Q. You have now played Roger twice this season, and so many times in the past. Does he seem this year to you, from how he’s played in those two matches, more relaxed than he was in the past on court?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. In Australia was a very close match. I had good chances to win. Today, not. Today he played better than me. I didn’t play my best match, and he played well.
These kind of matches, when you’re not playing your match, is impossible to win.
Q. The way he’s hitting his backhand, and you sort of changing your serving variation a bit, has that changed the way you two match up?
RAFAEL NADAL: The way what?
Q. The way you two match up. The way he’s hitting his backhand and you changing your serving patterns a little bit, has that changed the matchup?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I think was always that he returned well. But at the same time, it was obvious that I didn’t have the right answer for his returns, no? I needed to neutralize the points. I needed to neutralize his two first balls, and I didn’t.
So then playing two shots, he’s better than me today. And five years ago, ten years ago, always was better than me, no?
I was a little bit better than him in general when I neutralized the first two shots, and then I can manage it a little bit better the point, no?
So I was not enough good tonight to make that happen, and he deserved the victory, for sure. Very easy.
Q. On this court with high bounce it would be an advantage for you. Were you surprised the court wasn’t helping your game more than with this?
RAFAEL NADAL: Is always the same. You need to play well.
The court or doesn’t matter the surface. You need to play your best if you want to have chances to win, and I did not play my best. It’s obvious that I have to congratulate him because he played a great match.
But I have to think from my side, and I think I can do it much better, and I think I gonna do it much better next time.
Q. Do you see a certain difference the way Roger plays against you on the backhand side since he has a bigger racquet, racquet size?
RAFAEL NADAL: You have to speak to him. I don’t know about his racquet. I don’t know about these things.
He’s always played well, very aggressive, and his backhand was enough good to win the match.
But at the same time it’s obvious, as I said before, no, I need to hit longer and I need to hit higher, longer to create him problems, no?
I was not able to do that, and then he was advantage. The main thing he take the break in the first game, and I had break point in the next game and come back and he had a good serve.
When Roger have advantage, his serve is so good, he has a lot of confidence with his serve, he’s able to play much more relaxed, no?
Worst thing in that match for me was from the beginning I was in disadvantage breaking the first game of the match, and then breaking the second game of the second set. So that’s so difficult to play against Roger this way.
Q. ITF is debating changing Davis Cup to best of three-set matches instead of best of five. Would that make it easier for you and other top players to play Davis Cup?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t want to talk about that today. Sorry. Sorry. No, no. I spoke about that earlier. Maybe you were not here, but I spoke for a long answer of that question, so you can check it.
As I said the other day, it was not right the way that the people write it, I think was not right. I said the good thing is the new start, the new president, is trying to do changes, and that’s always going to be good. I don’t know if the changes are the right ones or not, but any change will be good, because it’s always that with the old format things were not going enough well for Davis Cup.
But there is issues that can be better.
Q. With Roger getting the early first breaks, how did that affect your mentality with respect to going for more on your serves today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Repeat? Sorry.
Q. Roger getting the early breaks and you’ve been working to increase the velocity of your serves this week, we have been seeing success with that, but having that pressure of him already being up a break, how did that affect you mentally in deciding to go for more?
RAFAEL NADAL: Not mentally. But it’s about tennis. It’s about the mental part in this case. No, I was there. I was fighting. I was trying to find solutions. I tried to serve quicker. I tried to serve changing more directions, and I was trying to return inside and in the back.
Was not today. That’s all.
Q. After a loss like this, do you go over it, do you think about it for a long time, or are you able to quickly put it behind you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. A lot of years here. When you feel that you are playing bad or you are in a bad moment, maybe stays a little bit longer in your mind. Is not my case, no?
I started great the season, playing great tennis, winning a lot of matches, playing good tennis.
Today I didn’t play my best, but I am really confident I gonna play well in Miami this week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
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Hi Susie , you must have posted while I was still typing , I just said the same thing.
