No Rafa For A Few More Months

Official Press Release:

Rafa Nadal would not be at the Semifinals of the Davis Cup and will stop for the next 2 months 
 
"I have to recover and I'll be back once the pain is gone" 

Manacor, Spain, September 3rd, 2012.- Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal will not play in the next 2 months and will stop to rest and recover his knee. Among other things he won ́t be able to be at the disposal of the Spanish Davis Cup captain for the semifinals tie against the USA. 

Rafa has partial tear of the patella tendon at the distal pole of the patella plus an inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad of his left knee. 

Since the diagnosis of that tear, Rafa has been receiving medical treatment consisting on specific medication, physical therapy and a progressive program of rehabilitation and muscular potentiation. 

For Rafa Nadal "I have missed the Olympics and the US Open in the last few weeks, tow of the most important tournaments of the year and that I really wanted to play. I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour, but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest. I will be back when I have no pain and able to compete with guarantee. 

I feel better after the meeting with my doctors and happy knowing that the evolution of the past weeks has been positive and surgery has been avoided. I will continue to work with the plan my doctors have established to be able to compete as soon as possible in the right conditions. 

I would also like to thanks all for the support I ma receiving these days."

Doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro will hold a Press Conference at the Real Club de Tennis de Barcelona on Tuesday September 4th explaining all details. 

Rafa Nadal won't be doing press interviews in the next days.

Nadal Is OUT of The US Open - CONFIRMED

Rafa has just Tweeted that he will not be in New York to contest the US Open.

"I am very sad to announce that I am not ready to play the US Open in NY. Thanks to my fans for their support and specially, the new yorkers."

This comes as no surprise really given the length of time he has been out  (nearly 4 weeks) and no sign of any kind of actual court practice.

Where does this leave Rafa now?  Will he play again this season?  Rumours are circulating that he will write-off 2012 in order to give himself maximum time to be ready.

Whenever he does return I just hope it is when he is ready and can give it 100%.

Vamos Rafa, we are all with you!

Finally, I can watch some tennis

I have been a very busy bee these last few weeks and I can only apologise for lack of posting.

I have returned from London after working as an Olympic Games Maker in the Athletes Village.  Alas I did not see Novak walking around as he was staying near to Wimbledon.  When I did see him there is was when he lost the Bronze medal match to Del Potro :-(

But still no Rafa :-( Will he miss the US Open ?  If he cannot compete to a high level would it not be best for him to continue his rehab and skip the tournament?  Whatever happens I just want to see Rafa back on the court when he is fit and healthy.

Back to Novak.  Let's hope that the form from Toronto carries over into this week though I am sure the competition will be stronger now that all the top guys are a little more rested from London.

Nadal Is OUT Of The Olympics

News has just broke on the BBC Sport page that Rafa has withdrawn from the Olympic Games at Wimbledon.

A sad decision but the correct one.  The knees are obviously not ready and it is correct to think long term.

News Reports:

Yahoo

Daily Mail

Eurosport Asia

Rafa's Knee Is Troubling Him again

The latest episode of tendinitis has meant the exhibition match against Novak due to take place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid.

It is unsure if he has once again undergone PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment but the word is that he will still play at Wimbledon again this year, for Spain during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

This is very obviously an ongoing problem for Rafa that will never cease, certainly whilst playing tennis.  It seems that his knees are now in such a condition that regular treatment is the only way for him to continue.  Hopefully a good rest will do him some good and he is ready to compete once again.

Did That Really Happen?

I have left it until today to write so as not to make any rash comments.

I was travelling to Wimbledon yesterday and could not get into the grounds at 19.30 to watch the match.  Instead we went off for some food and I kept an eye on the match via my phone.  We made it home in time to see Rafa broken in the 5th set.

I don't know how Rafa was playing during the first 4 sets but in the 5th he seemed lost.  All the kudos in the world to Lukas for playing some beautiful tennis and serving like a demon.  He really had nothing to lose and just went straight for the jugular.

So what now for Rafa?  I thought back to a few years ago, when he won the Aussie Open, as much as some seem to like him I don't really care for Toni.  I think Rafa could be a much better variety player if he had someone else on board. 

Like I said, I did not see the whole match but I can bet for a good part of it Rafa did not change his gameplan when it became evident that he was in for a rough ride.  I saw him try to S&V a bit in the 5th, you don't start to play aggressive and finish off points when you are knee deep in the shit, you stay before you get that far.

Anyway Toni talk is for another day.  Rafa needs to go and think, think hard about his career and what he wants from the remainder of it.  No doubt he is king on clay but that part of the season is short.  Still idea maybe but how about asking if he can play Hamburg on the clay, if anything just to get him back into a winning mindset?

So no Rafa for me at Wimbledon this year but I do have Novak and today I am on Centre Court so I will be shouting lots of "Ajde Nole".

Rafa Not Happy At Olympic Set-up

It always makes me laugh when I see the words "Wimbledon fast grass".  It's not fast, certainly not in the way it should be.  Surface homogenisation gets worse with each passing tournament.  But Rafa ain't happy that, apart from the Gold Medal Match, all matches will be the best of 3 sets.

Is this fair? 

"That's makes the tournament a little bit more crazy. Everybody can win even more than on hard or clay, because playing best of three sets, the match can be decided in just a few points.

"So that's probably the negative thing. In every match, you are at the limit.

"I don't say it's a 'crazy idea'. But it is a little bit more difficult to predict what's going to happen."

Is that not want we want, unpredictable tennis?  Or should everything bow down to the top players?  I say no, the playing field should be level.  If players are as good as they are made out to be they should be able to find a way.

Full story is here

Rafa's Round 1 Wrap-Up

Rafa's Presser:

Q.  What happened in the first few games of that match?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, happened that I had the breakpoint in the first game, so I think I played a good first game.  But he had a few chances at the first, and then two great serves in the advantage in the middle to the tee.

Then I played bad game with my serve.  Even I think I have game point for me, or few chances, but I had a few mistakes with my forehand.

And then he hit a fantastic returns in the 3‑0, so he played a great game.  I was lucky to be back, that’s the thing.  I feel lucky after 4‑0 to be able to win the set.


Q.  Thomaz said you don’t have any weakness in your game.  Is that what you think?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I think I have, but thank you for the words of Thomaz, no?

I think today I didn’t play my best match.  I think especially at the first set I played little bit too nervous, little bit not knowing exactly what to do.  My movements were a little bit in defensive way, not in aggressive way.
But I was able to keep winning the first set.  That’s the important thing and the good news.  Then I started to play better.  The second and third set I played better, even if I had a big mistake in the third with 2‑0, 30‑Love to probably close the set with 3‑0.

I felt in that moment I started to hit better the forehand.  That’s the most important thing for me.  And in the beginning I didn’t really had the best feeling with my forehand.

But then I started to feel a little bit better and I was able to hit a few forehands in a row with positive feeling, knowing that I don’t want to miss the ball.  That’s a very important thing, no?

