Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parerais a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 4. He is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player in history, and owing to his dominance and success on the surface, he has been titled "The King of Clay". His evolution into an all-court threat has established him as one of the greatest players in tennis history, with some considering Nadal to be the greatest player of all time...
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth3 June 1986
CityManacor, Spain
CountrySpain
I didn't want to lose this match for anything in the world. I think I was playing the ball at my best.
Gaudio is playing very well. Today he played at an incredible level, especially on his backhand. But I am only thinking of my own game, and of playing well.
With Almagro, boy, that'll be a tough match. He's playing at a very high level right now and he hits the ball hard.
I'm ambidextrous when I eat. But playing tennis right-handed - I can't do it. I'm clueless.
For sure, I'm going to play less matches because I think it's very difficult to win the same number of matches as last year. Maybe I'm going to play a little bit less, but I like playing tournaments; so if I feel good, I going to play for sure.
He was playing with very good rhythm, but I can play with rhythm too if I feel good like today.
He was playing too well in the first set; very aggressive. I could do nothing.
He's playing at a very good level, maybe right now at a top-five level. I think he's going to finish the year in the top 10 if he continues like this. If he plays good on clay, he has a good chance to stay in the top 5.
He's in a good moment. When a player stays in a good moment with confidence, he's always difficult. He's playing good, for sure. He can stay in the top 10 because he's playing very good.
This is my chance - it's the fourth set. Sure. if I go to the fifth I can win too but I was very near, very near to the victory. I was thinking about the victory, I was thinking about every point I received because he was playing much better and better.
The favorite is always the No. 1. I can win. Blake can win. But the favorite is the No. 1.
I have no interest in becoming a tax exile and living somewhere I don't want to - I just want to be at home with my family.
I'm very happy with how I played. I got some confidence back. My backhand was not 100 percent today, but it was good.
I need to improve, I want to improve, and to be able to stay in London and play on grass before Wimbledon is a very good opportunity for me.