| Rafael Nadal Saturday, August 25, 2007 |
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THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. A lot of people didn't think you could win Wimbledon, and you almost did. Do you feel you could make the same kind of surprise statement here in New York?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I play a very good tournament there in Wimbledon, no? Well, I improve this year. I play better. I think I play my better season of my careera. Very happy about my season.
Anyway, if I during the year, last part of the year, for example, US Open, I play bad and I lose early, I gonna be happy about the season, no?
But for sure I am here practicing hard. Have good preparation for this tournament. Play Montréal. Cincinnati I have problem. I come here on Sunday, Sunday night, and I have one week practicing here before the tournament. So I hope and I think that can help a little bit.
Q. Since Cincinnati, how have you been physically?
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel fine. Wasn't a big problem. Strange, an accident. I feel totally dizzy when I start the match. But after two days, I am fine. I am so much better. Right now I practice four hours yesterday, no problem.
Q. You come from a small village in Mallorca. Are you used to being in big cities or do you prefer the small town where everybody knows you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I prefer the same like always. I prefer be at home with the family, with the friends, my closer friends. I know my friends from the school. So I am very, very happy living in Mallorca. Is a very nice place, very quiet place. When I come there, I feel very good. I can do everything.
Q. What about spending a couple weeks in New York City?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, for some weeks, it's very good.
Q. What do you like to do in New York?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, normally I practice a lot, so is difficult do so much things. I go to walk, too, walk for the city. Yeah, every year normally when I am in the tournaments, I am not doing too much because when I finish the practice, I go to the room, I feel a little bit tired. Watching films. Sometimes playing a little bit with the PlayStation.
But here is a little bit different. Is nice, closer to 5th Avenue. I walk a little bit there. My hotel is in front of Central Park. So that is good.
Q. Do you know anything about your first round opponent?
RAFAEL NADAL: Not much.
Q. Do you know what he hooks like?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, sorry.
Q. Will you be doing any studies on him?
RAFAEL NADAL: You never know, no? I saw him this year maybe he won in Surbiton, challenger. He played the final in Segovia, too. Tough tournaments. Gonna be a tough match. The draw always depends if you are playing good or not, so...
Q. You practice more or less at a Grand Slam than you normally would?
RAFAEL NADAL: The same. Not much difference, no. I like to practice two hours and a half, three hours every day before the matches, especially four days before the competition. One day before, two days before, two hours maximum.
Q. You like the French Open for obvious reasons. Do you like the US Open?
RAFAEL NADAL: I like every tournament. I enjoy every tournament. The Grand Slams, every one is nice. Well, this Grand Slam improve with the new locker room. That's a very good improve. And the players, we are very happy for that. Sure, I like the US Open.
Q. What did you learn from Wimbledon after losing to Federer where you could have capitalized on a break?
RAFAEL NADAL: Winning Stuttgart the next week. That's it.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
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. NADAL/A. Jones Q. How is your knee? What's the problem with it? Q. A pull? Q. Do you know what is the problem? Q. Was Alun Jones a tougher opponent than expected? Q. How close were you to not playing today? Did you think in your mind you were not going to play? Q. Is it your left knee or your right knee? Q. But both knees were taped today. Q. So the left knee is a new problem? Q. A new injury? Q. Were you practicing here when you felt the pain? Where were you practicing when you felt the pain? Q. Did the doctor say there's any chance that the knee could get all better during this tournament or are you going to be having pain the whole tournament? Q. Did you not move so much today because you chose not to take the risk on your knee or did it just hurt so much that you couldn't run? Q. Does this surface here make your knee hurt more than it might on grass or clay do you think? Q. Are you worried that the knees will be a long-term problem? Q. How disappointed are you that you are not a hundred percent or at your best going into the final major with a chance to perhaps seek revenge against Roger? Q. Will you have to play more offensively now because you'll be limited a little bit in running? Q. If the knee takes you out of the tournament, you're not able to finish, who would you like to see win it? Q. Roger? Q. Going forward in your matches, do you feel you're going to put everything out there or do you feel you need to physically play in a conservative manner, not move so much? ***************************** R. NADAL/J. W. Tsonga
7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, my knee was fine three days ago. Three days ago I was practicing and, well, the last minute of the practice I feel, I don't know in English, but I feel something.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. Well, I have pain. The next day I didn't practice. Yesterday I practice, well, 35 minutes with Oscar, he's a coach. Well, maybe if I am in another tournament, I never go to the court today. But is the US Open, so is very important tournament for me. I have big illusion for play good this tournament.
Well, I hope the knee improve. I have one day, a little bit more than one day, right now. I hope the knee improve.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, sure. I have a tendon.
THE INTERPRETER: He's got an inflammation on his tendon on his knee. Because of that inflammation, they cannot really know what's going on.
RAFAEL NADAL: I work a lot the last two days, because two days ago I thought I can't go on court. I work a lot with my physio. I want to say thanks to my physio, to Dr. Parra, with the trainer of the ATP. I work a lot.
I improve. So today I go on court. You saw the match. I didn't run too much, no? I can't move too much. But I spoke with the coach before going on court. Just try to move less as possible and try to win. With one more day, two more days, because maybe I play Friday night, hopefully can improve.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the truth is I am focused on me, no? I was focused on me. Just be focussed about my knee, about how is the match going. And, well, he play -- sure, is nice match for him. He play with no pression. Play very aggressive all the time. Well, he has his chances to play good.
RAFAEL NADAL: Two days ago, yes. Two days ago, yes. Today or yesterday night not. I try. My thought, I don't know, if after three, four games, one set I have to go out. But I try.
RAFAEL NADAL: Left.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, because I have the problem in the right knee the final of Wimbledon, and later in Stuttgart. But I play Montréal, Cincinnati, I practice very hard these weeks, and I don't have any problem. But that's only for precaution.
