Rafael
Nadal Interview
Wimbledon
2010
Q. It was a tough
match for you. What were you feeling in the third set
when he was getting so many aces against you?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, was very difficult match. I said the
other day after the first round second round will be very
difficult. Was like this.
Sure, I was playing well all the time. That's my feeling.
But in the first set, 6-5, 30-Love, and he has a good
return, one double-fault, one mistake with my forehand,
he had another good return, ended the set.
In the second I played well. In the third I play well,
but something similar. I have the match under control,
but later I saved Love-30 in that game. I had a smash, I
had not very bad smash, but he was there, and finally I
lost the game another time with very good cross forehand
for him. Unbelievable. And that had nothing to do with
the return.
So just try to be there, try to be very concentrate, very
focus with myself and fight all the time. That's what I
felt in the third.
And in the fourth and in the fifth...
Q. Is the fact you came back from 2-1 down give you
more confidence than what you would have gotten from a
straight-sets victory?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I confident after the match. Before the
match, I tell you I know he going to be a very difficult
opponent, because he's a big server, difficult player. On
this surface, is very difficult to stop him.
I'm very happy to be in third round because probably
today was difficult.
Q. Going forward, does that give you a bigger boost
than if it would have been a straightforward match?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, I'm very happy to win in five sets.
Everybody prefers to win in three, but is not possible a
lot of times, especially in this surface because all
depends on a few points.
Played probably four bad points in two sets and I lose
both sets. That's the tennis like this. But mentally I
think I was perfect in the fourth and in the fifth.
Q. You talked in Paris about the strings you're using,
giving you more spin. Do you feel the same kind of effect
here on the grass with the ball?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, always the same, no? The string can
help you, but you are the person, you are the player, not
the string. You play; the string doesn't play. That's my
feeling.
Sure, the string can help you for moments, for maybe the
string is better than the other one because give me the
chance to feel the ball more time inside the racquet.
That's give me a little bit more control. But that's my
feeling, that you are the person. You lose, you win, not
the string.
Q. Can you explain what happened this morning? Did you
miss meeting the Queen? There's some suggestion you
weren't there.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, was disappointing for me. But, you
know, the Club knows, Wimbledon Club knows that before,
because I have my routines before the match. I had a very
difficult match, before the match, I know going to be a
very difficult match. I had to practice around 12, so was
impossible for me.
Seriously I thought the Queen was going to be in my
match, and I would love to have the chance to meet her
after the match. But wasn't possible because I think the
Queen left before. For me was disappointing. I was
excited to meet her. But was very important match for me,
too.
Q. If you had known she wouldn't be there for your
match, would you have gone to meet her?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, because I have my routines. Before
the match, is very difficult when you have -- you don't
know when you gonna play, no? You have third match. But
if some injury there, you are on court before.
I had the practice at that time, so was impossible for me
to meet her at that moment, no?
Q. When do you prepare for the match during the day?
Is it two hours before, three hours before, when you wake
up?
RAFAEL NADAL: When I wake up, I try to wake up as late as
I can when I play in the afternoon because if not, the
day is too long for me. I try to want to sleep a little
bit later when I'm not playing early in the morning,
because I play a little bit later. Wake up, have a
breakfast, go to practice one hour, something like this,
45, one hour, 50. After that I have quick lunch.
Just I was in the locker room always doing my tapes,
having a shower, and preparing for the match, listen
music.
Q. You've been in situations here at Wimbledon where
your matches have been pushed back by rain or something
where you've had to play day after day after day. For
John Isner, after a match like this, do you think he has
a competitive disadvantage coming into the next round
after playing three days in a row and long matches?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, was amazing, first of all. Was
amazing match. Just congratulate both of players because
they did something amazing. Be focus around 10 hours,
that's amazing, to not lose the serve in all that time,
no? So just congratulate both.
After that, I think the winner of the match was lucky to
not finish the match yesterday because today probably
they have yesterday to recover, yesterday night. Today
they didn't play as long as they did yesterday. So they
still have one day: today and play tomorrow.
Sure is a little bit disadvantage, but would be worse if
they finished the match yesterday night at 9 because they
had to play today. They have more time now. But, sure, is
not easy to win. They make history, I think.
Q. You said you wouldn't change your routine to meet
the Queen. Is there anything or anybody in the world that
would make you change your routine?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, I am playing in Wimbledon. Is not
a joke. I love this tournament. I have a lot of respect
for the Queen. I have a lot of respect for this
tournament. Always was my dream play here. Today is a
match, is a match day for me, no? So I have my things to
do, and I try to do my best what I think is the best to
win the match, no? So not in that case.
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