THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2022

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

R. NADAL/B. van de Zandschulp

6-4, 6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Rafa, just give us your thoughts.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yeah, have been a good match in general terms against a difficult player. I think a very good player. I was 6-4, 6-2, 5-2. This result says that I was playing, doing a lot of things very well. Yeah, happy for that. Is true that at the end I played a bad game with the 5-3, then you are in trouble, no?

90% of the match I think I played well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've been through a real journey the last six weeks in terms of physicality, injury. You've played four matches now. How are you feeling? Seems like you're getting closer and closer to your best level.

RAFAEL NADAL: Day by day. It's always is the same here. It's not about how close I am to the level or not. I don't know that. I can't predict what's can happen.

But the positive thing is the first two matches haven't been good. Then two days ago I played I think at high level for the first time. And today most of the match, again, at a very positive level, no? Happy for that.

That give me the chance to have one more day tomorrow on the court practicing and adjusting things that I need to keep doing.

But, yeah, I can't say another thing. The improvement during the tournament is there. Yeah, of course I'm happy to be back in quarterfinals after three years without playing here, no? It's a positive result for me, so happy for that.

Q. What did you learn about Taylor Fritz when you played him and what are your thoughts about facing him again in your current physical condition on grass?

RAFAEL NADAL: Actually what I learned on that last match was zero because I had a stress fracture on my rib, and that was difficult to learn many things because, honestly, the pain was terrible playing that match.

We didn't know we had a stress fracture on the rib during the match, but I knew something was going very wrong, very bad during the match, because the pain was too much.

It's obvious he's playing at a very, very high level, having a great season, winning matches everywhere.

He won the tournament last week?

Q. Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: The week before Wimbledon he won the tournament. Now quarterfinals, winning already in a Masters 1000. Yeah, he's in a very high position of the race already, especially with no points here. It's bad for him in that case because quarterfinals are a lot of points.

But, yeah, he's in a privileged position. Going to be a tough quarterfinals against a great player. But at the same time we are in quarterfinals, so you can't expect an easy opponent out there.

Q. You are playing the first tournament on grass after such a long time. What has been the most pleasing part of this adjustment for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I mean, it's obvious that I came here. I did I think a big effort to be here. Takes a lot of mental and physical effort to try to play this tournament after the things that I went through the last couple of months.

But as everybody knows, Wimbledon is a tournament that I like so much. Have been three years without playing here. I really wanted to be back. That's what I am doing. So that's why it means a lot for me to be in that quarterfinals, no?

I think I have been improving in general terms, no? I started to feel that my ball is damaging more than the beginning of the tournament. I think I am, again, making the ball advance faster with my forehand, with my backhand. I think working well with the slice, too. Then I miss a couple of volleys again going to the net. That's the way.

In general terms, I am happy, no? Not easy to make the transition. Not easy especially after a while not playing here. Happy for that.

Now is the moment to keep doing the steps forward if I want to keep having chances.

Q. These days in your career it feels you come to the net more than you have in the past. When you were younger, how natural did volleying feel to you? How has the shot developed over the years?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I won here in 2008. I played the final in 2006 and '7. Have to say during that period of time a lot of things I did well in that period of time. We can talk about improvements. But in the other hand, at the very early stages of my career, I was able to play well in this surface, too.

Of course I am running less than before, that's obvious, so I need to improve. When I am losing things in terms of physical performance, you need to add things to keep being competitive. That's what I did all my career, just try to add things to my game, to improve things that I need to still be competitive after losing some physical capacities and other things that you lose during the career.

But at the same time one of the things that I'm more proud is the way I have been able to adjust and to accept the challenges in terms of physical issues, be able always to find a way to be competitive and improve my game.

Q. You talk about physical issues. We saw some kind of strapping or tape on your abdomen or belly. How is it? What's the issue there?

RAFAEL NADAL: Thanks for the question, but I say the other day.

In the other hand I am a little bit tired to talk about my body. It's not about that I don't want to answer your question, but in the same time sometimes I am tired about myself, all the issues that I am having. I prefer to not talk about that now. Sorry for that.

But I am in the middle of the tournament and I have to keep going, no? All respect for the rest of the opponents. I am just trying my best every single day. For the moment I am healthy enough to keep going and fight for the things that I want.