I think the serve worked great almost all the match.  Just the beginning I start with not the best percentage, but I finished well, so I’m happy...... Read it all here

Match Report:

Guardian

Photos (Daylife & Yahoo):

Rafole Round-Up

Rafa is promoting online gambling with PokerStars.  Not too sure about this, gambling can be a very slippery slope if you don't know what you are doing.  Hopefully if people decide to have a look they use the "play money" tables instead of the real ones.

Both Rafa & Novak will be the flag bearers for their countries at the opening ceremony of London 2012. 

Both players spoke of their pride -

Rafa:

"For me the chance to carry the flag representing all the Spanish athletes in London is a true honor," Nadal said in a statement. "I think carrying the flag will be one of the most moving moments of my entire career.
"I can only say thanks and wish my fellow athletes the best of luck."

Novak:

"We are all very excited about the Olympic games in London, such a magnificent sporting event, and it goes without saying what a great honour it is for me to carry the flag for Serbia," 

If you missed the Google+ "hangout" with Rafa there is a link to the video at TheTennisTimes

Uncle Toni speaks about Paris:

"I was very happy at the end because for us it was a very important tournament," said the man universally known as Uncle Toni. "We had lost three times against Djokovic in Grand Slam finals. Another defeat would have been terrible for us....The rest of the article is here

Sorry that is is mostly Rafa news.  I am sure we will be seeing more of Novak during Wimbledon :-)

Nadal & Djokovic Practice Photos From Wimbledon

Rafa & I At The Presser In Paris

Rafa @ Wimbledon Sans Shirt

:-)

Team Rafole Is Back On Court

And soon enough so will Rafa & Novak.

Rafa has been talking to the press before Wimbledon starts on Monday.

Thanks again to the wonderful FreedomTennis:

RAFAEL NADAL June 11 2012

Pre Wimbledon Press Conference

Q. You had a very successful but tough Roland Garros, and then you went to Halle. How tough was it to recharge the batteries after that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it’s something that is nothing new in my career. Since today is the same like another season, no? But what’s going to make little bit more difficult is later, no, when normally after here, if you have a very good tournament here, you have four weeks, four weeks and a half of rest.

Is not the case of this year because you have the Olympics. But since the day of today is something very similar to the rest of the years. I had the chance to be in Mallorca, to enjoy a little bit with the friends, with the family, and that’s what I did.

I am here another time.

Q. You mentioned the Olympics. What do they mean to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: The Olympics is the most important competition of the world of sport. So that’s the first thing. For everybody, all the sports, all the people who are involved of sport, competing in Olympics is something probably the most special thing that can happen, no?

The experience is great for me. I played two Olympics already. I have one record in Athens that I am the sportsman who spent less time in one Olympic Games, because the week before I played in Sopot. I won my first tournament. I arrived that Saturday night, I lost on Sunday, and I went home. I don’t remember a lot.

But in Beijing I was able to spend one week before, then all tournament there, all the competition. Enjoyed the experience in the Village with the rest of the friends, of the colleagues of the sports family. Was great, no? Was probably one of the greatest experiences I ever had in this world.

In my opinion is something that everybody from the popular sports, that we are very lucky to have a circuit like tennis or basketball football. I think is great if we are able to go to the real sport, because there there is a lot of sports that they don’t have the lucky that we have. You really experience what means really the sport, playing just for ‑ I don’t know how to say ‑ just play for the passion of the sport, for nothing else more.

In my opinion, that’s the real spirit of the sport. Is great for us that we have almost everything, go there, and enjoy that experience.

Q. Coming off winning your seventh French Open title, how confident of winning your third Wimbledon and how confident are you of beating Djokovic on grass?

RAFAEL NADAL: I’m very happy the way things went the last couple of months ‑ since the beginning of the season this year, in my opinion. Thinking about winning another title here in Wimbledon is arrogant and crazy. That’s something I cannot think about, no?

I can just think about the practice of tomorrow, to keep preparing my game, to arrive to Tuesday with the right conditions, being competitive to try to win the first match, no?

That’s the goal. I try my best in every practice. But sure, every hour on grass help me.

Q. You’ve been a part of two great rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Many matches against both. Many Grand Slam finals against them. Could you maybe compare them at all, whether fans enjoy watching you against Novak or Roger?

RAFAEL NADAL: That you have to ask the fans. I cannot answer this about the fans.

For me is little bit different situation, because when I arrived here on tour, especially when I started to play well, Roger always was there. With Novak, it’s little bit other way. I was there and then he came.

So is difficult for me to analyze which rivalry is more important, less important, more attractive, less attractive for everybody.

The only thing I can say, all the classic matches are because you played a lot of matches in very important circumstances between each other, no? That happens a lot of times with Roger, a lot of Grand Slam finals, a lot of Masters 1000s, competing for very important tournaments in our careers.

But with Novak we start to have all of this, too. Is great. For me I feel very lucky to be part of these two rivalries. I think is something that brings special motivation to the game, to the motivation to keep improving my tennis. Because if you are not able to improve your level of tennis you are dead, no, in this very competitive world of tennis.

That’s what I tried all my life. I think I really enjoy being part of these rivalries, no? I don’t gonna answer your question which one means more to me, because will see when at the end of our careers.

Q. What do you think of the specificities of the game on grass nowadays, and what do you think are your strengths and maybe weaknesses on this surface?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the important thing is play ‑ play with the surface, not play against the surface. That’s the first thing, no?

At the same time you cannot change something crazy your game, because you are good doing what you usually do. In the past, I don’t know the years, but in the past my best points on grass was that I played very regular with my serve. Probably not serving bombs, because I am not this kind of player. But playing very solid with high percentage, with enough speed, and then my movements and my decision to play on this surface was good the last couple years.

I enjoy playing here. Brings something different to me. Seriously, since the first time I came here, probably was in 2002 ‑‑ no, 2003 I played professional. 2002 or 2001 I played the juniors. I always loved this place. I always loved this surface.

My opinion is the game here is great to watch, especially if you don’t play against a big server (smiling).

Q. Outside you and Andy and Novak and Roger, who would you say are the most dangerous players? Berdych, Raonic, would they be the ones who are maybe most dangerous?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me is difficult to say. Depends. David Ferrer is playing a final today I think in Hertogenbosch.

Q. He won.

RAFAEL NADAL: So he won already. His level of tennis is higher and higher every year.

Berdych knows what is to play a final here.

Tsonga played semifinals last year.

But you have Raonic with this serve, without touch a ball from the baseline, you will be in trouble.

So there is always very competitive players. The real thing of this surface, you see the draw, and you never see an easy opponent.

I don’t say that in other surfaces you see easy opponents because you are playing against the best players of the world. You have the feeling, for example, you play on clay and your match is your in your hands. If you are playing your game you will have good chances to be through.

Here everything is a little bit more crazy, because sometimes you played two bad points in not the right moment and you lose a set. You don’t have real time to come back if you have a few mistakes in a row.

Q. You talked about the fascination of the Olympics. Are the Olympics more special for you this year because they are played in this historic tennis place?

