สัมภาษณ์ราฟาค่ะ Nadal looks forward to Madrid Open 2010-05-08 08:42:31
MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal is hoping his troublesome knee injury won't stop him enjoying a good performance in this year's Madrid Open tennis tournament.
The competition begins on Monday and the world number three is looking forward to receiving the warm support he usually gets in the Spanish capital.
"I always want to play in Madrid. They have always treated me very well and I couldn't be more grateful," he said in an interview with sports paper Diario AS.
"This year I am arriving in different physical condition than last year. Last year I played when my knee was bad, but I always want to play here whenever possible," he said.
Spanish players, who traditionally play better on slow beaten clay courts, tend not to enjoy Madrid, where the altitude at 800 meters above sea level makes the ball faster through the air than their style of play is suited to. Nadal agrees with that assessment.
"You do notice it and it makes Madrid different. The ball flies more and it brings with it less control in your play," he said, before discussing the tendonitis in his knees that has troubled him over the last year.
"I always say that you have to learn to enjoy yourself even if you are suffering, except when the pain stops you, then you can't carry on. The worst was not losing last year's Roland Garros (French Open) or not being able to play at Wimbledon. The worst thing is knowing that physically you are not in condition. Losing really affects you, but the other (being injured) is worse," he insisted.
"Now I am thinking about winning in Madrid and taking it day by day. I am not setting targets. I don't care about being number 1, 2 or 3 in the world, I care about being happy," said Nadal.
Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open ORDER OF PLAY Friday, 14 May 2010(ATP)
ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO Starting At: 13:30 Jurgen MELZER (AUT) vs Nicolas ALMAGRO (ESP)
MANOLO SANTANA Not Before 15:30 Gael MONFILS (FRA) vs Rafael NADAL (ESP) (น่าจะประมาณ 20.30 นะครับ)
Not Before 20:00 Roger FEDERER (SUI) vs Ernests GULBIS (LAT) งานนี้มันแน่ครับเพราะน้องฟูเพิ่งปราบเฮียแก มาในรอบสองที่โรม ไม่รู้ว่าจะย้ำแค้นหรือว่าเฮียแกจะได้ล้างตา
followed by Andy MURRAY (GBR) vs David FERRER (ESP)
"At the beginning I was playing like I should have played all along, I managed to be very aggressive, and was taking Rafas games to the limit.
On one of the sides it was difficult to play because of the wind going against you, and thats when he broke me. I think when it was at 15/40 (in the third game of the second set) he played a huge point when he hit an ace. In fact it was the only ace he hit in the match. Those are the moments when he plays his best tennis.
I have to keep working as I have been and approaching the matches as I have been, and hopefully in the future Ill be able to beat Rafa, which I havent managed to do so far.
"Ive played at a very high level throughout the week," added the Murcia native. "Ive managed to make it beyond the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the first time. Ive pushed the best clay-court player in the world to the limits of his game; it was my first semi-finals and it was here at home. There are a lot of positive things about it all. I have to keep on working and doing things like Ive been doing and hopefully Ill be able to repeat it and improve on my results."
ไม่เป็นไร Keep working เพราะวันนี้ยูก็ทำได้ดีมากๆแล้ว เป็นที่น่าภูมิใจของสเปนที่มีนักกีฬาถึง 3 คนเข้ารอบ 4 คน
Whatever happens (in the final) I can say that this season has been very good. Id say its been perfector nearly perfect, Nadal said.
The second-seeded Nadal made a string of early unforced errors, dropping serve three times in the opening set.
I made a lot of mistakes in the first set and Almagro was playing really well, said Nadal. Because he was attacking me a lot I tried to play safer in the first setthat was a mistake.
Real Madrid fan Nadal distracted by La Liga climax
MADRID: Real Madrid fan Rafa Nadal may be distracted by the thrilling climax to the soccer season during his Madrid Open final with arch rival Roger Federer on Sunday.
The tennis world has waited a year to see the duo face off in their 21st meeting but unfortunately for the Spaniard, his long-awaited date with Federer will clash with Real Madrid's season finale against Malaga.
At a news conference after his semi-final victory on Saturday, Nadal quizzed tournament director Manolo Santana over the plan to start the final at around 1630 GMT, just 30 minutes before the soccer match kicks off.
"Nobody could have known that Real and Barca would be playing for the title on the same date as the final," Santana said. "If we have made a mistake time will tell."
A laughing Nadal replied: "I'm sorry to have put you under the spotlight but will the (soccer) scores be up on the big screens, at least during the changeovers?"
Barcelona can clinch a second straight La Liga crown by defeating Real Valladolid but Real Madrid are only a point behind in second spot and victory by them at Malaga and a slip-up by the leaders will hand Nadal's men the title.
เรื่องถาดแชมป์นี่ก็ประหลาดมาก ที่อื่นแชมป์เค้าต้องได้ถ้วย รองแชมป์ได้ถาด แต่ที่ Madrid นี่แชมป์ได้ถาด ปีที่แล้ว 09 รองแชมป์(คือราฟา) ได้ชามน้ำแกงมาหนึ่งลูก น่าเกลียดมาก ไม่มี idea เลย สงสัยโดนประชาชีก่นว่า มาปีนี้เลยแจกถาด แต่คงหา size อื่นแบบอื่นไม่ทัน ก็เลยเอาเหมือนของแชมป์เลย....เราว่าเค้าไม่ปราณีต ตอนขาจบเลย ไม่ขลัง ไม่อลัง ไม่งาม ตัว stand ที่จัดฉากก็เล็ก เมื่อวานสงสารเฟด ยืนเบียดจะตกขอบอยู่แล้ว....ซานตาน่าก็ต้องไปอยู่ด้านหลังโดนบังมิด MC ก็ไม่ได้เรื่อง....เหมือนเพิ่งมาจัดเป็นปีที่ 2 ก็คงต้องปรับปรุงขนานใหญ่เลยหละ
ปลใ เมื่อวานลูก MP ที่เฟดหวืด ก็เป็นปัญหาเรื่อง Bad bounce ของพี้นคอร์ดที่ราฟาบ่นมากๆ มาตั้งแต่ปีที่แล้ว...เช่นกัน คนจัดคนดูแลไม่ปราณีตเลย แต่โชคเข้าข้างมากมายที่คู่ชิงได้ super star เฟด-ราฟา มาทั้งสองปีที่จัด
Rafa Nadal returned home to Mallorca on Monday evening and is now resting before he starts training for Roland Garros on Tuesday. He will be traveling to Paris on Thursday morning and will then head to a promotional event (at 1:00pm, local time) for the launch of a new sponsorship deal which promises to be a worldwide hit.