Oh for god sake , apparently Nick has food poisoning, seems a bit strange but I can’t think why else he would have pulled out , as I believe he would have beaten Roger.i was looking forward to the match tonight , ( nick that will teach you to pinch chips of a random stranger in the crowd Lol).Guess now it will probably be an all Swiss final
Ahh just found out – suspected food poisoning. Bugger. I was looking forward to that match!
Why has he withdrawn does anyone know? As if Roger needs that kinda luck!
Food poisoning!
Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn so Federer gets a walkover 😔
Roger should be renamed ‘Lucky Roger Federer’
oops…..it must have been an older replay of Goffin beating Warinka the other day…. I just saw the brief TB at the end and that outcome & delight is as rewarding….: )
Hope Nick takes the lead other wise we will see Warinka plays princess, and you know what will be happening….when the 2 swiss play warinka never plays to win…….
OLA OLA OLA DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 Como Estas sweetheart amigo??????? Tha’s about all the Spanish I know….: ) We are very happy for you and sending great weekend wishes your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Enjoy and have a fantastic time with all your hard work and days off between tours. The remaining tour btw, has zero interest for us and we could not be bothered to put in the time to watch the rest. The magic is gone when you leave the courts….. VAMOS SWEETHEART & lots of love & happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
In your interview Rafa you sound very confident and positive about Miami, read that you are going to “cause damage.”
Cause as much damage as possible. GOOD LUCK.
RAFA ROCKS
Rafa to cause damage at Miami, Margo? Did I read you write or something???
Well, I’d have to see it to believe it, won’t I now? lol
But as always, we’d see………….hmmnn
GOOD LUCK at Miami, RAFA.
RAFA ROCKS
FED SAID ,RAFA WAS NOT OK BUT WOULD NOT SAY ,BLESS HIM BUT I HAVE TI SAY
RAFA HAS DONE IT ALL BEFORE AND BEATEN FED WHAT IS ALL HE FUSS ABOUT
RAF IS MY MAN, JUST ENJOY RAFA LOVE XXXXXXXXXXX
Jill, I totally agree with you! What is all the fuss about? Now their rivalry is more interesting.
I know Rafa and Roger are both great champions and already legends. The funny thing is my perception of them after they are retired (years away, thankfully!) is the following:
I can see Roger going on all the legends’ tours globally and being put on a pedastal everywhere he goes. And I can see Rafa cultivating and training the next generation of tennis players at his
Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy. (Extraordinary accomplishment for an active player!)
What I love about them is their mutual respect for each other and genuine friendship.
Both are great ambassadors of tennis. They actually compliment each other.
But always with Rafa!
Would you feel like discussing your opponent’s racquet if you had suffered such an ugly loss? Get angry, move on, and win the next one! Clearly, some crucial
aspect of his game was not clicking in this match-there is no better antidote to
such a loss than a solid win. So-bring it on. Does Wawrinka think of a matchup
with Kyrgios? Just saying……….😀💪👍👊❤️
Federer n est pas meilleur que rafa simplement plus à l aise car il ne se met plus cette pression que rafa se met tjrs encore il me semble ! Vamos rafa 👑👑👑👑
Always with you <3
Always feel good to hear from Rafa :).
He sounds positive and optimistic as usual, giving fans hope and kind of reminding everyone “I’m still here”.
But isn’t the “I don’t know about his racquet” thing way too casual? Everybody knows about Fed’s new big racquet and that he now hits even harder than he did 10 years ago. Why Toni and Moya didn’t mention this and make a plan really bewilders me.
Fed’s new racquet and backhand plus a super clear and aggresive game plan combined with the decline in Rafa’s FH and movement, not to mention the mental shift in both of them, result in the outcome of their last 3 matches. Hope Rafa will find a way to turn it around.
Rafa sounds calm but I feel like he’s on fire inside now. A new challenge called Roger Federer has reappeared! The player he’s always been trying to catch up to and surpass FROM DAY ONE. That’s definitely a good sign!