RAFAEL NADAL: The Olympics are important for themself. Playing wherever are very important, no?

That’s true, that play in Wimbledon is gonna be little bit bigger because what means this place in the world of tennis is just the top. We gonna enjoy playing another time here.

But my opinion we can say can be more special to play in Wimbledon, but not more important.

Q. (Question regarding adding another week between Roland Garros and Wimbledon.)

RAFAEL NADAL: I always say is great to play more and more on clay and grass because those surfaces are historic in the world of tennis. In the past, most of the tournaments were on clay and grass. In my opinion for the body the worst surface to play or the most aggressive surface to play is the hard court.

In my opinion, I will never have nothing against to play more weeks on grass or clay, because I think is easier for the physical performance, for the injuries of the players.

Rafa's Doubles Match From Halle

From my YouTube channel

Rafa's Post Final Press Conference Transcript

Q.  Two very small questions.  First, when you were sitting down, everybody was taking your photo.  You picked up the trophy, and you were looking at the names on the trophy, counting them.  Whose names were you looking at, yours or someone else’s?

RAFAEL NADAL:  No, I was looking at the winners.  No, no, no, no.  For me is very small, and I wasn’t counting.  I just go year by year.


Q.  Downstairs your Uncle Toni was telling us that he thinks that you are unlucky to be playing in this era of Djokovic, Federer, you.  Is that how you see it?  Do you think you’re unlucky to be in such a fabulous era for tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I feel very lucky to achieve all what I achieved until today.  I have great rivals, but, you know, even if it’s good era of tennis, playing against fantastic players, no, I’m more than happy to enjoy matches like I had.  I enjoyed a lot the final of Australia, today.  I suffered, but I enjoyed.

A lot of important finals for me, a lot of important matches that I was able to enjoy against fantastic players like Novak, like Federer, like Andy.

For me, you can feel unlucky or lucky, both.

Q.  Congratulations, Rafa.  You had a hard two‑part final.  Since last night, how did you prepare technically, physically, morally?  Analyze the situation where you lost eight games in a row on clay, which is very unusual.  How did you handle it this morning?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yeah, the conditions were really unusual, too.  No, the ball was heavier than ever.  At the end, the bounces start to be bad last half an hour of match yesterday.

In my opinion, the conditions were much more favorable for Novak than for me.  At the same time, I am playing against the best of the world, the best of the world with good conditions probably for him.  He played, in my opinion, fantastic that eight games in a row.

He didn’t have mistakes.  He return fantastically well, and he did probably everything very well in that part of the match.

That’s true that I lost meters behind the baseline.  I really felt that I wasn’t able to push him back like I did, especially at the beginning of the match and then for moments.

He was able to push me back almost all the time.  I felt that I was in a completely, you know, negative positions almost every time on that period of match.

So, for me, the last game was very important after eight games in a row, losing the last one and before the stop.  That game that put the 2‑1 on the score was very, very important.

Q.  Congratulations.  Were you happy that the match was stopped last night?  Was it easy for you to sleep last night?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Seriously, I was very nervous during all the night.  I was a little bit anxious to play what remain of the match.  But even if was clearly good thing for me, I stop the match yesterday, because with that conditions, well, seriously, the last couple of games, the conditions of the court was not the right ones to play a final of a Grand Slam, you know.  We had to stop.

Anyway, I felt that was a positive stop for me.  I really felt that the stop against David Ferrer in the semifinals with set and 4‑1 was not positive for me.  At the end was positive for me.  And the stop before that we come back to the court that with 6‑4, 5‑3, I felt that was not positive for me, too, neither.

That’s true.  The last stop was important for me, especially because the conditions of play was not the normal ones in this court.

Q.  Congratulations.  You’ve won this title seven times.  Can you talk about that?  Novak said you’re definitely the best male player to ever play on this surface.  Can you address that?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, thanks for the words, what Novak said.

I don’t know if I am the best or not.  I really ‑‑ I am not the right one to say that.  The only thing is I have probably one of the best results ever probably in this kind of surfaces, and for me is great.

For me is a real emotional day, win another time here.  Sure, the seventh is important because I am the player who has more today, but like I said yesterday:  that’s after.  For me, the important thing is win Roland Garros even if it’s the first, second, third, or seventh, no?  That’s what makes me very happy, very happy the way that I played today, because I played much more aggressive.

In my opinion, I started very well yesterday the first three games, played fantastic levels.  But later, after that, I felt that I didn’t play fantastic yesterday after that first games, no?

I felt that today this set I played better than yesterday.  My serve especially worked very well, and my forehand, my movements, were more aggressive.

Q.  You say that you enjoy winning every title, but the emotions, when you went up to be with your family in the player’s box, they seemed very strong this time, maybe even stronger than normal.  Was it not that way?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, was that way, sure.  Was important victory for me.  I really spend a really hard day since yesterday.  You know, I am playing this match since Friday afternoon, so is a long time preparing the match.  Yesterday with all the stops and today, I really felt tired and nervous before the match.

My feeling was I wasn’t ready for the match one hour ago, two hours ago, two hours before the match, and I felt ready to go on court three minutes before.  That’s the first moment since we stop the match yesterday ‑‑ the first moment that I really felt that I am here to play and I feel confident to try was three minutes before go on court, because for the rest of the time I was a little bit too nervous, more nervous than usual probably for the situation.

Q.  Djokovic lost with you making a double fault on match point in Rome.  Then double fault on break point at 3‑All.

RAFAEL NADAL:  In three of them.

Q.  Three of them.  And then one in first game of the second set and match point today.  Do you think something change in his attitude that last year when he was invincible it would never have happened, or do you face him like he’s a little bit more tense than he was, for instance, last year or not?  Do you have a feeling that he’s changed or not?

RAFAEL NADAL:  The things are like this, you know.  You cannot expect to save all the moments fantastic well.  You cannot expect to be in every tournament playing at your best and saving the important moments with fantastic shots.

Seriously, if I say something wrong about Novak probably gonna be a big mistake, because don’t forget that he won in Australia, he won in Miami, played semifinals in Indian Wells losing 7‑6 in the third, playing final in Monte‑Carlo and final in Rome and final here.

So his season has been great, and the double faults, that’s only coincidence, in my opinion.  Don’t forget that last year he saved unbelievable match in the semifinals of US Open.  This year he saved two unbelievable matches at semifinals of Australian Open and final of Australian Open.

In this tournament he saved two sets down against Seppi.  He saved four match points against Tsonga.  You cannot expect save all the time like this, playing great like he did in the match points against Tsonga.

He’s doing fantastic, but is impossible for anyone play every time perfect.

Q.  Last year this time you won here, and then you didn’t win another title.  Do you think your level is higher now than it was a year ago, and will you be able to carry it over to other surfaces especially with success this time against Novak?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I won four titles already this year in my favorite court.  That’s clay.  I don’t have that chance to play in my favorite court the rest of the season.  That’s the thing.  No, no, no.  That’s the calendar.  The calendar says we only have this period of time on clay, and I don’t have more chances to play on clay.
Don’t forget that I play the last five Grand Slam finals in a row.  That’s not a victory, that’s not a title, but that’s fantastic results.

