MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 6, 2021

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

R. NADAL/A. Popyrin

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. This week in Madrid you've played against two of the bright young talents in the game. Do you feel the future of men's tennis is in good hands?

RAFAEL NADAL: Of course. But at the same time always the future of tennis is in good hands because always going to be Grand Slam winners, always going to be Masters 1000 winners. That's the thing, no?

Today is true that there is a lot of young, good players. Is something normal that is happening. And, yeah, I'm excited that at my age I am able to keep playing against all of them. They are good. They are talented. They have a great future, no?

For me is amazing to be where I am with my age competing with them still.

Q. A non-match question, if I can. You worked so hard when you were very young to come up to what you've achieved. With that you would have had to miss out on a lot of things that regular young people would have experienced when they were in their early teens. Would you have thought about missing that period? Would you have liked to have experienced that? Any regrets? Or it doesn't really matter?

RAFAEL NADAL: Sorry, but honestly I didn't. I didn't miss the things that the rest of the friends of mine did. I did less times, yes, but I was not the kind of guy or person that I was just focused on tennis, tennis, tennis every single day. I was practicing very hard, yes. I was focused when I was on court 100%. But outside of the court I enjoyed all my life, no?

I was able to do the things that my friends did, just I was not able to go for party every Friday and Saturday. I was for party one Saturday every few weeks, but I had a lot of parties in my life, too. I went to the beach. I played football. I mean, I went to the cinema a lot of times. I spent time having dinners with the family, with everyone.

I don't think I missed anything, honestly. The only thing that I can say, if they did 100 or 1,000 times, I did probably 100, that's all.

Q. What were your thoughts on Alexei? He's one of Australia's young, rising players. He's had a good few weeks. How did you find playing him?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, his power on the shots is amazing, yeah. I mean, if he is able to control little bit the mistakes, then going to be very difficult to beat him, no? He has an amazing serve and amazing shots from everywhere, yeah.

Let's see what's going on in the future. If he is able to work the proper way, he's going to be in the high positions of the rankings fighting for things.

Q. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read that you looked up Brazilian Ronaldo, he was one of your favorite football players.

RAFAEL NADAL: Can you repeat?

Q. Is it true that you looked up to Brazilian Ronaldo when you were younger, the football player?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I always admire the top athletes, no? I am a big fan of sport. When I was a kid, Ronaldo was playing in Barcelona with my uncle. So, yeah, have been one of my favorite football players of all time, one of the best players that I saw play.

Q. You're a big fan of Real Madrid. Have you seen the defeat yesterday against Chelsea as logical? What do you think of Zidane carrying on as a manager of the team? Would you like that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I saw the match. Well, like a spectator, I have to say I'm very proud of my team. Of course, I don't like to lose. With all the difficulties that we had during the whole season with, I don't know, 60 injuries, is difficult to be where we were until yesterday, no, fighting for the two most important competitions we having playing: semifinals on the Champions League, and still fighting for La Liga.

For me 100% Zidane is one of my favorites, without a doubt. Great person, great values for Real Madrid. Yeah, I mean, I think the season is doing great after all the bad luck with injuries that we had. Difficult to ask for more.

So if I will be the one to decide, of course I don't have any doubt that Zidane is the right guy to prepare probably the next team.