INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 11, 2021

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I'm asking players for their favorite Wimbledon memories. You will have many. Is there one in particular that is a favorite memory for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me my favorite memory is 2008 final, yeah. No doubt. Personally is that one.

Q. It has been four Masters 1000s won by the non big three men. The last one was Novak in Rome last year. What does it mean to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Means that is something normal, that's all. First thing is that we are missing events. Second thing there is a new generation of players that are good. I think we are 34, 34, 39. That's something usual that nothing is forever. You need to be ready to accept that and let's see what's going on.

Q. Do you get the sense that the younger guys have stronger belief these days that it's maybe their time now to start winning some of the Grand Slam tournaments?

RAFAEL NADAL: Maybe. Let's see in three weeks or in four weeks. I don't know. Was not the case yet. But why not? No, of course. Let's see. Hopefully not. Anything can happen.

As I said, is not a stronger belief. It's we're older and they are always better and better. I don't like to hide the true. We are not playing as many tournaments as we did before. Is normal that after almost 20 years on the tour there is another generations that are winning tournaments.

We have been achieving almost every single important event for the last 19 years. Nothing strange. 100% ready to accept that. But I going to keep fighting for the things. That means that in three weeks, two weeks and a half, there is another Grand Slam that I like to play. I going to fight to try to play well there.

Q. Where do you stand with playing at the Olympics? Is that definitely on your schedule or are you taking a wait-and-see approach?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know yet. Honestly I can't give you a clear answer because I don't know. I don't know my calendar. In a normal world I will never see about missing Olympics, of course. Is no doubt about that. Everybody knows how important have been for me always play Olympics.

Under these circumstances, I don't know. Let's see what's going on in the next couple of months. But I need to organize my schedule. My schedule in a normal year, I normally know my schedule almost 100% since 1st of January till the end of the season. This year is something a little bit different, no? We need to be flexible. We need to adapt about the things that are happening.

Let's see. I don't know. I can't give you an accurate answer. Sorry.

Q. How did the last few days in practice go? What were you most satisfied with in terms of progress compared to Madrid?

RAFAEL NADAL: In Madrid I was playing great. Then I played a couple of bad games at the end of that first set. Everything went other way, no? My practice in Madrid, I was practicing the best level of tennis since a while.

Here you need to adapt again to another conditions. In Madrid was altitude. Here the ball and the conditions are completely different. Needs little bit of time.

But I am more or less happy about the things. Tomorrow going to be a tough start, one of the toughest starts possible against Sinner. Let's see. I hope we ready to play well.

Q. You will play against Sinner. What do you think of Jannik? Is it a difficult match for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: All the matches are difficult. If you talk about a player who is very young and he's improving every day for sure, and he's in a moment that he's ascending in the ranking, he's confident, he played a great tournament in Miami, is normal is going to be a very tough one. So let's see.

Q. You've played some incredible points, matches and games in your 20 years on the professional tour. Do you still surprise yourself when you hit a certain incredible shot and the crowd goes nuts? Are there still situations in the middle of a match where you get surprised with what you've produced?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I can't tell you if I am surprised, no? Sometimes you enjoy when you feel yourself ready to produce any kind of shot. There is couple of days that you feel like this. And, of course, it's a great feeling, no?

I mean, the surprise is to be where I am after 20 years more than produce the shot (smiling).

Q. Your next match against Jannik. Is there something that you put on court more than other matches when you face young and tough opponents like Jannik or other players like him?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. I try my best every single day. Doesn't matter the opponent. I always try to play enough good to win the match. Sometimes happens, sometimes goes other way. That's the sport.

Tomorrow I need to play well, of course. I know he's playing well. I know he's going to be excited about the match. So I am, too. I am excited. I am happy to be in Rome, a place that I know very well and I had great, great tournaments.

So, yeah, let's see. I am quite excited to play that match, too.