I don’t remember last year, but after here I played ‑‑ I played very bad in probably Montreal/Cincinnati.  Yes, I played a great US Open, and I played probably bad in Shanghai and in the end of the season in the World Tour Finals, but in the Davis Cup final I played great another time.

You have to find your moments, like I said.  With Novak I say the same to me.  Is not possible to be perfect every time, be 100% in every tournament.  And I gonna try to keep having chances to win, produce chances to win.  I produced a lot of chances to win last year, but I lost almost every one.

Hopefully I will keep playing well, and I will keep having chances to win and try to win.

Q.  I’m from Germany, and the German fans are a bit worried you might not go to Halle now.  Can you say if you decided yet?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yeah, I decided few months ago that tomorrow I will be there, and I will be practicing tomorrow afternoon there.  We play doubles on Wednesday and singles on Thursday if no one injury comes this night.  (Laughter.)

Q.        At the age you were last week, Bjørn Borg decided he didn’t want to play tennis anymore.  The way you feel right now, how many years do you think we have left of you?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I really don’t know how many more years I will be here playing.  Is impossible to predict the future, no?  I will be here until my physical respect me, until the injuries, you know, respect my chances to keep playing and until my mind stays with motivation, with passion for what I am doing.  Hopefully for a long time.  I don’t know.

That’s what I will try, and that’s my goal.  I work hard every day.  I wake up every day with enough motivation to go to practice and to keep improving.

When that change more days than usual, probably will be the time to say, Good‑bye, Guys, and see you in a lot of things.

That’s not the case today, I hope (laughter.)

Q.        You’re always very humble, but if I could ask you to brag a little bit, what would you point to as an explanation for why you have been so successful on clay, and particularly on here, so much better than everyone else?

RAFAEL NADAL:  In my opinion, not particularly here.  On clay, in general, yes, because I didn’t win more titles here than in Monte‑Carlo or Barcelona, won more than Rome, yes.

But in general, all the tournaments that I played on clay I had a good success the last eight years.  I don’t know.  I think I worked hard all my life.  I think my game naturally adapts very well to this surface.  My movements are probably the right ones to play here, and my natural shot probably is the right one to play on clay, the normal conditions, no?

So then probably my mental part probably on clay is one of the most important things, especially on clay, more than in the rest of the surfaces, because you have to run, you have to suffer sometimes, you have to play with more tactics, because you have more time to think, to do things.

Probably the reason is because I always was scared to lose.  That’s why I go on court every day against other opponent with the full respect, knowing that you can lose and you can win.

Then I think I was very focused for the last eight years, because winning as much as I did in this surface the last eight years is not because I played great every time.  Is impossible to play great every time.  Because when I played so‑so, I was there mentally.  The mental part was there 100%, so probably that’s why the reason.

THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions, please.

Q.  Congratulations, Rafa.  So apart from this magic number, seven, after all these years when you were fighting hard, you managed to get the support from the crowd.  Did you learn French?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I spent quite a lot of time in France, and I understand French very well when people speak it slowly.  And don’t forget that the French language is very close to Catalan language, so this is probably the reason why I tried.

Maybe I made a lot of mistakes, but I tried and people understood me, I think.  And the most important is that the crowd was great.  They supported me.  I want to thank the crowd, because it’s a fantastic feeling. 

The crowd was really supporting me, and that’s also why I want to make efforts and speak French.

Q.  I’d like to know if you think that this final today was the most difficult final in the seven you played here because you were playing against No. 1, because the conditions were appalling, and because the match was stopped.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I had already played against the No. 1 on quite a few occasions, and Federer was No. 1 for several years.  So this is not the reason.

It was very difficult because ‑‑ well, I think we need to analyze this match a bit more and analyze all the others, but this was a very complex final except for the last two sets.

I had lost three Grand Slam finals in a row to him.  That’s why it was important for me to win, and this is why I was a bit more nervous and there was a lot of emotions.

But the result was important for me, just as important as my final against Federer in 2006 or against Puerta.  But when I played Puerta, I had three set points, which was not the case here.

In 2010 it was difficult, but I didn’t suffer too much.  I was quite focused.  Last year was a difficult match with a lot of emotion.  I had had a few losses before.  Actually, this year I had won three finals on clay before, which gave me a lot of self‑confidence.

Of course I have great respect for the No. 1 on the other side of the court, but as I say, these are great moments, and in an athlete’s career, you need and remember those moments.

I feel better than last year.  Things change.  We all have ups and downs, but at the end of the day we were very close during that final.

Q.  As compared to the previous years, what is the salient point from this final?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, from a tennis standpoint, be realistic.  In 2010 I had won the final without losing any set, as in 2008.

This year I played better than in 2010, and this year, all along the tournament, if you take everything into consideration, I qualified for the final without losing any set.  I just had a tiebreaker against Almagro.
As for the rest, I had won quite easily to David, Monaco, Almagro, and when you play that well, means that you’re in great shape.  That’s a fact.

Then, for the final, I was obviously a bit more nervous than usual.  I started playing very well in the beginning, 3‑Love, 30‑Love.  I made a mistake.  Then the set became more complicated.  Then my game was no longer as clean as it used to be.  I made a few mistakes.

I think the three first games yesterday were my best level, and today when we resumed, I was slightly more aggressive with my forehand and I moved well on the court.  I was more aggressive.

I don’t like talking about the tournament.  I like to talk about the clay season.  But I can’t deny that this was probably my best season on clay.  I won three tournaments, and I managed to make it to the final of the fourth tournament before I lost my first set.

So Rome, Monte‑Carlo.  You all know it’s not easy to achieve such result without losing one set.

So of course I’m very happy.

Q.  I wanted to ask you a question.  This awards ceremony in Paris is quite special with the National Anthem being played.  It’s quite special.  What do you feel?  You were probably feeling great emotions.  What came to your mind at that moment?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, as I said before, there was a lot of emotion.  There is always in such moments.  You don’t know if you will ever win another victory.  You don’t know if this year is going to be the last one.
I achieved it this year, but as time goes by, you give more value to those very precious moments.  When you play at a very high level with such beautiful seasons ‑‑ look at what happened last year, for instance.  I lost three Grand Slam finals in a row.  And you realize that you’re about to win, as in the US Open, and I felt I could win the match and I didn’t.

In Australia I was pleased with the tennis I played, yet I was a bit disappointed, as well, because I had the opportunity of winning.  I have four opportunities in a year, and you can’t expect to play your best tennis all the time.  And to win a Grand Slam, you have to play your best tennis.

There are very few opportunities, so you have to make the most.  If I had lost a fourth final, this would have been very difficult for me.  So I felt it really was worth it giving my best, given everything I have achieved since the beginning of the season or even since the beginning of my career.

When you lose, it’s because you don’t deserve the title.  So in my mind, this was the final I had to win.  This is why there was a lot of emotion.

