Rafa Nadal - wywiad po angielsku 23.08.08

Rafa Nadal - wywiad po angielsku 23.08.08

Your career literally kickstarted at Chennai with the doubles title in 2004. How do you look back at that experience and what expectations to you have from the event this time?

Though I lost in the singles to Thierry Ascione, I managed to win the doubles title with (Tommy) Robredo and this victory was a very important landmark in my career. I was looking forward to come back in Chennai this year but a niggling foot injury forced me to stay out of quite a few tournaments and I had to pull out. Now I am happy that I will be coming next year. I am looking forward to play in Chennai. I like the crowd there, very sporting and they enjoy their tennis. I would like to start the year on a winning note and gain some valuable points in the ATP rankings. I wish to take my game to the next level.

Which has been the most memorable win so far in your career?

Well, it’s kind of difficult to single out one particular match. All the matches that I have won have memories to be cherished. However, I believe winning back-to-back French Open titles (2005 and 2006) would be definitely up there in the top.

Who has been the biggest influence in your career?

I think I owe it all to my uncle and my coach Tony. He has been greatly instrumental in shaping my career and getting me this far. In my formation phase, it was really hard. When I used to go training, I felt almost upset. He always put tons of intensity in the training, always yelled at me a lot, he was always on my case. I guess all of that’s helped me to be who I am and to have so much self-control. He’s a very special person, who thinks a lot and if you listen to him, says things that aren’t the usual. I also would give a special word of mention to my friend Carlos Moya who has always given me valuable advice and support when I needed it.

How will you compare achievements in 2006 vis-à-vis 2005? How much were you influenced by the weight of expectations?

It is tough. When one becomes number two, you have to work really hard to defend the points and you play with a lot of pressure. On the other hand, when you’re ascending (positions), everything comes really straight-forward. You don’t think much. If you’re young, your nerves don’t oppress you or anything. When you’re already up, you are the head of the series. If you know how to use it, it’s hard to go too far back. This year, I have started well but not been on the road to winning 11 tournaments again. I can’t complain. I would’ve never imagined that, at this point of the year, I’d already have five titles out of eight that I’ve tried to win and that I’d only lose once on the first round. I think it’s incredible. I have improved a lot this year with some aspects in my game. I think I play more comfortable with more security in my serve. That’s important because when I go to the return, I can play with more calm. That is a good improvement for me. This year I feel little bit more solid, more tough on court. I don’t have lot of mistakes. Unforced errors a little bit always in the matches. That’s another improvement for me this year.

Looking back, how was the entire experience of winning the French Open at the very first attempt?

It is such a wonderful feeling to win your first major Grand Slam title. It will always remain very special. Going into the final, I was not thinking much about it as I was just coming from a hard-fought victory over Roger Federer in the semi-finals. Federer in a semifinal of a Grand Slam, it’s incredible. It’s incredible to beat Federer. Winning a semifinal is already incredible, and beating Federer is even more amazing. While, it was my first final in a Grand Slam tournament, I was not too nervous as I had played lots of finals that year. I also spoke to good friend Carlos (Moya) for some valuable tips before the final. All this helped me to concentrate much harder and stay focused.

You’ve an impeccable record on the clay courts and in 2006 even surpassed Guillermo Vilas’ 53-match winning streak. How much do you value this record?

It’s very special. It wasn’t very important for me, but I started to value it as I got closer to beating it. It’s hard to achieve that. And, on top of all, against the number one player and in a master series. It’s not easy to win a Master Series. I rule myself based on its logic. I’m conscious of how much it takes to win so many straight matches and I’m surprised to have done it. You can always have a bad day. I looked at my results and truly I only suffered a lot in two or three of them. That means that I maintained a great level of focus. When problems arose, I got lucky, but I also was mentally strong.

