TMS - MADRID

October 23, 2005

Rafael Nadal

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please. Quick because he wants to watch the football match.

RAFAEL NADAL: First time.

RAFAEL NADAL: The public's support, the crowd. Elsewhere in the world, it would have been impossible to defeat Ljubicic. Thanks to them, I won this final. Now I want to believe in myself a little more also.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I want to keep my feet on the ground. I won two very important matches in my life: Davis Cup was one of them, and against Karlovic was another one on that surface. But, yeah, this year is a bit different. I feel comfortable, besides my physical problems.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I had doubts throughout the whole match. Two sets behind, he was playing great. How many aces did he make? Do you know? 32. What do you think about that? I didn't even see the ball.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, last year's injury in my foot, too. He's always supported me. He always advises me what to do. I usually follow his advice. Sometimes I don't. But I need to thank him for his opinion, because his opinion is usually the right one. He's a very good doctor.

RAFAEL NADAL: It's very, very tough because when you serve you have trouble. When the opponent serves, he sometimes makes two, three aces in a row. When you serve, you usually lose the game. Sometimes you come down, you lose your hopes. You think, "Let's win the game." But it's very difficult to break his serve. However, I was looking forward to winning something. I was enthusiastic anyway. You need to fight. Mentally, I was strong. That made me win. As I said, thanks to the crowd for their support.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's just a soothing effect. It doesn't cure your knee. It keeps your patella a little bit higher. I think the doctor should explain it to you because I don't really know what it does. It reduces the impact point of the patella on your knee.

RAFAEL NADAL: I hope to.

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't need doctors right now, I want to go to Basel and win the tournament. I don't need to travel, but I want to get there, see how I feel. I hope to play the tournament.

RAFAEL NADAL: I think it was more mental than physical. Physically, I was feeling tired.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think this year is almost impossible to repeat. I'm going to start next year in high spirits, but without pressure because this has been an incredible year, a year to remember, to keep at home like a picture you hang on the wall. Next year, I'll try my best, knowing and being conscious that I cannot repeat this.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I won't get there at 9:00, but I hope to be there for the second part.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, it's usual with him. He puts me down often. But he said in Paris when I learned to play tennis I would be great. I hope actually to improve as he wishes me to improve. I don't want to see his words as negative, but actually as positive words.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English.) No, I think is very difficult match for sure, no? Two sets to zero down, Ljubicic playing unbelievable. I can do nothing because he's playing unbelievable. He serve very, very good.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English.) Yeah, I change a little bit. I play a little bit more aggressive with my forehand, and the public support me a lot. For that reason I can come back, no?

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English.) I think, yes, probably. I think, yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English.) No, no, I'm okay. I have pain in the two knees. Today is a very, very tough match. But I feel okay. I will speak with the doctors and I will have a test.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English.) I don't know. I think is a lot of tournaments. But my illusion is to stay in there in the two tournaments.