TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 21st of June: Pre-tournament interview with Rafael Nadal
Q. What did you make of Spain at the World Cup and how determined you are to give the Spanish public something to cheer about here?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me doesn’t make no one difference on my motivation. That’s not different stories. I am sad. Everybody in Spain is sad for what happened in the World Cup.
But my mentality, my motivation going to be always at the top to play here in Wimbledon.
So I am not more motivated because Spain lost in the World Cup.
Q. You left Halle pretty frustrated having no real match under your belt. Can you talk about your preparations since then.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t remember that match (laughter).
I came back home. I didn’t practice tennis for a while. I went a few days with the family, with friends. I was able to go for a party on Saturday with my friends. I was able to go to the beach few days in Mallorca. Work little bit physical performance on the gym.
But I didn’t practice tennis there. I needed a few days off for my back after a lot of stress for my back in Roland Garros.
I really tried hard on Halle, even though I know I was not able to have good success there. But few days of practice help me to, you know, retain a little bit how to play here on grass. That helps me little bit, that when I arrive here on Wednesday was not the beginning, you know. The feeling to play on grass starts easier, come back easier to my mind.
And that’s it. I am practicing hard since I arrived here. More than usual. Practicing more hours than what I usually do in the tournament. That’s positive that my physical performance, especially my knee, give me the chance to practice that much to prepare the tournament, because is only tournament of the year that you don’t have weeks of preparation and matches to understand how you are playing or to know how you are playing in that surface.
Was always a little bit tougher to know which level you can offer.
Q. Novak and Roger were saying now top players can be vulnerable here in the first couple of rounds. Do you feel more refreshed coming in this year than the last couple of years? Physically, I mean.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes. Yes, but that doesn’t matter if I go to the first round and the opponent plays better than me and he beat me.
I say before: Is really the most dangerous tournament of the year. When I arrive to Roland Garros I already played for one month on clay. I played a lot of matches. So more or less I can imagine how I am going to play.
US Open is the same.
Australia, is true that is the beginning of the season, but is surface that we know so is not a dramatic change, no?
Here, yes. Especially the beginning of the tournament the courts are a little bit faster. The feeling on court is a little bit strange for everybody. Especially the top players have really more pressure.
But then the match is decides in a few balls, so you need to convert the small opportunities that you have. That is true. If you are able to win a few matches, you have the feeling you are in the tournament and everything becomes a little bit more logical, no?
I will answer your question that I am feeling better this year than last couple years, seriously. Personally I feel that I am doing the things better. I am able to move myself more free now with less ‑‑ I’m not scared about my knee. That’s the most important thing for me.
But then is true that for the last couple of years I didn’t play lot of matches on grass. But I am confident that I can do it again. Not talking about win, talking about play better than what I did last couple of years on grass.
Q. Having had some time to think about it, what are your thoughts now about what you accomplished at the French?
RAFAEL NADAL: The sport at the end is a thing that when you are playing, when you keep playing, doesn’t matter what happened the weeks before. That’s going to be important when I finish my career.
We will have, hopefully, enough time to understand how difficult was what I did and to analyze all the things I did in all my career.
But for sure I’m very happy. Was very emotional victory for me, very important one. But at the same time, is no time to enjoy as I would like to enjoy Roland Garros because I am here in Wimbledon, and I really want to try to play well here. That’s my real goal today.
When I finish here, I will have one month at home probably. For sure going to be the moment to be happy. Going to be the moment to analyze what happened.
For sure nine Roland Garros are a lot.
