Rafael Nadal after his loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero at the press conference


Q. When did you first start feeling the problem with the foot?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, the Sunday in the night. When I wake up for 6:00 in the morning for come here, I put the foot on the floor and I can't put the foot on the floor. So I call the trainer for my trainer for come to the room and put something for can go to the airport, and I did.

Q. So you were in pain when you were moving, when you were running on the court, were you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, you know, it's very difficult prepare in a match, you know. For sure Juan Carlos is a very tough opponent.
So especially if you are playing Masters Series and you are not 100%, it's impossible win the matches, no? Especially in this tournament. Every match is very tough and Juan Carlos is a very good player, so congratulate him. Today I wasn't play my best tennis, so I the true is I didn't feel very good on court. I can't put the legs on the floor with my power. I can't put the ball long, so every time I play very short because I don't have power in the legs. Because I have this point the point behind the foot, pain, so it was tough for me to. But anyway, I happy about my attitude: try to go on court and try to try my best.

Q. Were you close to not play? Were you hesitating not to play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, today in the morning when I wake up I say it's impossible to play, no? Later, I come here, prepare in the practice. I was in the doctor's, like yesterday and before yesterday, and they put special protection, very big protection. They put some cream, anesthetic cream, something like this, for didn't feel the same pain. Anyway, it's tough, because when the foot was inside of the well, I can't put the foot like this. I always went like this because I scared, no? So, you know, the calendar is impossible. Last week and in Barcelona everybody is talking about how you feel about the calendar and everything. I said for me going to be impossible four weeks in a row playing well, no? They told me, Yes, but you have already two playing very well. I said, Yes, but in a few days you going to see why it's impossible, and disappointing they going to see. Finally they see it's impossible, no? Just congratulate Juan Carlos, because this is an important win for him, I think. He's trying to go to Olympics, too, so important points for him. Just happy for him because he's a nice guy and a very good player. That's it, no? I just try to at home have some rest, and after try to go with my best feelings to Hamburg.

Q. You know that Etienne of the ATP is here. Are you going to talk to him and say the same thing you told us about the calendar, what you said in Barcelona? I know you have told him already, but do you think there is a chance that something can change, or you don't think anything will change?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't have nothing to speak with this man, no? Not more.

Q. Don't trust him?
RAFAEL NADAL: Lose more time trying to fight for nothing it's very stupid, so I have it's stupid. Last year I have a lot of time lose a lot of time trying to understand why he doing these things, and he's impossible to understand. So right now it's not the moment for speak about that because I lose, and when I lose always the people think about it as an excuse for my lose. So I spoke about this in Monte Carlo and Barcelona when I win. When I lose I don't like to speak about these things.

Q. Does this mean your participation in Hamburg is maybe under threat because of injury?
RAFAEL NADAL: Hopefully no, no? Because two Masters Series without play in the best conditions on clay going to kill me, no? So I hope not.

Q. Every place where you lose you are unhappy for sure, but Rome you are more unhappy than somewhere else, or not, or all the same?
RAFAEL NADAL: For sure it's very important tournament for me here. Lose here is very, very tough for me just for everything, no? For the crowd because the crowd support me a lot always. So I just can say thanks very much, because probably I won in 2005 and 2006 for the support of the crowd. So that's tough for me. Very nice for me coming back here, but at the same time, very disappointing for me to come here without my best preparation. That's true, no? Finally, I can't do more, no? I play my best and I am here. I try to prepare with my best motivation the first two days here practicing: first day twenty minutes; second day one hour but without move and without play points, without nothing.
So it's very difficult to prepare for a tournament like this, no?

Q. (In Italian.) What was your feeling inside especially being used to winning so much? Was there any particular feeling that you felt losing today?
RAFAEL NADAL: The feeling is, well, normally I know more than you how tough is win a lot of the matches on clay and in every surface, so I am prepared for this moment because I know already when I go on court everything can happen and I can lose every day. Right now for sure I'm disappointing because it's very important tournament for me and important because I have chances for improve in the ranking and for don't lose points and continue to improve in the race. Disappointing for me I can't be 100% and I can't win, so it was tough.

He is unhappy clearly...but so shoudl we be as this tournament will go on but the crowd is deprived of the potential winner and the winner will never be able to take full credit. There will be an asterix on the winner's name that will say *yeah but Nadal was injured.