Q.  I remember during the US Open when you said, I know what I have to do.  Now that you’ve won all those titles here in Paris, what kind of feelings do you have, or will you start feeling something in a few hours’ time?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Of course I’m very happy.  I want to think my Uncle Toni, my family, my friends, all the people who supported me.  After the US Open when I said, I know what I have to do to win, of course I know.  Now the question is:  Am I capable of doing that?  There is theory and there is what you do.  So I just wanted to give a bit of context to that sentence.

In Australia I was not in a very good shape, mentally speaking.  I could have won, but for mental reasons, as I had lost, I was probably not in the best mental status.  Now I’m here, I made it, I did everything I could to win this match.  For me, it’s great emotion.

Maybe at the beginning of the year you start thinking, okay, what’s the tournament I really want to win and I want to start playing in a very good shape?  Well, for me, it’s this one.

I also know that my season is going to be good moving on, because I’m in great shape, but I’m very pragmatic, and I need to prepare for the others.

Q.  Did you sleep well last night or did you see the match in your head or did you watch the soccer team?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yes, I watched the soccer match in the locker room.  I didn’t see it when Italy scored a goal, but I didn’t want to watch my match nor read any articles or anything, so I looked at TV, the news a bit, and the football game.

Then I watched a series, and strangely enough, I had no movie to watch.  So I went to bed at midnight.  Then I looked at chapters of Sengoku and that was it, because I had no movies.  So I read a few chapters of my favorite comic book.  I read those three times, and I fell asleep.

Courtesy: Freedom Tennis

Rafa's Semi Final Press Conference

Q.  Of your many memorable matches on this particular court, how highly would that rate amongst your victories, do you think?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Today?

Q.  Yes, today.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Sure was one of my best matches in this court, yeah.  I think I played really solid match with not easy conditions out there, a lot of wind.

In my opinion I did almost everything right, because my serve worked very well, changing directions.  My backhand was the best day so far today.  The forehand, I hit well the forehand during all the tournament.  Today wasn’t an exception.

But probably today the only difference is today I played close to the baseline and last day when I came here after the match after Almagro, I say that I would like to play a little bit more closer to the baseline, more inside, than the last match.

I will need to try to beat against the next opponents.  I did today.  I am very happy; sorry for David.  He deserve it.  He’s a great fighter.  He’s always there week after week.

Sure, it’s very important victory for me, and to win with this result against one of the best players of the moment, one of the best players of the world, is because I did very well.  If not, is impossible to win against David like this.

Q.  How close to perfection is your game at the moment?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I don’t believe in perfection, no?  I really don’t like to talk about perfection, because that, my opinion, doesn’t exist.  You can play always better.

But, sure, I am very happy the way that I am playing.  Probably today was my best much on the tournament.  That’s fantastic, play my best match in one semifinals and against probably the more difficult opponent that I play here.

Q.  It’s easier to break serve on clay?  You have been broken only once in the tournament.  It’s pretty amazing.  How can you explain that?

RAFAEL NADAL:  I say the other day, sure, is easier to have breaks on clay.  But I say the other day, the first two rounds, in my opinion, I didn’t serve very well.  My serve didn’t work very well.

But I only lost one time my serve in the first round against Bolelli.  In the second set I think.  Or the third, second, I don’t know, but I was 4‑Love, 30‑Love.

I played very well from the baseline during all the tournament.  I played without mistakes.  But that’s true, after the first two rounds my serve started to work much better.

And the combination of serving well with good percentage, changing directions.  After that, we followed that with very good game from the baseline.  Playing aggressive with my forehand with no mistakes is more difficult to have breaks.

But, anyway, only lose one time is a coincidence, because I have break points against.  I saved a few ones like today on the beginning with lucky.

Is impossible only arrive to a final of Grand Slam with only one break on clay without a little bit of lucky in some moments.  But that’s true that probably I saved less moments than usual with my serve.

Q.  You’re obviously totally focused when you begin a match.  Are you a bit surprised, disappointed, that a Grand Slam semifinal, the first set, the stadium is half empty, particularly around the court?

RAFAEL NADAL:  No.  Is the timing probably wasn’t the best.  1:00 is probably not the best timing.  That’s the reason, no, in my opinion.  I played almost every day ‑‑ I can’t say every day with a full court.

Is not disappointing when you play since the first round, you know, with full crowd, full stadium in every round and you arrive to the semifinals, you play 1:00 in the afternoon.  At 1:00 is a little bit early, no?  I see after, at the end of the match, the court was almost everything full.

The normal thing, in my opinion ‑‑ I don’t remember very well, but last couple years we started at 2:00?  1:00, too?  Always at 1:00?

I had the feeling that we started at 2:00.  I don’t know why.

Q.  There was one great point during that rally with more than 30 strokes.  You fell on your back.  How did you react?  What went through your mind when you slipped?  And then afterwards, what do you think about such a point?  What does it say about tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL:  You know, is a combination of a few things, you know.  Confidence, because I was playing well in that moment.  I was playing better and better, and I fell down ‑‑ it was in the second set or beginning of the second, probably, yes, with 30‑All.

So, you know, I came from a few very good games after the 2‑1 against me in the beginning of the first.  I played like five, six games, very solid ones, playing better and better in every moment.

So you arrive to this situation, 30‑All, you play a fantastic point, you fall down, but seriously I saw the ball all the time.  Sometimes even if I lost the balance of my ball and I fell down, I was watching the ball in every moment.

So even if I am on the floor, I had the time to hit the ball in reasonable good position, no?  That’s all.

Q.  You lost two games to Juan Monaco in a previous round, very good player, highly regarded player.  Today the No. 6 player in the world gets five games off you.  What do you think that says about the level of competition to you on clay, on this surface, at the moment from the rest of the players?

RAFAEL NADAL:  The level of competition always is very high.  We cannot expect to have less competition this year than last year.  For example, that I saved a few different difficult matches.  I lost matches on clay.

The reason is probably playing one of my best levels on clay the last couple of matches.  That’s the reason of the results.  You know, I only remember these results on me in 2008 here.

To have these results always you have to unify a little different facts.  Today, for example, I saved a very important point at 2‑1 in the first set.  You never know if he have the 3‑1, he was playing better than me at the beginning of the match, just beginning, and you never know what’s going on.

But that’s tennis; that’s the sport.  Sometimes you feel great.  Seems like everything is going in your favor.  Sometimes you feel the opposite.

But the reason is I am playing well since the beginning of the season.  I am having almost perfect clay court season, and we’ll see what’s going on in the final.  It’s gonna be a very tough match, and doesn’t matter what’s happened during all the tournament.

That’s going to be a special match against No. 1 or No. 3 of the world.  I will see what’s going on, because it will be a very difficult battle for me.

Q.  I got the microphone three questions ago, and now you answered a bit.  So you’re more confident than ever now the way you’re playing since this is the fourth time already that you are in the final without losing a set?  This is different from the other times when you got to the final without losing a set?  Are you even more confident because you are playing much, much better, you don’t give any chance to any player or?

