US OPEN

August 30, 2022

Rafael Nadal

Press Conference

R. NADAL/R. Hijikata

4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on this match, win number one.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, obviously a tough match, no? Yeah, I think I started not that bad the first couple of games, but then I had some opportunities that I was not able to make it.

I think I didn't play a good game with my serve. Then he had the break. Then I was a little bit nervous, no? First match here in New York after three years, night session, it's always exciting. Yeah, I went through this tough moment.

But then I think I play better. Was not perfect. But happy. Second match in 50 days more or less. In some way was not the day to play perfect. Is a day to just make the job done, and that's what I did. Happy for that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We're end of August and you haven't lost a match in a slam this year. How does it feel to be in that position?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yeah, I didn't lose a match, but I didn't win all three, so... In some way, yeah, was even tougher.

Retiring is, in my opinion, much tougher than lose. That's the thing, no? The sports is about winning or losing, not about retiring. When you retire, you can't compete. The feeling is much worse than losing a match, no?

But that's what happened. In some way it's part of my tennis career, too. In the other hand, of course I'm having an amazing year in terms of results, but at the same time a tough year because I went through the foot, the rib, stress fracture on the rib, then the tear in the abdominal. A lot of things going on during the last six months and a half, seven months. At the same time we coming back from a tough period of time.

Yeah, can't complain much. Even if I went through, I was able to win tournaments and be in the position today. Today I was able to win a match again, no?

Be in the second round of the US Open, it's important for me. I was able to come back after a tough first set.

Q. Coming off the injury, two matches in 50 days, at the start of the match was it important for you to figure out where you are health-wise, game-wise? Was that a question in your mind that you had to figure out for yourself tonight?

RAFAEL NADAL: You know what, I have been practicing quite well during the whole week. Then competing is a different story. You need to go through all this process. Not easy.

As I said, last week I lost a match in the first round. When you come back from a period of time of injury, the first match is so important because you go through that first match, then the feelings starts to be better again, no?

I lost a match that I had a lot of chances to win that match. Then he won the tournament, so... That's a positive thing for me at the same time, no?

At the beginning I don't think I make my opportunities. Probably if I make one of these Love-30s, 15-30s, have the break, I don't know, things starts to go in your way, then you start to feel more relaxed, more comfortable. You are able to develop your game in a more aggressive way without nerves, no?

You know, that's the sport. My opponent did it very well for a while. Yeah, was a tough battle. Three hours there. In some way probably that helps. I know what I have to do better for the next couple of days.

But is always the same story: things are not perfect when you are not competing very often, when you come back from injury. You need to be humble enough to go through this process and accept that you need to fight and you need to accept that you going to suffer. That's what I did today.

I am able to play again in two days, and I hope to play better.

Q. Rinky is at the start of his career. This was a big step for him. What did you think of his play?

RAFAEL NADAL: My opponent?

Q. Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I didn't see him playing enough, no? Looks that he is able to do a lot of things well. Serving well, taking the ball early. He's very fast. I mean, we need to give him some time to see how the things evolves because is difficult to analyze an opponent in one day.

For me, I don't want to create an opinion and say something that then I don't know what can happen. But I think he has a good talent, good potential. So let's give him some time.

I think his ranking improved a lot last year, so let's see. I think he's young enough, he has a lot of way to go through. I see him on the tour without a doubt.

Q. During the past Grand Slam tournaments, some commentators have been criticizing you about the fact that you are not obeying the serve clock rule. John McEnroe has been pointing this out.

RAFAEL NADAL: Can you say again? Criticize what?

Q. You have not been following the serve clock rule. There is 25 seconds to serve. John McEnroe has been pointing out you are not following that rule. It seems like the umpires are not enforcing the rule in your case. My question is, do you think it leaves some kind of a shadow to your otherwise excellent legacy? It seems like there are different rules for Rafael Nadal than there are for everybody else.

RAFAEL NADAL: (Laughter). Yeah, I think it's a joke.

I went through a lot of warnings under my tennis career. Never for breaking a racquet, never for doing a mess on court. But, yes, for the time clock.

I have a problem that I am sweating a lot. When you are playing during these very humid conditions, we have a biggest problem today, that is we don't have the ballboys bringing the towel to you for the last couple of years. You have to go to the farthest place of the court to take the towel.

The problem for players like me that am sweating that much, you know when you go to pick up the towel, you going to be in trouble with the time. So I am not going very often.

I don't think I have a different treatment from the umpires at all.

Q. Just because you are sweating a lot, there should be a different rule for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: I never said that. I am following the rules. If I am having more than 25 seconds, I receive a warning every single time. If not, check the clock. I don't know if you want to create...

Q. Thank you for answering.

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think I'm receiving a different treatment at all. I don't understand why John can say that on the TV. But I going to have a chat with him later (smiling).