Tennis7.net Magazine
April 2005
[Translated from Spanish; Thanks, Elisa]
Spanish Version
Rafael Nadal, finalist of the Nasdaq 100 Open of Miami recently, showed he�s not a promise anymore but a reality. The Spaniard, at just 18 years old, was ver close to giving the surprise in Key Biscaine tournament. He talked, exclusive, with TENNIS7.
T7: We guess you�re very upset on one hand, but happy on the hand because you did a great tournament in Miami.
RN: I�m very happy with the way I played in the tournament, with my tennis and because I feel I�m improving everyday. But being up 2 sets against Federer and 4-1 in the third, and then that bad decision of the umpire winning 4-3 and then 0-30 in his serve� But anyway, I�m happy with my tennis, but not so much with how things went on.
T7: The tie break in the third set surely affected you, but in the fourth we saw you fighting and with posibilities. What was all about then, tennis or physique?
RN:In the fourth I was giving my best to try to win the match, but he broke me and he went a bit further on the score, things got complicated. Roger is an amazing player, he�s showing he can be the best in the history, and when he�s up in the score, things get complicated. But until that moment I hadn�t been inferior to him.
T7: Federer doesn�t not make mistakes, is that his best virtue?
RN: I think he�s a player that makes mistakes, but his best virtue isn�t not making mistakes, but surprising you. He eats quickly the court and you don�t see a hole in his tennis.
T7: What was the decisive thing in the fifth set?
RN. The decisive thing was that he had just overcome from losing 2 sets and he broke me quickly and this made he was gone on the score. Like I said before, when a player goes into a court without losing a final and he�s in front of ou on the score, is very difficult to stop him. He had just overcome to be lsing for 2 sets and, obviously, he had more confidence.
T7: What are your impressions of the final?
RN: I was really close to victory, to win my first Master Series, and you have to take experience and learn about it so you can be the first soon. I was really close and I wish I have another oportunity soon.
T7: In this tournament, we saw a much decisive and mature player on the court. Did you see it this way?
RN: Well, maturity is given to you by time and experience. I�ve been playing on the tour for two years now, and it�s normal you see me more mature on the court, time makes you think different and play in other way too.
T7: well, you must agree with us, that there are players that don�t change no matter how many years go by�
RN: Well, I can�t talk about the other, but I can talk about me. Each year, I�ll be feeling more confident on the court.
T7: Did you feel a change from junior to pro?
RN: I feel almost nothing, because I didn�t play much as a junior, I just played one Wimbledon and at 15 I already played professionally Sat�lites and Futures tournaments. My case was different to many others, who played as junior for years, I almost didn�t walk that path.
T7: You seem comfortable playing on hard courts, do you prefer them t claycourts?
RN: I like claycourts, but I also like playing on outdoor hard courts, it went okay in Asutralia, I won three macthes. I feel comfortable on hard courts but I play better on clay.
T7: Tell me about your time in South America..
RN: The time is Latinamerica was really good for me. I won tournaments which gave me a lot of confident at the beginning of the season.
T7: Where are you going to play apart from Roland Garros?
RN: I�m going to play in Valencia, Montecarlo, Barcelona, Rome, Hamburg and roland Garros. I have a lot of tennis in front of me.
T7: Have you created fashion with those pants you used at the Nasdaq?
RN: (laughter) I like those pants, they�re very comfortable, I call them �pirates� (laughs). I�m going to use them the whole year.
**Thanks for the translation. Please do not reproduce without giving credit to the original source and VamosRafael.com.**
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