Nadal interview transcript
TT
R. NADAL/A. Murray 6 4, 2 6, 6 1
Q. That was a very demanding match today. How pleased were you to come
through it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, for sure is a fantastic victory for me against a
very difficult opponent. So is a dream for me be in the final here
another time in Monte Carlo. Start the clay court season being in the
final is very good for me, no? Everything is positive on the result.
On the game, hmm, I think I played too short for a lot of moments. I
think I had few more mistakes than usual, especially at the second set.
That's true. I was a little bit unlucky at the second because I had lot
of breakpoints in the 2 1 for 2 All. He played very aggressive. All the
first serves was inside. Very difficult to do. I really only had one
good chance and I had big mistake with the backhand into the net.
After that I felt a little bit tired. I had to win the next game. With 3
1, I had 40 15. Was a terrible mistake from me lose that game. Because
with 3 2 I think he was tired, too. I was there; I had chances in almost
every game when I was returning. It was a big mistake for me in that
moment.
With the 4 1, even if I had the break 4 2, I was thinking more with the
third set than the second. Few very, very long games. The physical, was
very demanding match. I thought is better relax a little bit and try be
ready for beginning of the third, so...
Q. Going into the third set, what were you wanting to adjust?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he had few mistakes. But I play more aggressive.
That's true, no? I play a little bit more inside the court, open a
little bit more the court, change directions. Against him is very
difficult. Sometimes he play two meters behind. Is difficult to win the
point, no?
When you are playing shot, shot, sometimes you feel after five shots you
are the same place than the beginning. When it happen, is not a good new
because finally you play short and he has a fantastic cross backhand.
I had to change something. Probably he was a little bit more tired in
the third, too. I was tired, too. So I think I played a little bit more
aggressive. I changed a little bit more the directions. That was the
most important thing.
Q. The start of the match was a bit weird because it was delayed because
of Andy's elbow injury. How did you adapt to it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Wait.
Q. You said sometimes there were five shots and it was right back where
you started. That's usually how opponents feel when they play you. You
felt today Murray was getting you into uncomfortable positions?
RAFAEL NADAL: I helped him I think a little bit. My shot wasn't enough
good a lot of times with the forehand. He had the chance to come back on
the point a lot of times. I think I did better the end of the match.
Especially the last game, 5 1, I played like I would love to play,
because I changed directions, I played well with the forehand, longer,
closer to the lines.
That's what I have to do if I want to have chances tomorrow and during
the rest of the clay court season, no? If not, for sure I am
competitive, I can win, but will have a lot of very tough matches.
Q. Is Andy a much different player now than when you played that match
against him a couple of years ago in the semifinals?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, probably I think he had a very bad American hard
court season, so he knows he can't have a lot of more mistakes. So for
that reason, if he wants to be in the top, because he started the season
fantastic, but is dangerous when you start to lose matches during the
season.
So he has unbelievable potential. He's very good in all the surfaces.
There's no reason why he cannot play very well on clay because his serve
is good, his movements are very good, and his shots are with topspin. He
has a very good control with the shots. Very good backhand, too. There's
no reason why. I think he going to play very well on clay, for sure.
He knows that. He's for sure hungry another time to win. That's why he
was in semifinals without losing games. That's why today he was close to
the victory, no?
Q. When you play best of three, if you lose the second set, you always
win easily the third set, 6 Love, 6 1, sometimes 6 2. That means you are
so much stronger physically than all the others. That helps you to grow
the confidence for best of five sets in Roland Garros?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is for sure easier to win matches in best of five
than best of three. Is only for one reason: because the best players
have better chances in the best of five than best of three. Normally the
best of three you have one mistake, you lose your serve, you are in
trouble for the set. If you lose one set, you're under pressure the best
of the match. You play best of five, you have time to come back.
Q. Especially if you're stronger physically.
RAFAEL NADAL: I think everybody is strong physically on the tour. I am
strong. I think so. I think Andy is strong physically. David Ferrer is
unbelievable physically. Federer is unbelievable physically. Djokovic.
Everybody. Not only the top players; everybody practice every day two
hours, three hours, practice physical performance. So is impossible not
be fit.
Probably the mental part affects a lot much more than the physical part
sometimes, no?
Q. Before the beginning of the match, did the ATP ask you if you agreed
to wait?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn't have that choice. But anyway, if I had the
choice, for sure I will say yes. I don't know exactly the rules, but is.
I don't know the rules. Sometimes with 15 minutes. Was an exception.
Good exception, because for the crowd was a good match, I think.
Q. A word on David Ferrer tomorrow.
RAFAEL NADAL: In the final winning easy all the matches. He had a
fantastic start of the season. He didn't lose yet on clay yet this year.
He won in Acapulco and is in the final here. He beat me in Australia.
He's very dangerous, no? Very difficult match going to be. I have to
play very well. I gonna try.
TT
wkhedr
> http://www.ubitennis.com/sport/tennis/2011/04/16/491571-andy_murray_2...
. "I had a cortisone injection, whatever, local anesthetic in my elbow
before the match."
Does this help you figuring out why Nadal looked to be playing good in
the third?
Manco
run as #1 is ending very soon!
TT
How about in the 2nd set? Was Murray injured then as well?
wkhedr
The best thing about Murray is that he finished the match instead of
retiring like other top 1 players.
TT
Face it....Nadal won and we'll probably hear from Murray again when he
loses next tournaments on clay to Donald Young -types.
Or maybe Murray was just pissing on US hardcourt season, waiting for
clay, the surface of real tennis?
TT
Murray was never #1.
And you didn't answer the question. Why wasn't he injured in 1st and 2nd
set?
wkhedr
>
> - Show quoted text -
Do you understand what injury means? Do you understand what cortisone
injection means?
felangey
The cortisone clearly wore off after the end of the second set. That is not
to say that Murray would have one had it not....but he was certainly in the
ascendancy until that point.
felangey
*won....it's late.
Sakari Lund
This is the kind of injury that doesn't show on court. A guy can play
amazing tennis, but when he loses, he is injured. We have heard
endlessly about it in relation to FO 09. Now you can hear too how does
that sound, which is a good thing.
Except in this case, we knew at the start of the match there was
injury concern. In FO 09 case, we learnt about it only afterwards.
TT
I see, it's revenge time. Didn't Roger do it already at Wimby...
TT
And also fedfans are pissed that Rafa didn't lose. You should know better...
All hail Murray for taking a set off Rafa. Wasn't easy, had to play 8
deuce service games, run down everything etc.
He's now in the prestigious mold of Almagro and Gulbis.
Superdave
Rafa was damn lucky he didn't have to play Fed that is all I have to say.
John Liang
>
> - Show quoted text -
Fed fan couldn't care less about the tiny title like Monte Carlo. In
the overall scheme of things
it has very little meaning to Federer and of course for a 2nd tier
great like Nadal winning 7 of these small
titles has more significant meaning.
Sakari Lund
No, just that it is good for you to see it for once how it sounds
like. No signs of injury, you just have to believe there is one.
RzR
he was, you clueless moron, he was just playing with pain...
uly...@mscomm.com
play in the third.
Agassi routinely received cortisone injections after the age of 33 and
never diminished in the latter stages of a match. Cortisone injections
typically blunt pain for 6-7 hours after the hot. So Murray's
injection would not have worn off by the third set.