Rafael Nadal meets with the press after his 3-6, 6-7(5) loss to Taylor Fritz:
“Only thing I can say is it’s tough to breathe for me. I feel very, very – when I try to breathe, it’s painful and it’s very uncomfortable.
“But it’s not the moment to talk about that honestly, even if it’s obvious that I was not able to do the normal things today. That’s it. It’s a final. I tried. I lost against a great player.
“I think it’s not the day to talk about what’s going on on me. It’s his day. We don’t need to hide that in my comments.”
THE MODERATOR: Rafa, I know it’s not the best outcome you wanted. Talk about the match.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, have been a difficult day. Yeah, congrats to him. At the end that’s the main thing. The main thing in tennis, there is a winner and a loser. Today he’s the winner. He deserve it. He played aggressive, well, so congrats.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Talk about how you managed to battle out there today.
RAFAEL NADAL: I try my best. Of course, have not been my day. But that happens. I have experience in all these situations. So is the moment, of course, is tough to play a final like this.
Yeah, tried till the end. That’s it. Even I had my chances in the second set, I didn’t convert too many chances. That’s it, no? I think it’s a difficult match to analyze personally from my side because I was not able to do many things.
But yeah, it’s a great victory for him. First Masters 1000. Big day for him. I just hope he enjoy it. I wish him all the very best.
Q. Do you know what’s issue is with the chest? Is it something entirely new to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know, honestly, no? It happened yesterday night just at the end of the match last night. So finishing that late yesterday and playing today in the morning, as you can imagine, I didn’t have the chance to do many things, not even a chance to check what’s going on there.
That’s it. All the thing I can say is tough to breathe for me (smiling). I don’t know, I feel very, very — when I try to breathe, it’s painful and it’s very uncomfortable.
But that’s it, no? Is not the moment to talk about that honestly, no? Even if it’s obvious that I was not able to do the normal things today… That’s it. It’s a final. I tried. I lost against a great player.
I think it’s not the day to talk about what’s going on on me. It’s his day. We don’t need to hide that in my comments.
Q. Obviously you had a lot of support in that stadium even though we’re in the U.S. What do you think of his game and this young generation of American players, Brooksby, Opelka, Fritz?
RAFAEL NADAL: They’re doing very well. Victory like today helps. He played well. He went through some great matches during this week I think, especially yesterday. A lot of credit to him on the victory of yesterday that, in my opinion, his victory of yesterday is much bigger than his victory of today because he had much tougher opponent in front yesterday than today I think.
But, yeah, I mean, he already played great matches in Australia, this year if I’m not wrong, against Tsitsipas. It’s obvious that he is improving. With this victory, it’s a great start of the season for him. He will have chance to be very close if not in the top 10 very soon, no?
Going to be a big battle there for these numbers because there are a lot of young and great players fighting for these spots. Yeah, Brooksby is another kind of player. I saw him play a couple of times. He does a lot of things very well, with a special style, but doing things very difficult, doing very difficult things easy. Probably he going to have a great future, too.
Q. You said it is Taylor’s day today. This season has been significantly about you. Even in this difficult moment, can you speak about what this part of your career has meant to you.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, honestly, I wanted to make it perfect before clay, no? Have been very, very, very beautiful. Honestly I am sad because the way I was not able to compete. Is tough to have these feelings, especially every day, but in the final is very, very ugly, no?
But, yeah, in sport is not about talking of the past. We need to talk about today. And today is a difficult day for me, no, tough.
As you know, I am sad now but I am not kind of person that goes down or goes very high emotionally depending on the moment, no? I am normally stable, putting everything on perspective. Of course, the last two months I have have been amazing, unforgettable, very emotional. I enjoy things that I never thought I could live again a few months ago.
Yeah, have been amazing. Now is the moment to try to solve this problem as soon as possible, try to start on clay, no? Practicing starts another part of the season that I enjoy to play. Of course, every single event is so special for me. I hope to be ready for it.
The thing that worries me now, it’s about what’s going on there, what I have to do now to recover and how long going to take.
Q. I understand you saying about being sad at the moment. When you were sitting at the end of the match on the bench, your head was down, what was in your mind at that stage?
RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, I had pain, honestly. As I said, I have problem to breathe. I don’t know if it’s something on the rib, I don’t know yet. When I’m breathing, when I’m moving it’s like a needle all the time inside here, no? I get dizzy a little bit because it’s painful. It’s a kind of pain that limit me a lot. Is not only about pain, I don’t feel very well because affects to my breathe.
More than sad for the lose, something that I accepted immediately, and even before the match ends, it’s more about that I am suffering a little bit, honestly.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
Rafa, was so sorry you didn’t win at IW but mich more so because of your chest pain. Hate seeing you struggling and having any pain. Quite worried. Hope all will be well. Your health is most important! Look after yourself and take good care.
Hope to see you playing again soon!!!
