TMS - MADRID

October 19, 2005

Rafael Nadal

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, my knee was fine. I had these things that helped me also. It didn't hurt at the beginning, just a little bit when I got my foot on the court. But I was fine. What concerns my playing? I think it has been a good match. The match actually was not easy. Despite the beginning, when I was a bit nervous, a bit slow, after three weeks without playing, because I haven't been able to train these days because of my knee. Despite all this, as I'm saying, I'm happy because I think I've done well. It was an important match. My serve has been there. More or less fine, yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, no, it doesn't. Nothing changes. The tournament is a normal tournament. The only thing that could change would be an injury. This is a normal tournament. Tomorrow I'll be playing. It's a very difficult match, second-round, which I need to win. They're both difficult opponents, Moya, Robredo. I'll try to stay the way I'm playing today without making errors, as I was doing at the beginning of the match. I was more comfortable. I felt more comfortable afterwards.

RAFAEL NADAL: Probably I'll just continue with my specific treatment to take care of my knee, not to force it. Before going on the court today, I did. But for the rest of it, I've done quite a good first round which has given me confidence. This is important, to start well.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yeah. I thought my knee was going to support me. It didn't hurt. So, yeah, I'm happy.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, actually it didn't hurt. This is very positive. I do feel like playing. That's positive.

RAFAEL NADAL: It's many hours ahead (laughter).

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, what's the time right now? I hope to get out of the hotel soon and then, yeah, I hope to go.

RAFAEL NADAL: I think that's his normal play. That's the way he plays usually. It's not easy to play on these type of surfaces, to come to the net. But I do think you can control the ball easier on other surfaces. These results are quite normal. I was feeling gradually more comfortable as the match went on. However, there was a bad return on my part, the first backhand I returned. What was it? I was standing too far away. Then the second one was better. I made this lob. That was a pity because 3-Love in the tiebreak, then I made a good return, I was able to win. It was tough. It was a tough situation. The tiebreak, I was down again, so...

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I've been playing well here. I surpassed my own ranking. It's been long since I last played here in Spain, so I was looking forward to playing here. I think the crowd is behaving real well, both on the court and on the training courts. I'm thankful.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I try to keep those thoughts aside, although this support makes me want to improve, to play the tournament. It has influenced me to make the decision to play. They give me confidence like they did in the Davis Cup. Every time I'm here in Spain, I feel support. Gives me confidence to carry on.

RAFAEL NADAL: No. I dream of tomorrow's match, which is very important. This tournament is very important for me. It means a lot to me. I don't want to think ahead. We'll see what happens.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) yeah, today I very happy because I feel very good with my knee. I don't have any problem no all match. So that's good.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) no, is a (inaudible), is tendonitis. This year I play a lot of matches. It's for that reason I have this problem, no?

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) the tests say it's not a hundred percent for sure, no? But I feel good. I don't have pain. So that's important for me, no? When I go to the court, I will have confidence with my knees. So for now I am good.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) always I begin with break up. Today is the position changed.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) the history changed (smiling).

RAFAEL NADAL: (In length issue) 83, is important for me to play here. Last time I play here with my public and my public was in Cordoba, in Barcelona. Is important play at home now. Is very important tournament, the most important tournament in Spain. I want to play because the last two years I play very bad here.

RAFAEL NADAL: (In English) I don't know yet, no. I will see after this tournament. I want to play, of course, but not depends of me, depends of my knees and the doctors say me what's the best for my knees, no?