You are no stranger to hard courts either. But your performance in the majors on the surface isn’t as good as in other tour events. Why? You made the finals at Wimbledon this year, and unlike others Spaniards don’t refrain from playing on grass. Do you give yourself a chance of winning the Wimbledon title in the future?

I understand concrete and clay. I’m only missing grass. I give myself two-three years to improve that. In order to play well there you have to have good feelings with the court, and actually understand playing on grass or hard-courts. But I’m still young. There’s a lot that I still need to improve. I’m trying to improve on a daily basis. On clay, this year I’ve had good results. But I’m going to play on other types of courts, as well. My intention is to play in Wimbledon so that I can also keep on learning.

On a normal court, in ground, you have to have a really defined way of playing. Not on grass. You have to learn to move better, to run better, to serve better, and to move to the front or to the back..., get used to the sliding balls. But when I retire, I want to have a clean conscience and know that I’ve done everything I could in order to play well on grass. It’s a special tournament and I always look forward to playing it each year.

Spaniards, in general, have a tendency of making it to major finals on hard surfaces only to come up short - like say Carlos Moya, Juan Carlos Ferrero etc. A Spaniard is also yet to win the Australian Open or the US Open (on a hard court). Do you think there’s a psychological reason behind this?

I don’t think there is any psychological reason. The important point is that you have to be consistent and stay mentally focused all the time. You have to win the important points and feel good all the time.

Your rivalry with Roger Federer is the only rivalry in men’s tennis in present times. How do you look at Federer as a rival and how do you manage to beat him almost every time? What, according to you, are the weakest aspects of his game?

I will not call it as a rivalry. It’s just that we play quite often and all our matches are tough and close matches and that’s what makes it interesting. He’s a great player on court and an excellent person outside of it. He’s a very complete player. He’s got every right shot. Federer for me is the best player. He is an amazing player. I have a good relationship with him. I have to play my best, probably 120% and try to hold on as much as I can. It is true that I have played him more on clay and that’s to my benefit, but we always have close matches. I don’t really know of any secret. As I say I give all my best all the time and maybe that’s helping me.

Apart from Federer whom do you consider as your toughest rivals?

It’s very difficult to single out any one player. The top seeded players are so competitive than anyone can beat you. The question is that you have to be good; stay focused and keep improving all the time. I did look in the past at players like Moya and other Spaniards.

There have been instances where former players have criticized you and the various aspects of your game. How do you take these criticisms?

It really doesn’t bother me so long as it is positive criticism about my game. Well, I had one of the worst serves in the circuit. Now it’s a lot better, well, it’s not one of the best, but it isn’t the worst one any more. I’ll have to keep practising. I’ve never been floating high up. Whether I’ve won or lost, my motto has always been the same: to work every day so things won’t twist the wrong way. It’s the only way to achieve something. I always go with the intention of giving it a hundred percent. They know that and that helps me. They see me so determined that they get nervous.

Experts believe that modern tennis has seen power deprive the game of the touch that was visible say till some twenty years back.

I personally don’t think so. You might have a big booming serve, but today you need to have an overall game that can be adapted to all courts on the circuit. Above all, you have to be good, feel good and stay fit and mentally focused. With so much traveling in the calendar, the stress might get to you at times.

Considering your uncle played football, did you ever consider playing the beautiful game yourself?

Yes. I’ve always loved sports: soccer, tennis, golf... that’s what made it easier. In fact, had it not been for my uncle who insisted on me training hard and concentrating on tennis in my formation years, I would have been playing football like my friends used to do after school. But, when I look back, I am privileged for doing what I loved to do.

So many achievements in so little time — is it frightening?

Life is full of challenges. No work is a bed of roses. Yes it feels nice to have titles under your belt. But it is just half the battle won. My main objective is to become a better player and to be happy. Right now, I have slim chances of becoming number one because I’m in a time period where I have to play against the best player in history. In any other time period, I would already be number one because of all the points that I have. And that makes me very happy. But it’s true that someday I’d like to become number one.