RAFAEL NADAL:  No, no.  The only thing that I don’t think is I am in the final without losing a set.  The way that I think is I am in the final; I am playing well; hopefully I can play one more match at this level.  That’s all.

Difficult to compare the feeling of 2008 with 2010, with 2011, because every year you have a different feeling, different situations, different experiences you arrive with.  You know, you are very much older, I am today.

The experience give me that you can lose when you are playing fantastic; you can win when you are not playing that well.  You have to be with calm, with feet on the floor and fighting every ball, and try to be ready for Sunday.  Hopefully I will.

But more or less confidence than 2008 and 2010 or 2005, that really doesn’t matter, because only thing that’s going to matter is how I’m going to play on this Sunday.

Q.  We’re now guaranteed that 28 of the last 29 Grand Slams have been won by three players, whoever wins the semifinal.  But can you give some thoughts on this kind of dominance from three players?  Never really seen that in men’s tennis before.

RAFAEL NADAL:  I am not the right one to say that probably, because any word I will say will sound arrogant maybe.  So that’s not the way that I like to answer the question.  So you can answer, and other people.

But I think that’s much the answer, no, because is difficult for me to answer this question.

THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions, please.

Q.  We saw you when you were there on the court.  Nelson Monfort was speaking in Spanish and you were answering in French.  Why?  Well, by the way, this was a good thing to do; we could understand you clearly.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, French and Catalan are languages that are quite similar.  You know, at the end of the day there are a few words that I’ve learnt, you know, after coming here.

Sometimes I dare; sometimes I wouldn’t dare to speak French.

Q.  You’ve probably said this in English, but I’d like to ask you how you feel now that you’re going to play the finals.  Are you as happy as before, that is, the previous years?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, thank you very much.  I’m really glad.  I’m highly motivated, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.  I’m really happy.  I’m looking forward to it.

And, you know, you can’t save a country if you’re not motivated enough, if you haven’t got enough energy.  You can’t look forward to it.  So I’m really very happy and looking forward to the finals.

Q.  It’s your seventh finals here in Paris.  What does this mean for you now that you’re going to play the finals?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, you know, this means I play well.  I’m playing a good type of tennis.  I’ve improved since last year, and things have turned out quite positively for me since the beginning of the year.

And then I’ll be playing the Grand Slam finals, which is something quite special for me.  This tournament is special for me.  I’m really happy to reach this level, that is, the finals.

Considering what’s happened so far, I’d say this tournament has been excellent for me, and then we’ll see what happens next, what is is going to happen during the finals.

I mean, if I were to win I’d be very happy, but the best thing for me is to reap the fruit of these so many years of work.

I’d like to change my style a little and be more aggressive, slightly more aggressive.  Anyway, I’m really happy to reach the finals irrespective of what might happen during the finals, because I’ve improved.  I’ve gone a notch up, if you will.

My level has improved slightly against last year’s.  I’ll see if I win or lose.  But I’m satisfied and happy, because I’ve already improved.

Last year I had the impression I didn’t really play that well; whereas this year I’m playing really well.  But that’s sport, you know.  So far, so good.

I’ll still practice and work on a number of things.  Of course, on Sunday I’ll play my best tennis.

Q.  You’ve said you’ve gone a notch up or you’ve gone through a step.  Do you think you’ve reached your best type of tennis on clay, or close to it?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I don’t really remember.  Are you talking about 2008 or are you talking about 2010 or 2005?  I don’t know.  You know, it’s a bit complicated.  I don’t really realize.

But anyway, the thing I can tell you is that I’ve changed a number of things in my game.  My level is still very high, which is something very positive.  It’s equally important to have the right feelings, and to have the impression that you’re improving is something important.

It counts to be motivated.  I’m still very much eager to learn and do things all the time better and better.

This is what motivates me, what makes me happy.  I’m not talking about my results, which is the logical consequence of what I’ve just said.  But my objective, as I’ve always said, is to always improve day after day.

Q.  As we’ve said, it’s your seventh finals here at Roland Garros.  The score was 6‑2, 6‑2, 6‑1.  You have 51 victories and 51 consecutive sets won on clay, which is incredible.  All of these statistics and records are incredible.  It’s extraordinary, as if you were not a human being.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, no.  I am, of course.  I think that there are things I understand today better than before.  I work daily; I practice daily; I meet these objectives daily without really thinking about them.

Each time you’re on the courts, you know, you know that you might lose, as well; you might be defeated.  So I have to keep a low profile about it; we have to be humble.

By the way, you know, these statistics don’t come out of the blue.  This is the result of the work I’ve put in day in, day out.

Also it’s thanks to this desire that I have to improve that I’ve had all of these results.  Without all of these ingredients I couldn’t have done what you have said, all of these numbers that I was not really aware of.

Then I’ll have to continue and practice and work and keep my focus until Sunday so that I can continue and then finish the season.  So far I got off to a really good start.  I’m really satisfied with what’s happened.

I’m really happy about the things that life has given me so far.

Q.  Some of your points were incredible, and the games, as well.  There was one where you were on the clay seated; that was incredible.  Has this happened to you before, to win a point this way?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I think so.  I think in Wimbledon almost the same type of situation, a passing shot.  I can’t remember how I won the point or not.  It was either Wimbledon or Queen’s.  I think I got the point once against Federer, the other one against Djokovic.

So Federer was the finals at Wimbledon, and Djokovic was at Queen’s, I think, almost.  So I fell at that moment, but I knew I could still hit the ball.  You know, I wanted to come to the net but the ball had not bounced high enough, so I couldn’t volley and I fell.

In any case, my eyes were always on the ball.  I’m not saying it’s easy.  I didn’t feel like it was easy.  But my eyes were constantly on the ball.

Then when I realized I couldn’t volley, I thought, Okay, it’s still within reach.  I can hit it, I thought.

Q.  In a nutshell, since 2005 how did you manage to learn more and more?  How did you acquire more and more experience?  Would you say that your tennis today is richer than before?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, yes.  You know, you constantly learn new things.  You have to remember a number of things, a number of ingredients.  Sometimes you might lose some of these ingredients.

Maybe I’ve lost some of my energy.  When I was younger I could rally longer, I think.  Everything was a novelty for me.  Today perhaps there is less novelty about it for me.

But otherwise I think that tennis will very much depend on the surface you play on.  The game will be different on a different surface.

As I said before, that is, during my first press conference, I said, In the past I will try and play as many tournaments as I could.  Now I play half of the tournaments on clay compared to what I would do in the past.

I think that in terms of my moves, I move better on clay.  I don’t feel as much electricity as I felt in the past, but I think that it’s true to say that my tennis has improved.

Q.  In another conference you said that this year you have more confidence, you’re more aggressive, you play better tennis compared to last year’s tennis.  You also said that this started in Australia, even though you were defeated in the finals.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, yes, if I lose again I will say exactly the same.

Q.  The question is:  You’ve played excellent tennis in Australia; that was your best level probably.  Now with your victories against Djokovic in Rome and Monte‑Carlo, would you say these victories were very important for you so that you could come up with this level of tennis at Roland Garros?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, no.  You know, these are two victories, okay, but you can win only if you have enough confidence, if you’re serene.

