Q. Straight sets today, but a close match. Do you think the loss was more to how you played or how he played? RAFAEL Nadal: Well, I think I didn't play really bad. I played okay. But in the important moments, I didn't have this necessary calm, no? So I had few mistakes. I play shorter in the important moments. That reason he beat me, no?
He is a big player in this surface, so is difficult. If you are not completely calm and playing very well in that moment, it's really difficult to win, and today I didn't play in this way in that moments.
Q. What do you feel you're lacking at the moment? It's more confidence or technical problems? RAFAEL Nadal: No, I think, you know, I said 100 times, but is the true, no? The second half of the year was difficult for me, and probably I lost little bit this necessary out of confidence and this necessary calm in that moments.
But I am working really hard to come back at my best level. I think I'm not far away from my best level. But I need little bit more confidence and more calm in that moments, no?
So I don't know, this year is going to be extremely hard to finish really well. But I gonna work very hard to start next year very good. I believe in myself, that I can come back playing really well next year.
Q. What do you think of Soderling's chances on this surface during this tournament? RAFAEL Nadal: Everyone has his chances here, no? The best eight players of the world, so anything can happen. Everybody has chances.
Q. You're speaking as if you were not thinking anymore of No. 1. Is it true? RAFAEL Nadal: If you think. I think the chances I have are not here, not to be No. 1. If you want to still talk about me be No. 1, I can, but I think is not the right moment (smiling). My level right now I think is not to be No. 1, no?
My level is to be still fighting and practicing hard to be ready as soon as possible to compete another time with equal conditions with everybody, no? Going on the court, with the full confidence in myself against everybody, that's what I'm working, no?
I think I am working really well, practicing to improve different things on my game, like every year I did. Is normal, the sport is like this. Sometimes you have some best moments; sometimes you have little bit worse moments. This probably is one of these moments for me right now. Just accept and work to improve the situation.
Q. How did the court feel today? RAFAEL Nadal: Yeah, it's okay. The court is okay, no? Not big bounce. But the court is not really fast. It's normal. It's okay.
Q. You said you lacked a bit of calm. Physically are you a hundred percent back after the injury problems? RAFAEL Nadal: Yeah, I'm very well. I am very well. Thank you.
Q. By the sounds of it, you'd be quite happy to see the end of this year, 2009, and get started for 2010. Is that the way you're feeling? RAFAEL Nadal: No, no. Probably I not happy to finish this year, no? I am not tired. I had a long time outside of competition. So, no, for me the season, this year, the first year, the season, I am not feeling tired and I don't want to finish the season. But the season finish this week. For us, the Davis Cup final next week. That's what is.
I know to be ready next year, I gonna have one month, and these two matches ‑ maybe more (smiling). I have this one week of year, one week of Davis Cup, and after, one month of practice in Mallorca. That's what I have to recover my hundred percent level to start next year with good level and chances to win in every place that I play, no?
Q. What went wrong today for you? RAFAEL Nadal: I said. It was the first answer question. You didn't hear? Brilliant.
Q. No. RAFAEL Nadal: Okay, I repeat.
I think I didn't play really bad. But in the important moments, I didn't have this calm, this necessary calm, to win these matches against the best players of the world, no? And this confidence, that moment, that's what was wrong today.
Q. Besides those reasons, do you think Soderling is now a player that doesn't fit so well to your game, because you lost the last two matches against him? RAFAEL Nadal: Maybe. You never know, no? I think this is not my feeling, but you never know. Can be. I think if I am playing well, I gonna have good chances to beat him in the future.
Q. I know it wasn't a particularly happy experience, the match today. What do you think of the conditions in the stadium, the support of the British crowd? RAFAEL Nadal: Very well, no? I think the atmosphere was unbelievable. Is doing a good work, the tournament is. All the time the full court, so that's very nice for the tennis, that's very nice for the players, very nice for everything, no? The conditions are good. Only the weather conditions can improve. Doesn't affect on the game (smiling).
