Rafael Nadal speaks to the media after his 6-2, 7-5 defeat against Diego Schwartzman.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What happened out there? Seemed like an extremely tough uphill match from the start.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, have been not my night at all. He played a great match, I think. And not me.
So when this happens, you have to lose. These things can happen. After such a long time without competing, I played good two matches, and now today I played a bad one against a good opponent.
That’s how it is. I just want to congratulate Diego, and I gonna keep working.
Q. Have you talked about your team about how you will now recover and prepare for the French Open in such a short time between two tournaments?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Is a completely special year and unpredictable year. I don’t know. I probably go back home and then let’s see what’s going on.
I did my job here. I did a couple things well and other things bad.
And that’s it. At least I played three matches. I fighted until the end. But losing that many serves, you can’t expect to win a match, no? Something that I have to fix.
I know how to do it. I gonna keep working and keep practicing with the right attitude and try to give me a chance to be ready.
Q. You talked about I think on Monday about the lack of matches. Did that play a factor tonight? Do you still feel like you’re missing the amount of matches over these seven months that you hadn’t played?
RAFAEL NADAL: We can find excuses, but I didn’t play enough well. Then we have to think internally why, how I can fix it.
Now is not the moment to find excuses. Just the moment to accept that I didn’t play enough well. Have been a super heavy evening in terms of humidity. Conditions out there was much heavier than the previous days in terms of the bounces of the ball.
For me was difficult to push him back. He did a great job. And even if it’s beginning of the match, for me 2-1, Love-30, I played eight terrible points in a row.
So then from a possibility to be 3-1 with break up, I was 3-2 with break down. Everything changed later.
I tried hard in the second, but losing three times the serve in a row, then you need to find for a miracle, no? I did twice, but the third one, even if I was 15-30, was not possible.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
I found this on YouTube this morning:
“Published on Sep 26, 2020
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic spoke to media on Saturday ahead of his French Open opener against Mikael Ymer.
Djokovic spoke out about ‘confusing’ COVID-19 measures at the Grand Slam, saying another test should be done after 24 hours to identify false positives and give players a chance to compete.“
It looks like the same one I saw yesterday on Twitter, which I cannot find today but Twitter’s version has someone [not in view] telling Djokovic “thank you” for him to end the presser.
Can anyone help with this? If the videos are real, why would the FO try to shut him up about testing?
No sign of it, Margo.
Thanks Lorna, I will keep plugging away.
Thirteen days from today we would love to see our Champ lifting his thirteenth F.O. trophy.
Wishing the very best to Rafa. Hoping the new blue Richard Mille watch with the tennis racquet face will prove to be a good luck charm.
Allez Rafa,
Vamos..
Good luck charm matches Rafa’s outfits nicely Pauline!
Vamos Rafa💪❤️
I just wish Rafa all the best. Read Paulines comments on Moya’s concerns about Rafa – his mind. Can imagine. As it is Rafa’s Problem in the past years has been his mind especially against Djokovic and now ….. . All we can do is support.
Heard commentators say something about how far back Rafa stood even for the second serve (don’t know against whom) and that they didn’t understand it.
Very unfortunately seems that this year someone else could pick up the cup. Hope not Djokovic!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rafa stay safe and well and all your fans are sending out the most positive vibes for and to you.
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘
I wish I can Watch Rafael playing but I have no heat in my flat. In fact, when the temperatures were hot outside, I only had warm or very hot water and now it has turned the other way round. They have no limits in making me live odd things. and making me pay for their own comfort.
Plus, I have to go to the doctor and to try to settle the other problems. Hope that this time I will finally get the right treatment.
Hope that Rafael will have better weather conditions than the yesterday players. At least, I know what they feel in terms of felling cold because of low temperatures.
This year, public and their encouragements, their questions (I remember a lady asking Rafael if he wanted to marry her), their jokes, their interventions, are really missing.