You know, this level, I had it in Australia already.  This is when it started, even though I lost seven points in a row in Australia, I think.

However, my level in Australia is similar to today’s level.  The surface was faster, the conditions were more complicated, but yet I played an excellent type of tennis.  I was defeated during the finals, which might again happen this year.

So after losing the finals in Australia, I thought, however, I’m satisfied.  I played good tennis.  I’m satisfied with my tournament so far.

I was sad because I had been beaten; yet I was proud, proud of my style, the way I had fought back.  There was a passing shot, a backhand along the line which I missed, which was otherwise easy.

But that’s sports, you know.  We have to accept this.  And the fact of winning or losing is one thing, that’s true, but we should never forget the reality of things.  I won in Rome and Monte‑Carlo because my tennis was better against Djokovic.

Maybe I’ve won today because my level was better.  And the fact of beating and defeating Djokovic, that’s true, gave me more confidence.  Sometimes you have positive streaks; sometimes you have negative streaks.  They don’t come out of the blue.

So it’s all very nice to look at things from a distance or afterwards.  But one should be careful in doing this so as not to come up with misconstrued ideas.  We have to look at reality.

If today I win a match, that’s okay.  If I lose one, it’s due to a number of ingredients.  That’s life.  You know, that’s sports.  We shouldn’t look too far or too deep for reasons sometimes.

Q.  I think sometimes that you said in Australia you found your way.  Where did you find this new path, this new way?  Was it in New York or somewhere else?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, in New York, that’s true, mentally I was better.  I was more demanding.  I know how far I can go, which is something I couldn’t do before; whereas in Australia, in Melbourne, I decided to try and find his limits, the opponent’s limits, because I believed in what I was doing.

Mentally the situation was different in Australia, in Melbourne, compared to the US Open.  According to me, I was mentally better in New York.

Found once again at FreedomTennis

Rafa's Press Conference Transcript

Once again, this was found via FreedomTennis

Q.  Can we say that today it was a really first good test of the tournament for you because it was interesting match?

RAFAEL NADAL:  The tests are every day, no?  If the No. 14 or 15 of the world is not a test, against Monaco it's a good test.  At the end, you know, the match wasn't that difficult.

But before the match was a real test for me, because Monaco arrived to the match playing probably one of the best levels of his career, clay court specialist.  At the end wasn't the right test, because I won with comfortable result.

No, today, sure, you cannot expect more than a test.  It's a quarterfinals.  It's a difficult match.  You play against win of the best players of the world and especially one of the best players of the world in this surface.

Sure, you cannot expect to win an easy match in quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, quarterfinals of Roland Garros.  Was a tough one, but I am through and I am very happy.

Q.  In the third set Almagro was hitting the ball very well.  He was close to the break.  What was your feeling at that moment?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Just try to wait for my moment.  That's true that I was a little bit ‑‑ he had chances in the third.  He had a few very good moments hitting the ball very hard.  But I had ‑‑ with 1‑0 I had a few deuce; with 3‑2 I had a break point; with the 4‑3 I finally had the break, no.

So I had my chances too.  It's true that he had a few chances, important ones.  But my serve worked really well, and he had one mistake, one important mistake with the forehand.

He had the control of the point in that moment, but wasn't very easy to hit that forehand.  He tried to hit, in my opinion, not the right ball.  He had the mistake.

My thoughts in that moment just I am two sets up; wait for my moment; try to play aggressive when I have the chance.  Because was very difficult to play aggressive against a player who, from the first ball, hit the ball that fast, no, and with that power.

I tried when I had the chance, and I played well mentally in the third.  My serve was important, sure.

Q.  Have you watched any part of Djokovic's and Federer's matches yesterday?  If yes, what have you been thinking about it?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Yes, I watched the first set and second of Federer here.  After, I went back to hotel and on the TV I saw Tsonga and Djokovic, yes.  Federer wasn't ‑‑ the France, they didn't show Federer match.

So I saw the Tsonga and Djokovic one, and was a good match to see.  My opinion Tsonga played fantastic for moments.  He was a little bit unlucky, that's the true.  But in my opinion, he had two mistakes in two match points, important ones.  The first was a passing shot with his backhand.  He hit the ball probably in the worst place to hit, against the forehand volley of the opponent.

So his chances was volley and backhand, not forehand, in my opinion, but is very difficult in that moment, no.  After, he hit the ball to the net with his forehand with another match point.  It probably wasn't the right ball to hit.  He had to wait a little bit for another one.

But that's the game.  That's the sport.  Both players deserve to win.  Djokovic saved a lot, fighted a lot, and he maintained his focus.

So anyone would be the right winner, but finally it was no Novak.  Well done.

Q.  Can you tell the world about David Ferrer?  He's still playing right now, but what in his game, if you play against him in the semifinal, could possibly annoy you?  Do you think he could annoy you even more than Nicolas?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Nothing new.  We played each other a lot of times.  We played in Barcelona, and I won 7‑6, 7‑6.  His game bothers everybody because he's one of the best players in the world in every surface, in clay especially.

Everything, he's a complete player.  It's very difficult to play against him, because his movements are probably the best of the world, and he's able to hit the ball very early a lot of the times.

If it's David, will be a very tough match.  I had a very tough first set in Rome against him.  I had tough first set in Barcelona.  I was able to win, but anything can happen in that set.

But at the end, don't forget it's semifinals of Roland Garros.  Against who do you want to play?  You have to play against the best of the world.  The only way to be in the final of a big tournament like this is playing your best tennis.

If I want to be in the final, my only way is play aggressive, play my best tennis.  That's what I going to try.

Q.  Just to follow up on the match yesterday, Tsonga/Djokovic, obviously Tsonga missed one forehand but Djokovic played very aggressive and bold on the match points.  Do you have some thoughts on what is the source of the ability to do that?  Is it calmness?  Is it experience?  Confidence?  How is a player able to make those shots with so much on the line?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, we can talk a lot about these things, but at the end is a feeling.  You have to be brave to do it in that moments.  But for some reasons, these players who are the best in the world, players who are No. 10, players who are No. 20 and No. 30 and No. 50, No. 100, that's the real thing.

In the end, let's talk about not that moment, because that's at the end of the day, a little bit of lucky, little bit of everything.  It's like when you talk about the return of Djokovic in semifinals of US Open last year against Federer.  You are brave to do it that, yes, or you are crazy.

So, you know, anything can happen.  It's a little bit of lucky, little bit of everything, little bit of you are good, you are with confidence.  But yesterday we cannot talk about that moment, you know, personally, no?

Because that's a limit situation and anything can happen.  He did very well, but the first forehand that he hit against the backhand of the Jo was almost on the line.  So the ball can go out.  That's the true.

But a player like Novak probably create more chances to save opportunities like this.  Not in match point, but to save tough matches like yesterday that he's in a trouble situation, difficult one.  He's fighting.  He put another ball inside the court, and he puts pression all the time on Tsonga.

