	products recent interviews FastScripts archive about ASAP Sports

Our Clients:

Browse by Sport

Find us on

Subscribe to RSS

Click to go to
Asaptext.com

View our
e-Brochure

TMS MONTE CARLO

April 17, 2005

Rafael Nadal

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Apart from the Davis Cup, is that your best moment in tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I don't know. For now, yes, I think. Is my first title, my first big title. But I think I am very happy when I won the Davis Cup. But now is unbelievable.

Q. How did you play today? How did you get out of losing the third set 6-Love, and then you came back very strongly?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I play very well the first two sets. With the forehand I play very, very well. And after, in the third set, he begin 2-Love, 3-Love, and I can't fight every set because my physic is not for the five sets, no. And I stop. In the third set I lost 6-Love. And after, I come back in the fourth set very well, 4-0 -- no, 4-1. And after, the same of Miami, no? I'm a little bit scared because is the same situation. But finally I can won 7-5.

Q. He played a lot of dropshots, but you read them very well. Was it very tough to get to them all the time?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, he have the dropshot very, very well. I think is the best in the world. But, you know, he won lot of points with that. But I can won some very important points, no - last one, for example (smiling).

Q. Do you think the experience that you had playing Federer in Miami helped you today when he came back?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I am sure. Because I know what happen in Miami against Federer, and today I am very, very concentrate. I am very concentrate all the time. When I lost 4-1, 4-4 in the fourth, I am lot of concentration for win the match, no. And in Miami, the same. But now I was lost one match, one final in Miami, and I think is important for me for won this match.

Q. You have been playing a lot of tennis lately. How are you feeling physically? Are you going to still play Barcelona next week? How are you feeling?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I am very happy for my tennis in this week. I am tired, is normal. But I hope I play Wednesday here in Barcelona, and I hope stay good for Wednesday, no? Is very important tournament for me, Barcelona. I like a lot and I want play good tournament in Barcelona.

Q. Do you sometimes amaze yourself at some of the shots you get back?

RAFAEL NADAL: I know all people say me, I return balls unbelievable. But I don't know. In the match, I only think about the point.

Q. How much do you think this win will do for you for the future? Obviously, it's a big, big event to win on clay.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, yeah, my first very important tournament, no? Is one title. All remember this title, everything. But my objective is improve my tennis, no, and need improve some shots, and this is my objective for now, no. I need improve my serve, my volley, my slice. And if I do, if I improve these shots, I think I can won lot of matches, no?

Q. You actually serve-volleyed about three times today, which was good for grass.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it's okay, yeah. I am happy because sometimes Coria is very tough. He never miss. And I need do anything, no? When I a little bit tired, I will try all, go to the net, no. But is lottery.

Q. But every point you came in, you won.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, not every point.

Q. When you serve-volleyed.

RAFAEL NADAL: With serve-volley, yes. Not every point (smiling).

Q. Would you have been worried if it had gone to a fifth set? Would you have been worried physically?

RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, it's tough. I am a little bit tired but I will try won the match, but I am tired.

Q. So now you are maybe the favorite for Roland Garros? What do you think?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. I am not favorite, no. Is my first Roland Garros. I only think about the next tournaments: Barcelona, Rome, Hamburg now, you know. I am playing good now, but I don't know when is in the French Open I gonna play good or I gonna play bad. If I play the same like this, I can won, I can do a good result. Not favorite, but I can do good result. But I don't know, is after one month.

Q. Don't you think that you should skip one of the following tournaments, either Barcelona, Rome, Hamburg, in order to be fit in Roland Garros, or you can be too tired?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no. So I play the final in Miami, I play the final here. That's normal for me, no. I can think that. But I have Barcelona, I stop one week, and this is important for me. I play the two Masters Series, is very important tournaments. And after, I stop another week, no, after, before Roland Garros. So I think is good for me.

Q. Even though you lost in Miami in the final in five sets, and you had to play four out of five here, do you think it's just good to be playing best-of-five to actually prepare yourself for the major championships?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, for the Grand Slam is a good preparation. But I know -- I think when the tournament is all tournament in three sets, I think is better the final in three sets, too, no? But the rules is that.

Q. It's good to get the feel of playing the five-set matches, like Davis Cup, as well?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, yeah, yeah, as well. I play some matches, lot of matches, tough matches in Davis Cup final, in Australia against Hewitt, against Youzhny, in Miami against Federer. I play some matches tough and is important. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost, but I play good these matches.

Q. You proved that you've got the energy and the concentration for it, for the five sets.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I don't know, no? Sometimes yes; sometimes no. But I am happy for today. I don't think any more.

Q. What was the key to your game?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't miss a lot of balls... (very few unforced errors.) And that's very important for play good in clay, no? I am very happy with my forehand, with my backhand. And with the serve, I serve bad the first day. I serve -- and after the first day, I improve my serve. I serve better every day. I want to practice after first match, and I am happy because I improve around the tournament.

Q. Do you practice weightlifting and training?

RAFAEL NADAL: Sometimes. But now when I am in the tournaments, I can't. If I lost and I have five days with coach, sometimes. But nothing special, no. Not a lot.

Q. Is there a difference between the right and left biceps?

RAFAEL NADAL: Not a lot of difference (smiling).

End of FastScriptsâ€¦.

ASAP Sports, Inc. | T: 1.212 385 0297