Nadal's clay season is bonkers,
Monte Carlo, Barcalona, Rome, Roland Garros (is he playing Hamburg?)
I have had and continue to have doubts about his bodies ability to take what he is throwing at it-this time of the tennis season. The foot problem, the knees -em tendinitis i think, and the shoulder tendinitis. Tendons take ages to heal (poor blood supply-i speak as a former sufferer) the bandages speak volumes- i reckon his body might give up the ghost!
He was sore in Barcalona, played doubles in Monte Carlo-the big question is who's giving him the sound advice about playing?
He may in effect be pulling a sicky in Rome, if he is then that is wise, but it would have been wiser not to take part at all. If he genuinely can't play on, it's because he's pushing himself far too much.
Yes the clay schedule is crazy-but that's how it is, Rafa should definitely save himself for Roland Garros rather than win everything in sight on clay-or as a Fed fanatic myself -maybe Nadal is doing just fine.

Hi BT - I think Rafa explains it quite clearly in his interview. Last year he had a week of rest between MC and Rome. This year that was suppressed and this is why he could not recover on time for Rome. For 3 years in a row he has proven that with a week of rest in between he could win everything on clay. This year they took that week away and that killed him. Its true that his style of game is not helping but even an attacking player like Fed would not play 4 weeks in a row. This year Nadal had no choice if he wanted to preserve his points won last year.

The main question is why is de villiers still in charge of the ATP when the top 20 players want him out?

well this was expected...the ATP scheduling is just horrible..Rafa has been complaining for ages but I guess its good in a way that Rafa got burned out in this tournament rather than facing the consequences at RG.As Tenez points out the winner will not get the full credit because Rafa is injured here.I hope he doesn't play in Hamburg as well?

Whilst I do feel sorry for Rafa, you've gotta ask what on earth he was thinking of playing doubles in Monte Carlo when he knew full-well what his schedule was going to be like? I can understand him still playing Barcelona for the ranking points, but there was really no such reason to play doubles..... :shrug:

Hi Dinky - Playing doubles takes close no energy out of a player like Nadal and certainly doesn't hurt the legs. It's just a way to practice serve and volley and get used to clay conditions. Singles are very different though. This is why the ranking is so different and we are unlikely to see the Brians or any other doubles specialist enter the top 100.

Yes, I think doubles has really brought on Nadals net play - it's improved well over the last year or so.

Good and frank interview from Nadal - I agree that this is now Rome 2008 (the one where Nadal was injured)

I've not had much respect for de Villiers for some time - quite why he's hanging on in there mystifies me?

Well yes he has to play Hamburg,he made the final there last year and will lose lots of points if he doesnt play,given the fact that he has already lost so many already for that early exit yesterday.In terms of the doubles at Monte Carlo,I dont know what to make of that.I mean it was his first clay tournament so I just think it was more a case of him finding form on the surface and that was a platform for match practice.I dont think he anticipated going that far in doubles let alone winning it. :blink:

With regards to his "shock" loss yesterday,it wasnt as much a surprise for me because I didnt expect him to win the tournament but I also never expect him to lose so early on. :blink: It was only a mtter of time before fatigue set in and he would lose.Therefore,accompanied by the blisters and him being tired Im not too excited about his loss.Its actually dampens the tournament for me but it gives him a well deserved rest he needs and hopefully he will be ready for Roland Garros. :ok:

I hope Nadal pulls out of Hamburg.

Nadal ill be fine by then. A week is enough for him to recover and heal his blisters. It's Roger that worries me. Playing Rome and Hamburg in a row is not going to be easy and not helping for his Paris crusade. So, be reassured Laurie, Nadal will be well on form to prevent Roger to succeed where your man failed! ;)

It's not that easy you know, life is not always like that :rolleyes: .

It's a bit of reverse psycohology, you're hoping Rafa will blow himself out that's possible.

Anyway, I quite like Rafa I would like to see him win 5 RGs in a row.

Nothing to do with anyone else, although I know you can't help yourself ;)

I can't imagine that he will, he just seems to have such a competitive nature. He'll want to reassert his dominance on clay and show everyone before RG that he's still the one to beat (even if they all know that already.) Plus, it's the one place where he can pick up a few ranking points over the clay season, and also the site of his one other defeat on clay in the last 18 months (possibly more :unsure: ) which i suspect he'll want to rectify. And also he's got an extra few days now, plus a week after Hamburg in which to recover.

Whether it's good for him to do it or not, i doubt he will - after all, he probably should have pulled out of Barcelona, but he didn't :shrug: I've actually grown to like Rafa, so really don't want to see him have a miserable RG :(

I certainly want Rafa to be 100%. Watching Roger v Rafa on clay is one of the best spectacle tennis can offer. So I certainly do not want to be deprived of it. I also much enjoy the Davydenko/Nadal matches on this surface. That was certainly the case in MC this year and I 'd really like Roger and Rafa to meet in Paris. I am confident "my man" ;) can beat him in Paris. I just want to see it with my own eyes. He came close on a few occasions and on the day no doubt he can do it. Nadal will be perfectly fine for Paris as long as the weather allows for one off-day between matches.

