Carlos takes away importance from the doubles elimination in light of Rafael�s disappointment.

Carlos Moy�, former tennis world number one, and Rafael Nadal, promise/reality of Spanish tennis, are two of the fourteen Mallorcans that make up the Spanish delegation in Athens. Moy� stays alive in singles play, but together they failed to get pass the first round of doubles. "I would have liked to win with Carlos", admitted Nadal, 18 years old. "These are things that will pass", consoled Moy� , ten years older, during the course of this joint interview in Athens, where despite the age difference both experienced their Olympic debut.

Difficult proposition: Winning your first professional tournament in Sopot on Sunday or leaving it all to arrive early and in shape for the Olympic Games�
Nadal: I thought about not playing in the last tournament, but I clearly have my preference, which is the singles tournament. Here I only had the option to play doubles. It was a joy for me to be part of the Olympic Games, but my ranking was at the 70�s, and now after winning Sopot I am around the 50�s, which is important to me. The decision has been a good one, although I would have like to win with Carlos.
Moy�: We both know that our main goal is to be the highest up in the singles ranking as possible and he went to Sopot so that if things went well for him there it would fit in with the plans of him going further. Losing in doubles is something that will pass.

The duo of Moy�/Nadal does not have much of a future, it seems.
Moy�: That no one knows, but in principle I prefer to play singles.

What is the first impression you had of Nadal?
Moy�: There were things I heard spoken about him, I remember a time when he went to Stuttgart to play at 12 years old, and it coincided with the indoor carpet tournament there. There I hit around with him and that was the first time that we played. At 12 years he was already hitting the ball well, but there are many in their 13�s, 14�s that are good and do not amount to much. He was burning rapidly through the stages.
Nadal: The first time that I remember to have seen him was him playing a match against Muster that Carlos won. I saw it on the television when I was about eight or nine.

What do you admire the most about Nadal?
Moy�: That he goes burning through the stages very fast, he passes to higher levels in very little time, and that is something that says a lot about a player.
Nadal: What I admire about Carlos is his simplicity and easiness after being on top for so many years, that is important.

How is an island as small as Mallorca able to have fourteen sportsmen in the Games?
Moy�: I believe that sports in the Balearic islands are rising a lot, to have fourteen people here is fabulous for Balearic sports, and I believe the fact that little by little they will have more and more support for the rising youth.
Nadal: They are strongly positioning themselves in their sports and things are turning out well, little by little they are winning medals, and we�ll see if Carlos can attain one, he has options.

Can we say that these are the first and last Games for Carlos Moy� or do you think about Beijing 2008?
Moy� (laughing) : I am in a country that makes it very difficult to be located among the top four and if I can do that at 31 it means that I would have a very good ranking. It is going to be difficult, but I will attempt it.

To what extent are the Games important?
Nadal: It was a goal for me to be here, also in singles. That could not be because in Spain there is a high level of tennis, I could not be among the top four and, well, that�s what it is.

Is winning an Olympic gold equivalent to winning a Grand Slam?
Nadal: In tennis, a Grand Slam is more important than the Games. Yes, after them would come the Olympic gold.
Moy�: I would put it very high, but for every tennis player, their dream and main goal is to win a Grand Slam, although winning here would be very high on my ranking.

Are you all amazed at the elimination of Elena G�mez, another Mallorcan with the possibilities of winning a medal?
Nadal: It was a surprise, but the game has that, since there is a lot of competitiveness, and everyone can beat you at some point.
Moy�: It has been a pity, because of all the Mallorcans that were here she was one of the ones with the most ability to win a medal. And in her sport they prepare so much for an event like this. To have a day as bad as she did you�re left without options.