VAMOS CHAMPION
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Thank you Rafa for a wonderful Indian Wells tournament . You made it to finals and we your fans are saddened for you for your injury. Many prayers and well wish for a speedy recovery.
I wonder what he’ll do about the clay court events. To play Monte Carlo, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid will be a bit much. The obvious one to miss would be Madrid, because he tends to struggle with the altitude there, but there’ll be a to-do if he misses a Masters 1000 in Spain, especially if (I hope he wasn’t watching El Clasico just before last night’s final!) he plays Barcelona and then misses Madrid. I do think that playing all 4 would be too much.
Hopefully he’ll be OK for Monte Carlo. It was very distressing to see him struggling like that. The commentators seemed to think that it was a pectoral muscle injury picked up during the semi final. If they’re right, then hopefully it should clear up with rest. Oh, how I hate seeing people injured!
I feel for you Rafa, but with treatment and rest, you’ll be ok. Congratulations to our champ for what he’s achieved so far this year. It’s been a long and tough hard court campaign, in which Rafa has fought so hard to win so much against very tough opponents and his body is now crying out to him to take it easy for a while. Time for home to relax and be with his family.
The ending of Rafa’s winning streak may be a blessing in disguise, as it will relieve some of the pressure on him heading into the clay.
Rafa, do some fishing. Always nice and relaxing.
Rafa, you are the best, you don”t necessarily ever champion
You are still the GOAT specially your determination to complete what you start despite pain and discomfort. Rest up and get well. Want to see you on clay.
Enhorabuena!!! Rafa por ser finalista, tu cuerpo no te respondía como tú hubieras querido por esa lesión en el pecho, se notaba que tus golpes estaban limitados, demasiado que aguantaste todo el partido, no es poco lo que has hecho, lo positivo es que llegaste a la final, además fue un torneo que desde el principio no te encontrabas cómodo, ahora adelante que tú estás muy bien y tu tenis también, RAFA SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!
Oh Rafa think each of us are brokenhearted for you as you really gave this Masters your all. Had tough opponents from start and long encounters. I hope this may be a torn muscle or pleurisy pain. I hope you’ve not contacted Covid again 🙏 Congratulations my Champion on making the final at one of your favourite venues. Praying you will get answers from xray/scan shortly & that all will be well. Rest up my GOAT. Looking forward to seeing you at RG. Stay safe and get better soon. Love you Master of Tennis
Hoping that it’s nothing too bad. Maybe it’s the conditions in the desert?
I am sure Rava will surprise us once again – rest is all you need – stay positive like you always do – look forward to seeing you soon 111111
Get well soon❤️
Rafa, Please get a chest x Ray to make sure you don’t have a pneumothorax. Your symptoms are suggestive. Wishing you the best, David Goldfield
Oh my days, Nads. You’re my complete and utter hero. I never cry, ever. I did cry though, reading what your possible breathing problems could be.
A fucking pneumothorax? Possibly? Na, it’s not true. You’re gnna be fine.
i certainly love watching you on clay, it’s my highlight of the Tennis calender but…. I think you should perhaps rest for a bit.. Obviously your team knows a lot, lot, lot more than me.
Do what’s best for you.
Get well soon.
Wuv U
Well, as a retired Emergency Room doc,, a patient with these symptoms, would get the xray. Hopefully this is not the diagnosis.
Given your expertise. I really hope that an X-Ray is carried out, to eliminate a bad thing that doesn’t exist. Nad’s is fine though, I don’t know what the breathing problems are about, nor do I intend to hazard a guess. I just know that Nads is gonna be fine. Totally fine.
Get better hope that your breathing issues ate not serious enough to stop you playing take the advice and rest may be all you need
Maybe its lung damage from his bout with covid 19 last Dec.? Hope not. but it has been happening..
I agree that this pain today could be related to your Covid illness. I know you have an excellent team and close, loving wife and family who will take care of you. You are an inspiration to me and an excellent role model for our young people and your fellow athletes. Please don’t retire for a long time as long as your health holds up. Also find time to relax, play non competitive golf, enjoy romantic time with your wife. ❤️❤️❤️
Plus fishing, Can’t forget fishing:D
Well done on making the final.You’re a star.
I hope it’s nothing serious.🤞 Get well soon, Rafa.❤️
Again he’s so humble and focused on the game – not himself. I fear he either pulled a muscle (that would be best case) or dislocated a rib. I pray it’s not a rib because I had 3 dislocated ribs in August 2021 and they are STILL not 100% – and I don’t play tennis every day! You still did an amazing job despite it all. You nearly pulled it out. Bless you and praying for a speedy recovery! You’ll be all good for clay! Vamos Rafa and well done as always!
Sounds like pleurisy.
Congratulations Rafa on making it to the final after some tough a matches.
Find out what is going on Rafa and take care. Rest your body and get better. We all want a healthy Rafa.
Oh gosh I hope he doesn’t have a rib injury (which sounds like it might be if he’s finding it painful to breath) as that could take awhile to recover from. Amazing that he managed to complete the match!!