But the tournament is really nice, and I happy to live this experience here in London. And, sure, the crowd was really nice with me all the time.
Q. Did you think about the match you played at Roland Garros at all today? Did that make you want to beat him any more? RAFAEL Nadal: No. I said 100 times, I don't believe on revenges, nothing of this. Every match is a different match. I went on court, try my best what I did all my life. I didn't thought, no one second, on the Roland Garros match. Is completely different conditions. The moment is completely different, too. So doesn't affect nothing, the Roland Garros match.
Rafa's Blog: It hurts to lose ... I am sorry to all my fans in London Hi everyone,
I suppose that the question today to me that isn't shown here is why did I lose? Well, it is simple. I didn't play the way I had to play, the way I know how to play and that it is taking me to have it back.
I felt without that confidence in the right moments, I felt a bit lack on that concentration in those points and that was it.
I came back to the locker room and there was Toni and the rest of the team waiting for me. Those are sad moments, believe me. We are down, not much talking in the locker room, serious faces... Then Toni starts analyzing points and the game and well... it is not the end of the World!. He is right. But it hurts to lose!
And I am also sad for all those fans who want me to win...
One more thing!
Forgot to say that at least I got a prize today!!!. Raul Zurutuza, the Tournament Director of the Acapulco event gave me the trophy I'd lost back in 2005 when going to the airport!. Here's the picture!.
Thanks to that lovely tournament for this. I got this trophy twice having only won it once!
Rafa
I loved the story of when you were a little boy and your Uncle pretended he'd made you invisible and all your family pretended they couldn't see you! If you could have a coat that made you invisible where would you go and what would you do? Juliette Westbrook-Finch RN: Yes, it is now a funny story. He used to play these kind of games with me. The thing is that he had the complicity of a few others from the family.
Was there any doubt in your mind about playing Soderling again after the miserable Roland Garros match? I hope not! Jen RN: No, no doubt because of Soderling. Just another match. I lost again but that has nothing to do with it.
Will you alter your style at all so you don't get so many injuries in the future or will you look at this as an unlucky year and hope for better luck next year? Peter RN: I don't think my style can change much to be honest. Let's hope I stay healthy.
What kind of training are you planning for the short "off season" this year - do you think anything in particular will help as you go into the New Year with the chance to defend your Australian Open title? Sam RN: There is no off season this year. Straight into practice and training but clearly working on Physical condition as well.
Do you think you could beat Serena Williams in a five-setter match? Pavi RN: I know it is not polite for me to answer with another question... but my answer is... what do you think?
Whats your recommendation for coming back from injury? Are there specific exercises effective for your recovery? Kerri RN: It depends on the type of injury.
Who makes you laugh more - Roger Federer or Andy Murray? Julie, Chicago RN: Good question! They both can be funny... if only I could speak better English to understand it... ฮ่า ๆ
Who is your favourite player from the current Real Madrid team? JoAnn Chu RN: CR
Are the fans from India are going to see you in Chennai again? Shilpa RN: No, I am not. Playing Abu Dhabi this year.
Rafael Nadal, speaking to the Times, reiterating his stance on Andre Agassi's autobiographical revelations: "I havent read the book, but he is not saying the truth of everything. He is saying he hates tennis, that is impossible. One player plays for eight years and he becomes rich and he does not need to play for money and you hate that? Me? I love tennis, I love sport in general, I love other sports more than tennis, is the truth.
"I hated what he said about doping and the crystal [meth]. My opinion is that what he did is terrible for us, for the rest of the players, terrible for the sport, and it is easy to say now, but why wasnt he saying this in 1997?
Now he is free, now he says what he is feeling. Right now, because somebody pays him a lot of money, he says these things, not because you want to say that."