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not a new problem, no?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. But is not an important injury. I have an MRI yesterday, before yesterday, and is not a big problem. But, sure, is difficult to play like this, especially here, no? I have similar problem than the right knee. But I stop one week after Stuttgart, doing the treatment. After that is working so much better. I don't have no problems after that, no?
So if you can't stop, is more difficult.
RAFAEL NADAL: Three days ago, I was practicing with Murray on center court.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I hope feel better. Well, I speak with my doctor in Spain, with the doctors of here, and I am doing all the things for improve. Two days ago I was so much worse than right now. Today I don't move too much, but I play, so that's a good news. We hope I can improve. If not, I'm going to try my best, but...
RAFAEL NADAL: I chose don't take the risk for the knee. But, anyway, is difficult move well when you know you have a problem there, no?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the hard surface always is tougher, and the tennis is going to have more and more hard surfaces tournament. And in my opinion is a little bit mistake because for the players and for have a longer career is better play in other surfaces. But the tennis is going like this.
For sure is less aggressive, grass or clay.
RAFAEL NADAL: No. I say it before, no? Is not important injury, no? Is nothing totally new. A lot of players have problem with the tendon there. That's my normal problem, and I play.
I have the same problem four years ago than right now. My knee is not going worst in the last four years, and I play at the best level, so that's a very good news, no?
But yesterday I -- three days ago I have that problem. That's it. I don't know.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, is not the moment for speak -- to speak about Roger, no? Well, sure is enough. Can't play at hundred percent in very important tournament like this. Is big motivation for me play here. But the tournament is not finished, so I am there.
RAFAEL NADAL: I will try my best (smiling). I don't know if play aggressive, but defensive. I don't know.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, favorite for me is Roger.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel I need play -- I don't know if I have to play aggressive or not aggressive. I have to play in the same way than what I am doing always. I have a problem in the knee. So if I have to go out, I have to go out. But I am playing more aggressive this year than last years, and I have to continuing playing like this, no, because this year I am playing well.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
7-6, 6-2, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You didn't seem to be thinking about your knee when you were playing today. Was it a concern?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I start with some doubts in the beginning. Yesterday I have pain. When I go to practice I stop practice for the knee. Yesterday I didn't take any anti inflammatories yesterday because I can't every day. But today morning I put some anti inflammatories. Yesterday I work hard. I think it's typical after the match. It was the first match when I really push hard. I play hard and, well, the next day it's tough. But today when I go to practice I feel better, not 100%, but better. When I go on court I start with a little bit pain, but after go out, no? The knee was a little bit more warm. Easier.
Q. Most people say that when they start, they get into the match and they forget about the pain. Particularly when you've won a tight first set, was it completely out of your mind at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure. When I am in the tiebreak I don't think about the pain for the moment, I just think about the match.
Q. And it didn't hurt you at all during the rest of the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when I arrive sometimes a little bit with force to any ball, some ball, depends of the ball, I feel a little bit. But I'm very happy today about my knee.
Q. How is it limiting you? Is it limiting you on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's not easy, yeah. A little bit, yeah. A little bit, sure, no? Especially when I have to run. I have to run for to go to my forehand a little bit. Yeah.
Q. Does the injury make it hard to know how well you're playing? Are you thinking more about the injury? Is it difficult to tell your level of play?
RAFAEL NADAL: I play good today. Today and second round I play so much better. I'm happy about my game from today and two days ago. I am playing well. Sure, it's not easy play like this, and this -- well, it's more difficult play good if you have some problem, like me, no? So I'm very happy about that, because when I go on court I'm playing at a very good level and if I don't feel the pain. I can play so much better because I don't think about the knee, no? So for example, yesterday I go practice and I don't put one ball inside the court because my mind is there. It's on the knee not on the ball, no? But today I feel better. It's very important thing. Just think about the ball, don't think about the pain because if not it's impossible.
Q. Are you confident you can go up every round?
RAFAEL NADAL: I have a very tough match right now against Ferrer. I know going to be a very tough match. He's playing very well. I hope be good for after tomorrow. Try my best for win.
Q. How important was it for you to get through this in straight sets, especially with the way you cruised through sets two and three today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Always, not for me right now, but always important for me win in straight sets, no? So, yeah, sure, for my knees it's better because I can be a little bit more relaxed for the next match. So that's good.
Q. Do you know which has helped your knee improve more, the rest or the laser treatment?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am doing the laser, yes, but I do a lot of things.
Q. Oh, lots of things.
RAFAEL NADAL: I know if the laser or -- I think everything help me. But I'm doing -- well, I speak every day about that, no? So I don't want continue speaking about what I am doing. But I am doing a lot of things to try to improve my knee, and not only the laser. The laser maybe, okay, can help me, but help me a lot of things.
Q. Will you have to take off much time after this tournament, do you think?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't hope. I hope be -- I have two weeks off anyway after this tournament. I don't play a tournament. I don't play tournaments and I going to be in Bangkok after two weeks, so I have -- for example, I think one week for being rest and having a little reparation and after start to practice for Bangkok.
Q. What's your record like against Ferrer?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know.
Q. Do you have memories?
RAFAEL NADAL: What's that?
Q. 4-1.
RAFAEL NADAL: 4-1.
Q. What memories do you have of playing in the past?
RAFAEL NADAL: I played with him the semifinals this year in Barcelona. I play him important matches in semifinals of Rome and semifinals of Miami. Quarterfinals of Roland Garros. I lost to him in Stuttgart quarterfinals in, I don't know, 2004 maybe. Always a tough match because he's very, very fast player. He's playing always with very good rhythm. Very tough player. Very difficult.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports

















































































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