I personally would like to see someone other than Roger in the final. Last year's final was a shocker, the final in 2006 wasn't much better besides Federer's great play in the 1st set.

The 2005 final between Nadal and Puerta was actually a good match, it was good to see two lefties in a final, something that is extremely rare now since the days of McEnroe v Connors and Seles v Navratilova in big finals.

The Joker in the final would be interesting - long long way to go.

I am somehow convinced that this year, guys like Djoko and Nalby can seriously challenge Nadal on clay (Djoko was already pretty close last year). Whereas watching Fed's fragile BHs trying to tame Nadal's FH is a beautiful spectacle. The Monaco match was at times beautiful.

What are you drinking this lunchtime :wacko: ?

The Monte Carlo final was comical in so many ways.

Anyway, you certainly have faith :lol:

Main challangers of Rafa on clay are IMO:

1) FED & Nalbi in a good day, both of them have enough weapons to put a lot of pressure on Rafa IMO.

2) Davy..IMO he is more a challange to Rafa than Djoko at the moment; This can (and will change) in the future (near) but for this season Davy is better than Djoko.. :rolleyes:

Ok it was only in patches but in those patches, Roger was teaching Nadal a lesson or two on clay. Its doing it over and over again that is difficult but I certainly enjoyed some amazing rallies. Looking back Roger wasn't far from giving nadal another bagel or breadstick on this surface. I think the gap you see between those 2 players on clay is narrower than what you make up. 7/1 certainly but out of those 5 at least were pretty close.

Davy is certainly a threat too. I forgot to mention him.

I've heard that justification before, and while it's certainly true that doubles is very different from singles and does not require as much energy, it still requires some energy. If you're worried about a clay season that is too compressed and feel, as Nadal put it in his interview, that it is an 'impossible' schedule, then I'm not sure it makes sense to enter the doubles as well as singles. It seems he needed as much rest and recovery time as he could get. Doubles may be much less strenuous than singles, but it's not exactly rest time.

It's always easy to find a fault in someone's preparation. BUt the fault comes fom the schedule itself. If I remember Nadal played everything he coudl, including doubles, the last 3 years and won about everything on that surface. He was just trying to defend the points he fought for last year. Doubles are no more than a warm up and are not the reason why he lost yesterday.

He said he could barely walk on his blistered feet after Barcelona, though, and MC/Barcelona have always been back-to-back, haven't they? Has he come away from Barcelona injured every year and just taken advantage of the next week off to heal?

I agree that the schedule is bad, but I just don't buy that as being the only reason that Nadal had the problems he did.

Hi Tenez,
I agree the schedule is crazy-don't think many would argue with that-BUT it is how it is, and playing yourself into the ground in order to win everything on clay or God forbid defend ranking points surely must take second place to winning the French.
I agree that Fed must watch himself too playing Rome and Hamburg back to back-the schedule needs changing (with more time between the French and Wimbledon too) but players must live and pace themselves with what exists, not what should.

Sorry Tenez, but I don't think there will be an asterix at all. I never thought that Nadal was the deinfite cert here at all, there are other players who can win. And in fairness being the cert in every tournie does involve the physical ability to play EVERY tournie. I know much is being made of scheduling changes, but I feel this is somethign of a smokescreen because Nadal has had this kind fo thing coming for a couple of years now due to his style of play and overly physical game. It was onyla matter of time and now it has happened he will have to work out how best to ensure he is fit for all tournies, or be fit for less.

That's the 3 I'd have picked. And Djoko is maybe getting there.

That's kind of what I am saying above. I think the schedule sucks but they are all in the same boat so they have to work with it or try and change it.

I agree with BT. :ok: Rafa needs to stop whining about the schedule.It was his choice to play all these events. :shrug: The ATP didnt put a gun to his head to force him to play. :shrug: He chose to play these events year after year and now its the Olympic year,he knew that the schedule would be cramped.I personally felt that he should have not played Barcelona for Rome,because its obvious that Rome is the bigger event. :ok: He could have always come back next year to Barcelona.But I guess he is a patriot of note but its his own blunder at the end of the day.

Whilst I agree the schedule is hectic,I also believe that we all have choices to make and he knows this. :ok:

His choices of which events to play where decided 3, if not 4 years ago and looking at his record on clay I find it difficult to criticise his choice. Now this year is different cause the gutless ATP organisation, allowed college basketball to supress the so needed week between Barca and Rome. So Nadal had no much choice to try to defend the points he had earned the previous year. If he had known he would finally get blisters, maybe he would not have played but in any case he would have lost points because of the schedule. This schedule is only affecting him cause everybody else loses on clay so he suffers, and I maintain as a Rome spectator, we also suffer for that schedule!