Nevertheless, I hope he can hear all of his fans telling him, that we love him, even if we are not around for the moment.
A propos, if anyone knows a good skin doctor, please let me a message. Not possible to find one urgently. Thank you in advance.
Megali, Wishing you improved health. l also hope your heating is restored soon and that you are able to watch Rafa in comfort at some point – few pleasures in these difficult times.
Hello Lorna, thank you for your nice message. It warms my heart. I know that the other people living in my building have heating. Some people here are racist, odd and so Dangerous even with children. I have tried to get help to avoid tensions but found no one, until now.
The odd thing is that they do not heat my flat for years but charge me for this service. Isn’t life beautiful ?
I went to the site to see at what time Rafael is playing but I could see it. Hope he won’t be freezing. Some other players have put extra shirts and leggings and put jackets on when sitting between the games.
I hope I can see him.
Carlos Moya on Rafa’s preparation in the last 7 months(translation by Genny SS): “More than recovering his tennis or fitness, the most complicated has been recovering his head. His head wasn’t ready. It was a difficult situation for all the things that were happening in the world more than for not playing matches.“
Illuminating and insightful statement by the coach.
Yes I agree with Pauline about Moya’s comments. I’ve been saying for months that Rafa has been deeply affected by the sadness of the pandemic around the world as well as in his own country. Its been obvious in his public statements. He is also aware of the dysfunction of government officials in Spain in their response to Covid-19. Perhaps he is a bit angry.
More than almost any other tour player or athlete (along with LeBron James) Rafa is uniquely sensitive and thoughtful about the world. Its one of those things that make him special. Rafa is looked up to as a leader everywhere.
Andy is wearing leggings and Stan is wearing a vest. There’s nowhere for the players to put their towels. Sound quality on Eurosport is terrible, doesn’t sound like a tennis match, not sure if they’ve put extra wind protection on the mics? You’re right, Lorna, it does look like a practice session.
Rafa is scheduled to play the last match on Chatrier tomorrow. Vamos!
Rafa will play the final match on Chatrier tomorrow not before 10a.m. Eastern 7 am Pacific,
Nice to see Mark Lopez on court today with Rafa at his practice along with Moya and Maymo. Thought players could only bring two team members with them so not sure in what capacity Mark is there. Will be interesting to see who is in Rafa’s box tomorrow.
Very nice. A great cheering committee.
Very nice indeed, Pauline and Margo. Maybe Rafa and Marc will play doubles at the next Olympics defending their title? Let’s wait and see……
Good match tomorrow, Rafa!🍀❤️
Set your alarm clock Mimi. Might be an early one for you. Of course an earlier match could have been in the middle of the night so not bad.
For sure Pauline just in case👍
It’s so surreal watching Victoria Azarenka and Danka Kovinic step on to an empty Longlen court on a cold, dull, blustery and rainy day – not good for the players’ health. Looks like a practice session that both players don’t want to go through. Temperatures are not set to rise above 17°c during the fortnight. It’s going to be a hard slog and a tremendous challenge for all players in the tournament.
Both players have walked off court after three games and i don’t blame them!
I haven’t seen any of RG yet, I’ve just watched the Hamburg final. It was cold there too. I’m thinking that having a match on any court that isn’t Chatrier is going to be a disadvantage this year, with no spectators and no roof. I expect there will be difficulties completing the schedule on time as well.
S. Tsitsipas was serving for the match 5 to 4, but A. Rublev won three games in a row and the trophy, impressive!👏
I agreed, a disadvantage for sure and with rain delays, some players may have to finish their matches in two days……
Vika during rain delay: “we are sitting here like ducks.” 😬
Ahh, but look at her very strong 1R win vs Kovinić: 6-1, 6-2. She must be thrilled it’s over for today.
I think so 😉
Both the men and women start their first round matches tomorrow. Some of the more popular male players on the schedule are Diego, Stan, and Andy.
Does anyone know what time Rafa is scheduled to play Monday?