He will be back. ฮาร์ทคอร์ทไม่ใช่คอร์ทสำหรับราฟา โดยเฉพาะ indoor hard cort แต่เราเชื่อว่าเค้าจะกลับมาอีกครั้ง ราฟาไม่ใช่คนที่ยอมแพ้อารัยง่ายๆหรอก ดูตอนที่แข่งกับอามาโกรดิ เซฟ 5 แมทช์พอยด์แล้วกลับมาชนะได้ สุดยอดเลย vamos rafa
โดย: rafa fan IP: 118.172.103.115 24 พฤศจิกายน 2552 21:07:03 น.
I'm still alive and looking to get back on track against Davydenko
Hello everyone,
Many thanks for all your support messages. They are really important to me. Many of you might be wondering how do you feel after a defeat and not going back home.
Normally when you lose a match in a tennis tournament, you leave home or if you are in the middle of a tour far away from home, stay to rest one day and move to the next one.
Here it is different. I lost yesterday but you can say I am still alive. I have been practicing today hard and I am really looking forward to that match tomorrow. Davydenko is a very difficult player, who isn't here, right? But he beat me the last time we played only a few weeks ago in Shanghai.
On a personal level, I took some time this evening and went to see the Champions League football match between Barca and Inter at a Sports Bar here in London with my team. Food? so, so...
Questions for Rafa: What would I like for Christmas? World peace
Do you think that the ATP will ever have a realistic schedule for players and a decent off season? Stephanie Thomas
RN: I hope so. We are working with them closely. We'll see.
Whats most important in your career now, ranking or longevity? Hanne K, Norway
RN: The most important thing right now is to play good. Then clearly to win titles is the most important thing. The ranking comes with that.
Why do you use the slice so much during a match? I saw this especially in your last few matches and personally I don't think it's a good idea. Alexandra
RN: It depends on the surface you play. Here in indoor you try to do that to break the rythm of the other player. However let me tell you I would love to simply hit big points... Simply not possible.
What do you think of the crowd being in the dark at the O2 and all the focus on the court? Lisa, London
RN: Funny, you are right. I think the court and the stadium looks really great.
Will you be watching El Clasico on Sunday? Nick Clarke
RN: ABSOLUTELY!!!
Do you do any meditation or visualisation to help you focus and prepare for matches? Juliette
RN: Nope.
If you only could wish for one thing for Christmas what would it be? Anna
RN: No wars!
Why didn't you challenge that call when you thought you had hit an ace against Soderling? Alice
RN: The umpire told me he'd seen it clearly out... If he was so sure I didn't challenge. My team told me afterwards they'd received sms from friends watching TV and telling me it was in... Too bad. Poor Rafa T____T
I noticed you were hitting the ball a lot more flat on hardcourts early in the season (very successfully) but now I see you are using a lot of topspin again. Why this change in tactic Javidan
RN: Simply trying to play better. I would love to hit it like I was at the beginning of this year
To be out of the [Finals], well, that's sport and everything can happen, said Nadal. I didn't arrive to this tournament with the full confidence that you need to win these matches. And in the moments that I had to play well, I didn't play well. I made mistakes. I fought a lot. Both matches I fought. I tried my best all the time, but it wasn't enough to win these matches.
Today I think mentally I was better, reflected Nadal. I played a terrible game at 5-5 in the second set. But the rest, I tried to do different things during the whole match, trying to play more aggressive with the forehand. That's important thing that I improved a little bit today. So just trying every day. Every day trying a little bit more.
RAFA SAYS GOODBYE TO World Tour Finals London, November 25, 2009
Rafas run at the ATP World Tour Finals has come to an end after a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) defeat against Nikolay Davydenko this evening in London.
Davydenko broke twice in the first set and was up a break twice in the second at a near sold-out O2 Arena. Rafa then bounced back, breaking back both times to carry some momentum going into the tiebreaker. However, Davydenko kept his cool and clinched it with a forehand winner on his first match point.
"I know Nadal always fights for every point and in the second set he started playing better and running better but the tie-break was good for me," said Davydenko about Rafa after the match.
Sadly, this defeat means that Rafa is now officially out of the tournament as his head-to-head record will be inferior to both Davyenko and Djokovic (who he plays in his last group match), regardless of how he does against the Serbian.
