MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 7, 2021

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/R. Nadal

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just wanted to get your thoughts on the match, if you think it was more about how well Sascha played or you weren't able to find your best tennis today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Is always a balance. But, yes, of course, more the second than the first. I had the match under control at the beginning, playing well for six games, probably playing better than him.

Then in the 4-2 serving for 5-2, I did a disaster. Another bad game with my game with 30-Love. Of course, playing against one of the best players of the world, under this circumstances, with this speed of the court, is very difficult to still confident.

So, yeah, I tried. But is true that the serve was difficult to control today. Yeah, well done for him.

Q. Were you surprised by the intensity that Sascha came out with today and played against you?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Not at all. I think Sascha played his game. He's a top player, so you can't expect another thing against a player like him. So no surprise at all about his level.