US OPEN

September 5, 2022

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

F. TIAFOE/R. Nadal

6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You went out for a medical timeout at the end of the first set.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn't go for a medical timeout.

Q. That was just a bathroom break?

RAFAEL NADAL: Bathroom break. I put some bandage for the humidity, to stop the humidity on my hands. That's all.

Q. How did you find the conditions out there?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, it was humid. But something like nothing very new. No, have been very humid this year since the first day we arrived here, so that's it.

Q. What made the difference out there today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the difference is easy: I played a bad match and he played a good match. At the end that's it, no?

I was not able to hold a high level of tennis for a long time. I was not enough quick on my movements. He was able to take the ball too many times very early, so I was not able to push him back.

Yeah, tennis is a sport of position a lot of times, no? If not, you need to be very, very quick and very young (smiling). I am not in that moment anymore.

My shots needs to be better. In some way my understanding of the game and the quality of my shots were not enough good, were poor, I think I have to say today, because I was not able to create that much on him.

Yeah, well done for him. He was better than me.

Q. I know you're not the type to make any kind of excuses. Do you think your injuries throughout the summer and even the spring contributed to your preparation and your ability to move in the way you would have liked to have moved today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we can make lamentations or we can complain now about a lot of things, but I don't think that going to change any situation, no?

We can think, If I don't get injured. Maybe I win Wimbledon. Maybe I win another things on the past. Or maybe I lost another things because I was not able to create this interior power after all that injuries, no?

I mean, that's part of my career. A lot of times went the proper way; sometimes completely unexpected like Australia, like Roland Garros.

Of course, this was not the ideal preparation for me. But in other cases went the right way, even with not the perfect preparation, no?

We can't find excuses. We need to be enough critic with myself. That's the only way to improve or that's the only way that I understand you are able to find solutions.

I have been practicing well the week before, honestly. But then when the competition start, my level went down. That's the true. For some reason, I don't know, mental issues in terms of a lot of things happened the last couple of months. Maybe...

But doesn't matter. At the end the only thing that happened is we went to the fourth round of the US Open and I faced a player that was better than me. And that's why I am having a plane back home.

Q. You said that today Frances was better than you were. What are your thoughts on his development as a player and what you saw out there specifically from him today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, all the credit to him, without a doubt. That's the true. He did a lot of things well.

But at the end when you finish a match, of course it's important to recognize all the good things that the opponent is doing or the opponent did. Yes, without a doubt.

But at the end of the day I need to analyze myself more than the opponent, no? I finish the match 15 minutes ago. Difficult for me yet to analyze.

Of course, Tiafoe is playing more solid than before, serving well I think today, taking the ball very early, as I said before. Good backhands. He's quick, as everybody knows.

But I don't think I pushed him enough to create him the doubts that I need to create. Tennis is always a balance. When somebody's not playing that well, it's easier that the opponent plays better. So if my ball is not a high-quality ball, then he's able to do his game much easier. That the thing.

Of course, he did the things well. If not, he will not win, without a doubt. Congrats to him. As I said before, no excuses at all. I'm completely happy to recognize that he was much better than me today.

But at the end I need to analyze that I was not able to create the damage that normally I used to do.

Q. Did they tell you when they closed the roof? Does that have any effect on you guys at all?

RAFAEL NADAL: Not to me. I don't know to him. I cannot talk to both of us. Just can tell for myself.

No, not an excuse at all. I had the break and then I make two double-faults. Yeah, was a very bad game for me, no? That's it.

Q. We know you respect all players. Didn't have the greatest day today. Were you surprised at all by how well he was able to maintain his level throughout the entire match, no lapses?

RAFAEL NADAL: He give myself a chance. Of course, yes, he played well. As I said, he did a lot of things very well. But if you want to be in the quarterfinals of the US Open, I need to do the things better. It's clear.

I mean, I had my chances. I had that break, then I had again a 15-40. I had a Love-30 in the first set, second serve, I missed the return.

There have been a lot of moments that, if you are able to be ready to catch that point, situation can change. Can make a big difference, no? That's all about confidence. It's all about play better because at the end this sport, it's about give the opportunities, take the opportunities, and try to save when the opponent is doing well, no?

I was not able to do anything, any of these things this afternoon. So he was able to do it. He played with the right determination, yeah. Congrats to him. Wish him all the very best.

I need to go back. I need to fix things, life, then I don't know when I going to come back. I going to try to be ready mentally. When I feel that I will be ready to compete again, I will be there.