Federer v Robredo won t be as exciting.

this is Fed's view on it:

Q. Do you feel it was right when he was complaining about the clay court season being so tough?
ROGER FEDERER: Rafa?

Q. Yeah.
ROGER FEDERER: I did not hear him.

Q. He was complaining that he had four big tournaments this year in a row every week with no week of rest between.
ROGER FEDERER: Hmm, of course it's tough. It's tough for everyone. I'm playing four tournaments as well, it's just that I placed them differently.

I understand he wants to play Barcelona and try to defend his title there. It's a tough year because of the Olympic Games, but I think the problem is more maybe in Miami where they moved because of television, I think. To move, you know, Miami because of television, because I think it was the NCAA, I mean, that is rough on us. Especially on a guy like Rafa who wants to play a lot on clay. So I agree, it's not right, you know, but it's the way it is this year unfortunately, and hopefully things will be better next time.

and can i just ask if it's Tenez who currently has the CC jinx ability now??? :moody:

:D

Yeah - Davy was so close yesterday.....yet so far! I did not see the match was really surpised by the result. Having said that Davy has a very sharp game, hitting flat with quite a hgh risk game.

from what people in live scoring were saying it was a fairly horrific match with lots of UEs from Davy, a major choke from Robredo when he was serving for the match, and a strange challenge from Davy when a linesman called Robredo's serve out.....and davy decided it was in (or i think that's what happened :unsure: ) all very strange.....and very annoying..... :angry:

if you have got the CC jinx ability could you possibly *not* support Fed and Djoko today! ta muchly :P

Don't you worry. I'll support Djoko with all my heart on this occasion! :darkangel:

you realise if Djoko loses today i'll be coming after you..... :chainsaw: :P

Some quotes from Djoko's interview:

Q. Could you ever imagine getting through the quarters and semis and playing two sets?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, honestly, not in an event like this. But these are the circumstances and this is sports. Anything can happen, you know.
I think this is another reason and another showing that the season is really tough, especially this year because of the Olympics.
The players are not getting injured for nothing, you know? There is a big reason why they're having these difficulties. I understand that because I was in that situation many times.
But for me the most important thing is that I have done everything that I planned to do before the matches, last night's match and today's match.
I'm happy with my performances so far, so hopefully tomorrow I can get a big victory.

Q. (From Italian) Do you think something could have been done in order to prevent this problem by not planning the Olympics or the schedule so tight around the Olympic Games?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, now if we start talking about that I think it will be taking a long time. We are all trying to make this sport more popular and better. We're all working for the good of the sport.
Especially the players in the top and the ones who are playing a lot of the matches are not happy with the schedule this year. That's certainly a task to talk about because of the really tight schedule of the Masters Series events.
We're all aware of the fact that the Olympics are making it even more difficult, but this is something that we will need to talk about in the future. I'm not criticizing anybody, but it's just very important to take care about the players, because you don't want to have these kind of situations at big events, the players retiring in the semifinals and the quarterfinals after one set.
The stadium was not even filled up and suddenly one of the players retired, so I don't think that the tournament director or the crowd or anybody wants to see that.

and Roddicks:

Q. (From Italian) There have been several injuries this week. Do you think Nadal is right saying there is too much play on clay, continuous play, and that's the reason for your injuries?
ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't think so. No, I mean, I don't think it has to do with the surface, to be honest. I've been saying for years I think the schedule needs to be adjusted and there needs to be a little bit of time to recover at the end the year. You know, I know it's been getting more attention recently, but I think it's something that's been talked about for a long time, you know. But I I think this week it's probably coincidental. I mean, you can go a week without anybody doing it, and this week there was three or four. I put that up to coincidence maybe.

Q. You can say it could be a coincidence, but there were six players that couldn't finish their matches in Barcelona and three here, plus Nadal's feet. That's an awful lot of matches that didn't get finished in two tournaments. Is the locker room concerned about this? Do they talk but injuries? Are players concerned?
ANDY RODDICK: Like I said before, I think it's been a concern for a long time about maybe the lack of an off season. You know, I don't know if blisters are like that's from just playing a lot of the matches, I think. I think he practiced twice the day before and he came out with blisters, so...But this isn't new. You know, this isn't news that it's a packed schedule. You know, this isn't you know, I don't think we're reinventing the wheel by saying, you know, there's a lot of injuries. What causes it? I don't know. I mean, I've been pretty fortunate in my career not to have any really long term injuries, but I've also been pretty responsible with how I select my schedule.