To be out of the [Finals], well, that's sport and everything can happen, said Rafa at the press conference. I didn't arrive to this tournament with the full confidence that you need to win these matches. And in the moments that I had to play well, I didn't play well. I made mistakes. I fought a lot. Both matches I fought. I tried my best all the time, but it wasn't enough to win these matches.
Today I think mentally I was better, he reflected. I played a terrible game at 5-5 in the second set. But the rest, I tried to do different things during the whole match, trying to play more aggressive with the forehand. That's important thing that I improved a little bit today. So just trying every day. Every day trying a little bit more.
Rafa will return to Spain after his match against Djokovic and plans start training on clay as soon as he can so he can be ready for the Davis Cup Final. Looking ahead, the objective is to begin his preparation for next years campaign in the best possible way. I have to keep working real hard to change the situation. Its what Ive known my whole life. Work hard.
ราฟาที่รักยังงัยก็รักและเชียร์หนูตลอดไปนะจ๊ะเพราะหนูเป็นคนแรกที่ทำให้หันกลับมาดูเทนนิสอย่างจริงจังหลังจากBjorn Borg และ love(for หนูราฟา) that lasts through good times and bad, sickness and health, rain or sunshine.นะจ๊ะ
แมทหน้าราฟาจะเจอกับ Nikolay Davydenko ในวันพุธค่ะ เริ่มแข่งเวลา 03.45 น. มาเอาใจเชียร์ราฟากันค่ะ
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Hi everyone,
I suppose that the question today to me that isn't shown here is why did I lose? Well, it is simple. I didn't play the way I had to play, the way I know how to play and that it is taking me to have it back.
I felt without that confidence in the right moments, I felt a bit lack on that concentration in those points and that was it.
I came back to the locker room and there was Toni and the rest of the team waiting for me. Those are sad moments, believe me. We are down, not much talking in the locker room, serious faces... Then Toni starts analyzing points and the game and well... it is not the end of the World!. He is right. But it hurts to lose!
And I am also sad for all those fans who want me to win...
One more thing!
Forgot to say that at least I got a prize today!!!. Raul Zurutuza, the Tournament Director of the Acapulco event gave me the trophy I'd lost back in 2005 when going to the airport!. Here's the picture!.
Thanks to that lovely tournament for this. I got this trophy twice having only won it once!
Rafa
I loved the story of when you were a little boy and your Uncle pretended he'd made you invisible and all your family pretended they couldn't see you! If you could have a coat that made you invisible where would you go and what would you do? Juliette Westbrook-Finch
RN: Yes, it is now a funny story. He used to play these kind of games with me. The thing is that he had the complicity of a few others from the family.
Was there any doubt in your mind about playing Soderling again after the miserable Roland Garros match? I hope not! Jen
RN: No, no doubt because of Soderling. Just another match. I lost again but that has nothing to do with it.
Will you alter your style at all so you don't get so many injuries in the future or will you look at this as an unlucky year and hope for better luck next year? Peter
RN: I don't think my style can change much to be honest. Let's hope I stay healthy.
What kind of training are you planning for the short "off season" this year - do you think anything in particular will help as you go into the New Year with the chance to defend your Australian Open title? Sam
RN: There is no off season this year. Straight into practice and training but clearly working on Physical condition as well.
Do you think you could beat Serena Williams in a five-setter match? Pavi
RN: I know it is not polite for me to answer with another question... but my answer is... what do you think?
Whats your recommendation for coming back from injury? Are there specific exercises effective for your recovery? Kerri
RN: It depends on the type of injury.
Who makes you laugh more - Roger Federer or Andy Murray? Julie, Chicago
RN: Good question! They both can be funny... if only I could speak better English to understand it... ฮ่า ๆ
Who is your favourite player from the current Real Madrid team? JoAnn Chu
RN: CR
Are the fans from India are going to see you in Chennai again? Shilpa
RN: No, I am not. Playing Abu Dhabi this year.