Probably another kind of player playing against Tsonga, very inspired, playing in front of his crowd and playing very well don't going to fight that much, no?

But I tell you, that's question is why he's No. 1 of the world.  That's all.

Q.  Rafa, you said that there are major and minor records to beat.  You have seven semifinals like Federer, just you two, plus a third one.  Since I lost a bet once with you, if you know who's the third one, we can bet on that and I'll tell you 10 minutes after the press conference.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Sorry.  I don't know.  Can you repeat?  You are very focused on the records this week and I am not.

Q.  I'm saying just only you and Federer have made seven semifinals at the Roland Garros, plus a third player.  Just asking if you have any idea who could be the third one.  That's it.  I'll tell you later.

RAFAEL NADAL:  I don't know, because Borg won six times but I think that he lost against Panatta both.

Q.  This is a question from fans.  We're moving away from tennis for two seconds.  They know that you are a big fishing fan, and they would like to know the biggest fish you caught, and has it ever been so big that it scared you?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Disappointing, no. No, I am not that good.  I'm an amateur at fishing.  When I go, I go with friends who really knows what to do.  When I am able to have time and holiday and go, I go.

But, you know, the problem with fishing is, one, you have to go early in the morning.  It's not because I don't like to go early in the morning.  I love to wake up early and go for fishing, but I practice in the morning.  That's the thing, no?

My uncle will not be very happy if I tell him that today I going to practice in the afternoon because I go for fishing.  That's the problem, no?

THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions.

Q.  Up until now you've only lost one set.  You saved a certain number of difficult balls, and I think your confidence is growing.

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, in fact you need to face the situation.  It's true if I'd not lost any set and not lost my serve, it would have been a miracle.  It's just impossible to achieve that.  You need to face the facts.

In all tournaments where I made it to the quarterfinals or semifinals, when I went deep in the tournament I needed to have a very powerful serve.  Sometimes there are matches when you can turn the match around.

But it's true that this year my serve works very well, and I managed to turn a match around in Monte‑Carlo or Barcelona or even in Rome.  I lost my serve, but on very few occasions.

So I think you have to be consistent.  But it's true that I served better during the two last rounds.  During the very first rounds here, my serve was not well adjusted.  I was making mistakes and I was playing from the baseline quite a lot.

Today I managed to score the most difficult points and I had a very good serve.  So when you serve a winner, then it's perfect.  At the moment everything is fine.

Q.  Rafa, in 2010 we're talking about your quarterfinals against Almagro.  Did you think about this match before you played him today, or was it a match during which Nicolas played better?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, it was 7‑6, 7‑6, 6‑3 in 2010, so I did not remember that match so much.  But last time he was playing better than me.  During the tiebreak I was very aggressive.  I played well.

The third set was more clear.  But at the beginning of that match he played very well.  His serve was exceptional.  At the end of the third set I was playing much better.  I was moving much better on the court.

The third set was similar to the match we played today.  It was 6‑3.  But this time he hit very hard.  He really went for his shots.  He played very well.

I think at 3‑2 he had a beautiful return.  I made a few mistakes.  I think the one big mistake I made was with my footwork on the court.  Otherwise I played well.  I gave everything I had.  I played well when I had to save a point.

And when I could start attacking, I did.  When I could be aggressive, I was.

Q.  You've reached the semifinals, and you know that Djokovic suffered a bit against his opponent.  Would you say it can be helpful to you?  And Federer's match was long, as well.

RAFAEL NADAL:  No, this won't have an impact.  They'll have two days of rest, so everything is fine.  It's true that against Del Potro it was a very strange match.

Well, I didn't see the whole match.  I watched the other one.  But after I saw what I saw, I was very much surprised.  6‑2, 6‑Love, Del Potro/Federer, I did not understand exactly what happened during that match.  But with two days' rest I don't think they will have any problem.

Q.  You played eight matches against Almagro.  There were five tiebreakers and you won them all.  When you reach a decisive moment, you make the difference.  This is why you have very good statistics.  What would you say about that?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, the answer is yes and no, because matches are not all decided at one very specific time.  I can't remember all of the results, but if you talk about tiebreakers, let me see.  In Madrid he was leading.  He had a break point.  There were three tiebreakers during the last matches I played here.

Might have been the others were in the US Open or Bercy.  Bercy, yes.  You're right.  He almost won; 40‑Love when he was serving.  Yes, you're right.  You're right.

But the surface is totally different here, and it was at the end of 2009 when I was not in a great shape.  I think these are well deserved semifinals.  Very tight matches were Madrid and Paris.  I was very lucky.

But winning a tiebreaker, you can't say you can win a tiebreaker with just a few points.  I mean, it was 5‑7, and during the three other matches I won in three sets.  Another one, I can't remember which, but result was very close.

But sometimes you can lose and set, and then things can be more complicated.  You can lose confidence.  We could talk about it for hours if you'd like.  I was a bit lucky.  The most important is that I managed to get through.

Q.  I wanted to ask you a question about David Ferrer.  He is up 5‑3 in the third set.  You said he deserved more than his result.  What would you say?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I don't want him to go too far, too deep in the tournament, but of course he deserves a lot.  He's a great player.

Apart from the fact that we get on very well together, his tennis is impressive.  He is very consistent.  He gets exceptional results.  He is very consistent, and has been for many years.

His season on clay has been great so far, except in Monte‑Carlo when he was a bit tired.  But he also played the Davis Cup; he played Barcelona.  Okay, let's not talk about his quarterfinals in Madrid and semifinals in Rome.  But each time he played with very beautiful tennis.

He only lost to me in Barcelona and Rome, and the matches were very close.  I think he made it to the quarterfinals in Miami, if I'm not mistaken.  That was against Djokovic.  So he would only lose to the best in the world, and he sometimes wins.

So I would like Ferrer to be able to win not just here, but also in Bercy and other tournaments.  He has already won quite a few tournaments.

To be honest, I don't hope ‑‑ I'm not hoping he wins here.  I won't tell you the opposite.

Q.  What about the other semifinal?  Considering Federer and Djokovic's level, would you say that Djokovic has more chance to win?

RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I don't know.  It all depends on how you feel personally.  If Djokovic feels confident at the moment, it has to do with your mental state.

I don't know who is going to win.  It's the one who's going to play best the day after tomorrow.  You can't analyze this.  These are matches in which the best players in the world are very close.

Who would have said last year that Djokovic and Federer ‑‑ that Federer would win last year?  I mean, this is a sport in which you can't make any prediction.  It's just impossible.

I Spoke To Rafa In His Press Conference!

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe how lucky I was yesterday. I got to ask Rafa 3 questions in his press conference after the Istomin match.

In the video my questions are the first 2 then the one about his birthday (which is rather funny).

Vamossssssssssssssssssssss

Press Conference Video

Rafa Has A Hit At The Country Club

The Paris Country Club in Rueil Malmaision is the place to be.

Not only is there a pre French Open tournament taking place but Rafa has been there for a practice session.

Here are a few pics: