternoon and he believe exactly the same. Yeah, a lot of players believe that.

We don't need to make a big history of that. Just try to change and that's it.

Q. Can I ask you about something in your book. When you talked about Novak Djokovic, you said three or four years ago when you were asked: There's you and there's Federer, who will be the next player who might challenge you? You said straightaway Djokovic. What was it that you saw in Djokovic then that made you think he would be the player to challenge you and Roger?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, later was Andy Murray. I say that four years ago because is when Djokovic started to play really well. And for me, the level what he shows to everybody in Australia 2007, was really, really high. So I thought that in 2007 he will be the No. 1. No, 2008 I thought that. But after that I think I had a fantastic season.

But, you know, he is able to do very difficult things very easy, so... He can play inside the court. The most difficult thing on tennis is play inside the court and change the direction of the ball. He was able to do it really well and very easy.

Q. Is your book selling well? Do you know?

RAFAEL NADAL: I hope so. I don't know. I think so (smiling).

Q. You just said thank you in Chinese. I would like to know how many times you have practiced Chinese? Would you like to know a little bit more Chinese?

RAFAEL NADAL: I believe is too difficult (smiling).

I like to know a few words from a different languages. I tried my best last week in Tokyo. Now I am enjoying to know a few words of every language, and that's it. But I have enough work studying English than study with the Chinese now.

Q. Can I ask you about something other than tennis. Did you manage to get to see Spain's win over Scotland in the European Championship? If so, did you remind Andy Murray of the result?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn't. I just talked with him five minutes ago, but I did not remember that.
For us, wasn't a big victory (laughter). I am joking.

shanghai video

Shanghai: Video Highlights & Interviews

10/12/2011Rafaholics

photos shanghai sponsor

Shanghai: Bacardi Event Photos

10/11/2011Rafaholics

photos shanghai

Shanghai Press Conference Photos

10/11/2011Rafaholics

photos shanghai

Photos: Shanghai Practice

10/10/2011Rafaholics

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Shanghai Rolex Masters Draw

10/08/2011Rafaholics

presser shanghai transcripts

Shanghai: Final Transcript

10/15/2010Rafaholics

October 14, 2010
Rafael Nadal
SHANGHAI, CHINA

J. MELZER/R. Nadal
6-1, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Melzer hit 37 winners against you and you're a very big defender. That's a surprise, you cannot defend.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, you know, yeah, he played well. That's true. But I put him easier than usual, no, to play these 37 winners. That's true.
Well, that's tennis, no? And during the season you have better and worse moments and is impossible win every week. So this is the sport. You know, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and today wasn't my day. I didn't play well.
I felt slow on court. I had more mistakes than usual. I played shorter than usual. A little bit more tired than usual in general, just physically and mentally. Just congratulate him and that's it. Yeah, that's it.
No, no, no, wasn't surprise for me. It's true, he played very aggressive, but wasn't very difficult play that aggressive against me today.

Q. After playing three straight weeks, the final on Sunday, do you think that had anything to do with today, your performance?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I happy about my Asian season, no? I won a tournament. That's always the most important thing for me, is win a title than lose a final here because titles always stays there and the finals is to forget.
That's part of the sport, no? I arrived probably to this part of the season well, playing well, but probably a little bit more tired than usual. But that's not that unusual because normally if you don't have problems during the season, and you had more matches than the rest, a lot of weeks outside of home, is normal be a little bit more tired.
But is okay. All the good work is done for me for the year. So I am very, very happy about what happened to me during all the year. Remain two tournaments for me. Enjoy these ones and try to play better than today. I hope having these two weeks and a half off now, I have few days off, need to recover a little bit, I need to practice physical, need to practice tennis another time, adjust another time the shots and be better physically than what I was during all these three tournaments. And for the rest, I am happy how I am touching the ball.

Q. After the US Open, people think you might need a longer rest. You came back to play quickly, three tournaments in a row. Why did you decide to play three tournaments in a row?
RAFAEL NADAL: I decide to do that because I don't know when I started the season if I gonna win the US Open. I supposed to play two times in Bangkok in the past. I didn't played. So for me was impossible for me say no, I don't go another time. Honestly, I really felt that I have to go to Bangkok, and I went.
Probably was one of these tournaments I felt that I had to win the tournament because I was playing really well, and I lost an unbelievable match in semifinals. The normal thing, if I won that match, I was in the final, good chance to win another tournament. So I lost. That happens, is true. Is very few times.
Very short off time after the US Open. But when I planned my season, it's difficult to decide now if I don't play in Bangkok, I gonna be better here. That's stupid to say, no? I didn't play in Rotterdam this year because I had an injury. I didn't play in Barcelona. Finally it works well for the rest of the season. I arrived to Toronto and Cincinnati not very good because I didn't have a lot of time to practice. But I win there. And finally it works well to the US Open.
So we will see how I finish the season. I have two good goals: is try to finish the season well and try to play much better this year in London than what I did last year. Maybe not going to be very difficult that. Not only play better, have better results, too.

Q. Are you surprised by how the fatigue affected you today? Did you feel it before or did it hit you suddenly after the first set perhaps?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, in the first set I wasn't really tired. It was very fast. Didn't play long rallies. All winners for him and all mistakes for me, no? Is not a surprise for me be tired. I am not tired during all the match. I am tired before the match because I know is more difficult for me be focused a lot of time on one thing. When I go to practice, is a little bit more difficult than usual be focused all the time. That's because probably you need a few days off. That's what I think.

