WIMBLEDON

June 23, 2003

Rafael Nadal

MODERATOR: Good afternoon. Interview with Mr. Nadal. Questions in English first, please.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: A little bit, like in the third set, maybe when, you know, I wasn't missing that much, I was playing too defensive. In the fourth set, a little bit. Yeah, I mean, it was my first main draw match in a Grand Slam, so I was a little bit nervous, just a little bit afraid. But, you know, that happened in the third set. In the fourth set, then I was fine. But I played my best tennis in the first two sets.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, last year I already played in the Juniors, and I played quite well. This year it was a pity that I couldn't play the lead-up tournaments to Wimbledon. But I think I like to play on grass. Maybe I will not play very well on grass, but I like to play on grass, and it's going my way.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yes, that's my uncle.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, from Friday night, like one hour, and then Saturday and Sunday, here.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Playing at my top level, like since last Monday.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: I wish. I'm looking forward to playing on Centre Court. I would like that.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, they always ask me the same question. My uncle, you know, plays soccer. The person that helps me, that's his brother, my other uncle. That's the guy that really helps me for my tennis career. He was also his tennis coach when he was little, my other uncle that is now a soccer player.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Because when I was little, I was playing better tennis than soccer. I played soccer until I was 12.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: No, of course, when my uncle was playing for Barcelona, I mean, we wanted Barcelona to win. Before that, my whole family was for Real Madrid. After my uncle left the Barcelona team, then we're all for the Real Madrid again. I've got nothing against Barcelona, but I prefer Real Madrid to win.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Well, it's a good transfer. Every year Real Madrid has got a good transfer like this one. Maybe my opinion is that they needed somebody, you know, to play on the defense. But I don't know which role he's going to be playing.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: I've got my uncle - the one that coaches me - not the football player, my father, my mother and my sister.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Tommy.

RAFAEL NADAL-PARERA: Yeah, I started out the year pretty well. Well, actually it's already like the middle of the year. Here it was different because, of course, I couldn't prepare for this tournament properly, and I couldn't compete for a month, which is a long time for a tennis player. Frankly, yeah, I did not expect to win the first round here, especially against him because I knew he had beaten Federer last year, so I knew it was going to be tough. But, you know, I played well. Sure, I mean, I did not expect to win this match.