ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 15, 2021

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

R. NADAL/G. Dimitrov

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just wanted to ask you about Dan Evans' result against Novak Djokovic. What do you make of it and Dan Evans in general?

RAFAEL NADAL: Probably for him is the best victory of his career. Well done for him. That's all I can say. I watched just a few points because I was preparing for my match.

But he looks playing quite well. The point that I saw, he was solid, not missing, playing his match. Yeah, well done for him.

Q. When you go into a match, maybe your first match at a tournament or first match on a surface as you move to that new surface, is there something early in a match that can let you know you're feeling good that day, either a certain stroke or a certain aspect of movement, something that lets you know today is going to be a good day for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know what, I never think that way because I am always focused on what can happen. Even if sometimes you go on court, you go, Okay, I'm feeling great, I always have had all the respect for the match, for the opponent, and for the tournament.

Even if I feel good, I don't say 'worried', but I am always focused on try to not lose that feeling. It's not about I'm going on court and I'm feeling good today so things going to go well, no. I feel good, so I need to keep going. That's the way I proceed.

I mean, difficult to say. When you are practicing well, then is easier to play well, no? Probably sometimes the days before the tournament, you know more or less how the things can go or not. Then, of course, happens that sometimes you are playing bad, practicing bad, and arrive to the tournament and you win one, two, matches and the situation changes like this (snapping fingers). Sometimes you are practicing well, arrive to tournament, you play a bad match, that create a little bit of confusion on your confidence.

I think in the sport, the situation can change very quick, no? You need to be always ready for the quick changes and accept it.

Q. You've won two quick matches. Do you think that could help you for the next round?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, today Grigor missed much more than usual him, no? We had some amazing battles together. Is true that today was not one of these ones.

I feel a little bit sorry for him today, that he played I think a bad match. I did my thing. But that's it. I am just focused on try to play as good as possible every single point.

I think I had good days of practice before the tournament to start. Full respect for every opponent. On the paper, Dimitrov today is going to be a big test. Then situation was different.

Tomorrow I going to have Bautista or Rublev. Good opponents in front. I need to be playing at my highest level. I hope to be ready to play well and give myself chances to keep going.

Q. You mentioned Grigor played a bad match. He said after the match he's had a tooth problem for the last few days. While you were playing, could you tell he was having physical difficulties or were you just thinking he was out of form?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I didn't know that. Now I understand a little bit more the things. Yeah, he was playing too aggressive and little bit out of rhythm. Yeah, sorry for him. I wish him all the best. As I said, he's a great guy, a good friend.

Yeah, I just hope the situation is to improve as soon as possible. Yeah, I didn't know that. He didn't told me. That shows how good guy he is. Hopefully the situation gets better for him soon.