Q. What do you think of the influence of the audience? It seems too loud in the stadium?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the public was perfect, like always, no? And the stadium is really nice. The crowd was fantastic. No, no. No influence, I think.

Q. You said you want to do better at London O2 this year than you did last year. Obviously, Wimbledon and Queen's has always been a happy place for you. Did you like the tournament last year? Do you think it was well-organized? What are your thoughts about going to London this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Always when you have a tournament the first year, it can improve a few things. But the most important things was fantastic. The crowd was unbelievable. The atmosphere on court was really, really nice, no? When you go on court, is probably the nicest indoor court I ever played.
Q. Really?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think so, yeah. We can compare little bit with Madrid. That's all.

Q. You gave a very good answer the other day about the calendar. Without going all the way back again, I just wondered if you had any response from anybody in the game about what you'd said here a couple of days ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. Everybody knows my position in the council and in the board. Everybody knows what I said a few days ago is nothing new for nobody because I say that one year ago.
Just I think that is the better solution for all the players, not only for the top players, because we think about the top hundred players, 120 ranking, is much better for them because they have more chances to play, and for us, for the top 10 players, is good because if you want to play, you can play, and if you want to stop, you can stop. That's what I said the other day.
That's just dreaming (smiling).

Q. We all know that you promote your serving during the US Open and that helps you win the Grand Slam title. Your serve is not as powerful as before. Is there something wrong with your serving? You didn't take training today. Can you explain something about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: I practiced today in the indoor courts.

Q. This afternoon.
RAFAEL NADAL: I practiced this afternoon in the indoor courts. This is an indoor tournament, so I practiced indoor.
Yeah, the serve, I am very happy about my serve. I serve a little bit better. He was returning really well. I feel the arm a little bit more tired than before. I not usually serve that fast in the past. So I serve very well during all the US Open. During Bangkok and Tokyo, I still serving very, very fast and very well.
But for me is a new thing for me, so I need more time to adapt this new serve, serving that faster, to try to serve like this. I serve like this a lot of weeks in a row. I feel a little bit more tired, the arm, than usual when I serve with this new power, no? So probably for that reason the serve didn't work that well today.

End of FastScripts

shanghai video

Shanghai: Thursday Presser

10/14/2010Rafaholics

shanghai

Nadal: "I'm tired"

10/14/2010Rafaholics

(At least I can hear it for myself & know that I was right. He is TIRED!)

Nadal: "I've been slow on court today, I'm tired"
ElPais

Rafael Nadal said after losing to Austria's Jurgen Melzer in the second round of the Shanghai Masters 1000 (6-1, 3-6, 6-3) that he felt "more slower on court" than usual, mentally and physically tired . "I was slow on court and made more mistakes than usual and I played shorter. I was also more tired than normal, physically and mentally," said world number one. Nadal said he decided to play in Bangkok and add that tournament to his Asian tour to start the season because "I did not know if I would win the U.S. Open."

"I was about to play twice in Bangkok in the past and I did not. For me it was impossible to say no again. I felt I had to go and went. It is difficult to predict that if I had not played in Bangkok I would have done better here. It would be stupid" he said. "I did not play in Rotterdam this year because I was injured. I did not play in Barcelona and it worked well for the rest of the season. I came to Toronto and Cincinnati in not good form because I barely had time to train but I won there, and it finally worked at the U.S. Open" he said.

"But I'm happy for the Asian tour, I won a tournament and that is the most important thing to me, because the titles always remain and the rest is forgotten," added Nadal which again talked about his physical condition. "I have come to the latter part of the season playing well but perhaps a little more tired than usual," he said. "But the good work of the year is done, and I'm very happy for everything that has happened to me this year. Now I have two tournaments and I have to enjoy them and play better than today."

"I hope that the two and a half weeks that I have to rest I can recover a bit. I need to train physically and play tennis again, adjust my shots and be physically better than in the past three tournaments," said Nadal who made clear his enthusiasm for doing well in London at the Masters. "I have two good goals, finishing the season well and try to play much better this year in London, compared to last year. Maybe it will not be that difficult (he did not win a single set), to not play better, but have best results" he said of the appointment at the O2.

"The public there was fantastic, unbelievable. The atmosphere on court was very nice. When you walk on court you realize that is probably the most pleasant indoor tournament in which I played. It can be compared a little with Madrid" he said.

Shanghai Presser Transcript Nadal/Mayer

Shanghai PreTournament PC Transcript

Shanghai Transcript NADAL /GarciaLopez

Shanghai: Video Highlights & Interviews

Shanghai: Bacardi Event Photos

Shanghai Press Conference Photos

Photos: Shanghai Practice

Rafaholics added the album Rafael Nadal practising in Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Rafaholics added the album Arriving in Shanghai.

Rafaholics added the album Rafael Nadal meeting fans in Shanghai.

Shanghai Rolex Masters Draw

Shanghai: Final Transcript

Shanghai: Thursday Presser

Shanghai 2010 Thursday Nadal Interview

Nadal: "I'm tired"

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