Yeah. Be inspired back by him, Rafa. Be on fire. Find solutions. Have even more heart and determination. You’ll definitely can do it!
Anyone here is feeling better today? 🙂
VAMOS! 💪🏻💪🏻🎾🎾🏆🏆
No, I’m not feeling better yet but thanks for asking:) LOL. Great points Vy. I really wonder how much Roger can possibly have improved at 35 or how much really is due to Rafa’s reduced firing power. I don’t play tennis so really don’t know if a new racquet can make that much difference. Roger said that when he hit with Rafa before the match the spin wasn’t giving him problems and that continued throughout the match.
Yeah it can make a big difference with talents like Fed. He’s been honing his backhand for years – Rafa initiated it. He said it himself that he would be practising and thinking abt how to make the rivalry “respectable” for Rafa.
“Rafa, you’ve been the one that influenced and inspired me the most. I had to reinvent many things in my game thanks to you.”
(Federer@Rafa Nadal Academy, Oct 2016)
I think the biggest improvement in Roger’s game (against Rafa) is that he is more relaxed, and willing to take more risk. After all, what does he have to lose (by playing more aggressive, taking more risk)? Imagine the situation in AO, going back a couple of years, Roger wouldn’t have pulled out the win. If Rafa can add more dimension to his serve, that will allow him to be more aggressive on Roger’s serve.
Roger will play Nick at noon. I wonder how he will fare in the heat.
Stan dropped a set vs Thiem, (6-4, 4-6, 7(7)-6(2), but managed to win a spot in the semi-finals.
MISSING RAFA
He’ll be fine, I think. Of course it’s not as ideal as playing in the shade or at night for him but he’s been having regular 4 hour practice sessions under the Dubai sun for years. (Never mind the stupid claim that Federer doesn’t like to practise and doesn’t need to practise much.)
But Kyrgois is also on fire now. He seems to have a better attitude now and has always liked big matches like this. If he can stop this FedExpress then the rest of the year’s gonna be really interesting and more challenging.
Yes – it’s a stupid claim Vy – one amongst many. Roger has been off 6 months re-inventing himself and probably training specifically to beat Rafa – that takes a lot of hard work.
Well done to Stan( only just the man ) Wawrinka who has just beat Thiem for a place in the semi finals. It’s very hard not to lose interest in the tournament after the departure of Rafa but I’m hoping for a Wawrinka/Kyrgios final where we can see them butt heads once more. Keep that chin up Rafa and we will see you in Miami.
Posivity reigns supreme with Rafa. When the going get tough, the tough get going. I am sure he will find a way to supersede Roger once again. He will analyze his match and figure out a solution next time. Rafa was really taken back by the aggressive stance Roger took right from the start. That is what Rafa needs to do next time to assert his offense game right from the beginning and that will put Roger on the guard instead of the other way around. Vamos Rafa, your positive thoughts and momentum will carry you forward to bigger and better wins this year.
🙂
At least there is a Spaniard in the semis – well done Pablo Carreno Busto!
Vamos Pablo! He is also one of my favorites. PCB did benefit from the weaker draw, but good for him. His next match will be very tough but he is still improving.
Ola Ola Ola & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) ci….ci….ci….!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your interviews are so incredible !!!!!!!! : ) Yes Senior!!!!!!! : ) You have a great momentum for Miami and all is well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) I love your genuine humble replies and the fact that you have a complete accurate take on your game as well as others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You can be a BRILLIANT TENNIS HISTORIAN with your fabulous longevity and your bright knowing of the game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) All the best sweetheart and VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
Have a great evening & a beautiful time ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
There are points to gain at Miami since he only made it to the 2nd round last year so hopefully he has a good run there 🙂 good luck Rafa x
Rafa you did your best and have anlysed all the areas where you want to make changes.
ALL the very best for Miami next week,
Love and prayers,
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX