An interview with Rafael Nadal

Pre tournament press conference

Q. You actually have won more matches in your career on hardcourt than you have on clay. You haven’t yet won the US Open. What is it gonna take for you to break through there?

RAFAEL NADAL: That’s really normal. I play 60% or 70% of the matches on hard over here, no, so that’s normal. Well, I gonna try my best in the US Open, but I am in Cincinnati now, so I am focused on Cincinnati.

Q. The US Open obviously is the only major you don’t have. With all due respect to Señor Roig, I was wondering why your Uncle Toni doesn’t come to these tournaments?

RAFAEL NADAL: That doesn’t matter if my uncle came to these tournaments or not to prepare the US Open. But first thing, I don’t play this tournament to prepare the US Open; I play these tournaments because these tournaments are very important for me. (Smiling.)

Q. You’re known as a very sort of superstitious player on a lot of things. I notice that you’re wearing pink again in Canada and probably again here. When you were wearing pink last was at the French Open in ‘09 when you lost to Soderling there. Do you think about that at all?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am not superstition on these things.

Q. No?

RAFAEL NADAL: For sure not. You if you play well, you win; if you play bad, you lose. That’s all history in general.

Q. What was the bigger story: you winning Wimbledon either time or Spain winning the World Cup in Spain?

RAFAEL NADAL: That’s no doubt. You know, winning Spain World Cup, for sure that was amazing for everybody. The football is the king sport of Spain, and for me, and I think for everybody, it was just amazing live this experience, no?
You know, for so many years we deserve to win there because of our tradition with all sport in general, but especially football it’s unbelievable. Finally we did, so it was, yeah, all the country was on the street.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about your decision on why you decided to change to the strings that you’re using now?

RAFAEL NADAL: The string?

Q. Yeah. Did you change the strings for more spin or…

RAFAEL NADAL: I changed before the year, yeah.

Q. Right. But was there something in your game that was lacking that you decided…

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Nobody told me it was better. I tried, I like it, I change. (Laughter.)

Q. How did it change your game?

RAFAEL NADAL: The string?

Q. Yeah.

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don’t think so. Nothing.

Q. How is your practice the last couple days working on the backhand and serve that you wanted to do after Toronto?

RAFAEL NADAL: One day.

Q. Only one day?

RAFAEL NADAL: Just yesterday and today a little bit. I gonna practice a little bit more this afternoon after, when I finish with you, and that’s it.
No, it was good. The court is completely different. It’s very fast here. Much faster than Toronto, it’s not easy to adapt to this court when you arrived to semifinals or final in Toronto.
For sure I am here to try my best.

Q. Is the ball jumping more?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, stays lower, and, yeah, it’s faster. Much faster.

Q. Does it feel different being No. 1 this time than it did being No. 1 last time, two years ago?

RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn’t make any difference. Doesn’t for me. Finish No. 1 in the end of the year, that’s something that I would love to do it. But right now I don’t think if I am No. 1 or I am No. 5. So I am Rafa, and I go to every tournament to try to play well and to try to be competitive and win as many matches as I can.
For me, important thing is that I feel that I play well, feel that I am competitive to try to win everybody. And when we finish the season, we will see where I gonna be, no?
Sure, was — no good for me was more important to come back to my best tennis and to win in Monte-Carlo, Rome, Madrid, Roland Garros and Wimbledon than be No. 1. So that’s most important thing for me.

Q. You set a record earlier this year for most career Masters Series titles, and people talk about the US Open being the only slam you haven’t won. You’re close to having won almost every Masters Series tournament at least once, too, which would be a pretty tremendous accomplishment. Cincinnati is one of the ones you have not won yet. Does that give you extra motivation to win here to try to complete that set?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it’s difficult to — I think it’s almost impossible have all the Masters 1000, no, because that’s change. Grand Slam didn’t change, but that’s change, no?
For example, I won in Madrid indoor, and right now is Shanghai; I won in Hamburg, and right now it’s clay, Madrid. That’s true, I won in Madrid now on clay, too, no? But too much coincidences to win all nine.
So it’s nothing that I really focus on, no? I try my best, and I would love to win here in Cincinnati. But I am in first round, and conditions and opponents gonna be very difficult.

Q. What specific changes do you need to make to your game to move from Toronto, a slower court, to a faster court here?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. We will see. The competition start tomorrow. I only had the chance to play a few games today in the morning with Sam, so that’s my first feeling. Because yesterday I practiced specific things with my coach.
We will see. I don’t know. Sure, gonna be change. Gonna be very important the serve that didn’t work me very well the last week in semifinals. I didn’t serve well in that match for sure, so I have to serve much better if I really want to have any chance to be in the tournament competing for something.
So I am working on…

Q. You and Novak plan on playing doubles again in the future?

RAFAEL NADAL: Why not? Yeah, if we have the chance. I have a very good relationship with him. If we find the right week, why not?

Q. Do you think that if the US Open was at the start of the year rather than at the end of the year that you would have won it by now? Is the timing of the tournament part of the reason why you’ve yet to win it, given all your efforts to do what you do throughout the year getting to this stage of the season?

RAFAEL NADAL: I didn’t understand nothing. (Laughter.) (Through translation.)
I don’t know. I really don’t know. That’s is impossible to know. The thing that I can say is little bit easier for me, no, because I lose a lot of energy with the clay season and grass court season. That’s true, no? It’s a lot matches for me, a lot of tension in that three months, so was — it’s a very important part of season for me, and I put everything there. And after that, it’s normal go down. Since everything is very good like it was this year, it’s normal go a little bit down.
But I am perfect mentally. I say if I didn’t win the US Open, it’s because I wasn’t ready to win the US Open in the past. I don’t know if I gonna be ready this year or in the future. That’s what I gonna work, and that’s what I gonna try every year.
So I am focus on keep improving my tennis to have more options to do and to have more options to do when the matches are difficult in that tournament. But I gonna do all what I can all my career. But remember, is a Grand Slam, and every Grand Slams is very difficult.

Q. So you don’t think it’s a physical thing?

RAFAEL NADAL: Was a physical thing a few years; another years wasn’t a physical thing. 2005 I was perfect physically. That’s true. I was worse playing on this surface in 2005 than what I am today.
2006, I still was worse than what I am today on this surface, but I lost in quarterfinals because Youzhny played better than me. In 2005 I lost against Blake in third round because he played better than me, and that’s all.
In 2002 and 2007 I had problems on the knees, and I lost against David Ferrer in fourth round.
In 2008 I arrived perfect physically but destroyed mentally winning in Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Toronto, Olympics. So it was crazy for me. Very hard season.
And last year was another time. I broked my abdominal in Montreal, so I played here with a little bit broken abdominal. But every match was bigger and bigger — (through translation) the tear, the abdominal tear was bigger.
I finished the US Open destroyed, so for me it was amazing result being in semifinal last year.

Q. So this year you go there in a good position to win? That’s an interesting list, but this year how did you arrive if August?

RAFAEL NADAL: We will see what happened there, no? Every year is different. You can be playing very well here and you can arrive there and lose. You can be playing bad here and arrive there and start the tournament slow, better and better every day, and you can finish playing your best tennis and win.
You never know. This year I start Roland Garros for me playing terrible, and finally I played very well the final and semifinals and finally I win, no? You can do it everything perfect, and not for that reason you gonna win or you gonna be playing well in that moment. So that sometimes is the…

Q. Physically now you’re 100?

RAFAEL NADAL: Physically I’m perfect. Give me two weeks to broke everything. (Laughter.)
But I don’t think that’s gonna happen. I think I am fine. I am fine physically. Hopefully doesn’t gonna happen.

Q. Is there anything specific you’re working on this week other than your serve that will get you in a better position to do well, not only here, but also at the US Open? Any area of focus?

RAFAEL NADAL: You know, I gonna try to have the best result as I can here. After that, I gonna have one week in New York to adapt to the court, to adapt to the balls, and to prepare US Open.
The conditions here to the US Open are completely different. The ball is different; the court is completely different; the weather is different, too. So all these many different things makes the tournament another sport. So, yeah, it’s difficult to compare. That’s true.
If you win here, for sure the confidence is higher and you can arrive there and play a little bit easier. But 2008 I was playing better than ever winning in Olympics in not very different conditions, the same ball, and I arrived there and I played very bad.
I lost in semifinals, but seriously I was playing bad.

SOURCE

'Dadme dos semanas para romperme todo'


Foto: Reuters

* Nadal, que asegura sentirse en perfecto estado, bromea sobre la exigencia de las próximas semanas, para él las más complicadas del calendario.

Óscar Fornet | Madrid
Actualizado miércoles 18/08/2010 11:29 horas

Hace tiempo que Taylor Dent se toma las cosas de otra manera. Hasta 2005 peleaba por traspasar la barrera del 'top 20', por emular a su padre, Phil, aquel gran doblista australiano que en 1977 llegó a ocupar la decimoséptima posición de la ATP en el 'ranking' individual tres años después de eliminar a Bjorn Borg en el Abierto de Australia en la única ocasión en que el sueco voló tan lejos para jugar al tenis. Dent alcanzó y perdió la final ante Jimmy Connors. El hijo, todo potencia, servicio demoledor y cierta habilidad en la red, soñaba con algo más. Taylor escaló hasta el puesto 21 en 2005 antes de que los problemas en su espalda pusieran fin a su ascenso. Una cirugía sencilla en 2006 precedió a otras dos más complejas un año después. No se movió de la cama durante seis meses. Del cuello a la cintura, sólo yeso. [Programa de hoy] [Cuadro]

Dent no se ha retirado, pero su lucha hoy consiste en mantenerse entre los 100 mejores del mundo. Esta semana aparece el puesto 86. Ya le va bien. El próximo abril cumplirá 30 años y desde el pasado enero, además de la contraída con la raqueta, una responsabilidad mayor ocupa su tiempo. Se llama Declan y es el fruto de su relación con Jennifer Hopkins, una ex tenista profesional. Así, sus apariciones en el circuito se limitan casi en exclusiva a los Grand Slam y a los torneos de EEUU, incluidos los de categoría Challenger. Su puesta a punto se orienta, principalmente, la gira de febrero y marzo, que concluye en Indian Wells y Miami, y al periodo que ahora ocupa la competición, con el US Open en el horizonte. Fue en marzo, en Miami, donde por primera vez se enfrentó a Rafael Nadal.

Dent cedió por 6-4 y 6-3 después de firmar seis 'aces', seis dobles faltas y jugar con su primer servicio en apenas el 54% de los puntos. Logró romper en una ocasión el saque de Nadal y en cuatro cedió el suyo. Hoy, tras superar la fase previa y derrotar a Feliciano López en la primera ronda, vuelve a medirse con el balear (en vivo, 19.00). Casi siempre pasado de kilos, sus opciones ante el número uno del mundo pasarían por registrar casi un 100% de primeros servicios, plena efectividad también en la volea y que en algún lugar de California, donde nació Dent, un chamán mojave recurra al vudú y emplee todas sus agujas contra las rodillas de su oponente.

Ya en Cincinnati, pisada la pista -más rápida que la de Toronto- completado el primer entrenamiento -más calor, menor humedad-, Rafael Nadal hizo broma de sus problemas físicos, de la escasa energía mental y física con que suele afrontar el último tramo del curso, el regreso al 'cemento', al aire libre primero, bajo techo después; sus limitaciones sobre la superficie menos indicada para su tenis y su salud, la superficie sobre la que sus principales rivales exponen sus mejores cualidades y ocultan sus mayores defectos. Cincinnati es el único evento Masters 1.000 que no le ha visto en la final, y el US Open el único 'grande' en el que aún no luchado por el título. "Físicamente me encuentro perfecto", reconoce. Dadme dos semanas para romperme todo", se reía con los periodistas.

"Son muchos partidos para mí", continúo Nadal. "Mucha tensión acumulada en esos tres meses [abril, mayo, junio], para mí la parte más importante de la temporada. Lo dejo todo ahí y después es normal tener un bajón". Cierto. En ocasiones el organismo no obedece órdenes y actúa por su cuenta. Y es que todo lo que sube, baja. "En 2006 y 2007 llegué con problemas en la rodilla. En 2008 llegué bien físicamente pero con la cabeza destruida después de ganar Roland Garros, [Queen's], Wimbledon, Toronto y los JJOO. Fue una locura. Y el año pasado me rompí el abdominal en Montreal y en Cincinnati la lesión fue creciendo. Fue asombroso alcanzar las semifinales en el US Open", admitió.

Nada asombra ya a Roger Federer, una leyenda a cuestas y dos gemelas que, como en el caso de Dent, le hacen ver las cosas desde otra perspectiva. Su mejoría tras el mes de descanso no le alcanza, de momento, para sumar un nuevo título, el 63º de su carrera. No lo hace desde su triunfo en el pasado Abierto de Australia. En Toronto disputó la final, pero nunca intimidó a Murray. "El año pasado, cuando perdí la final de Australia contra Nadal, le gente pensó que había iniciado en un serio declive", recordó el suizo, de nuevo número dos del 'ranking' pero número tres cuando se elaboró el cuadro de Cincinnati, lo que hace posible un cruce con Nadal en las semifinales. "Lloré en la pista central de Melbourne, y eso fue una tragedia para muchos. Nadie creyó que regresaría y luego gané Roland Garros, Wimbledon, llegué a la final del US Open y después he vuelto a ganar en Australia. Todo cambia muy rápido y conozco bien las reglas y cómo funciona esto. Si no ganas otra vez en Wimbledon o en París, todo vuelve a ir mal".

Todo vuelve a pintar bien en el camino de Andy Murray. Sin trofeos y a un paso de caer hasta la quinta posición del 'ranking', el título conquistado en Canadá tras lograr por primera vez batir a Nadal y Federer en un mismo torneo rehace sus esperanzas de conquistar al fin un 'grande' para el Reino Unido. El US Open, donde ya perdió la final de 2008 (ante Federer, quien también le arrebató la final de Australia 2010), se antoja el escenario propicio para el escocés en una edición sin Del Potro, el defensor del título. Su separación de Miles Maclagan y reconciliación con Kim Sears han servido de estímulo en los últimos meses. La vuelta al 'cemento' estadounidense ha completado su recuperación.

"Me sentí bien la semana pasada, y sólo llevo un par de semanas trabajando por mi cuenta", explicó el jugador de Dunblane. "Jugué muy bien [en Toronto], y eso no sé si tiene que ver con tener un entrenador o no, pero hice algunos de mis mejores encuentros la semana pasada y sentí que he mejorado desde Wimbledon. No voy a tener entrenador antes del Abierto de EEUU y luego (...) voy a sentarme y pensar en lo que quiero, pero sin prisas porque es una responsabilidad grande". Su madre, Judy, aprovecha la ocasión para desarrollar su pasión de entrenadora, esta vez a nivel profesional. Pero claro, Andy ya no se deja. "Antes miraba a todos los chicos con los que iba a jugar y me enviaba un mensaje la noche anterior sobre las cosas que había visto. Sólo tácticas pequeñas".

Las primeras raquetas del circuito debutan hoy en Cincinnati. Además de Nadal, Fernando Verdasco y David Ferrer se miden a raquetas estadounidenses. El madrileño, en plena lucha por obtener una plaza para el Masters, debuta en la pista Grandstand ante Mardy Fish, mientras que el alicantino lo hará un turno antes, sobre el mismo escenario, ante Sam Querrey. Hoy toca restar.

SOURCE

Cincinnati: Nadal rejoint Benneteau

18/08/2010 - 20:50

Opposé au grand serveur américain Taylor Dent au deuxième tour du Masters 1000 de Cincinnati, Rafael Nadal a réussi à obtenir son billet pour les huitièmes de finale de l'épreuve, où il retrouvera Julien Benneteau. Le numéro un mondial, breaké dans la deuxième manche, a dû accélérer pour l'emporter en deux sets et 1h24 de jeu (6-2, 7-5).

SOURCE

Nadal rejoint Benneteau

18/08/2010 à 20:53



Pour son entrée dans le tournoi, Rafael Nadal assure l'essentiel avec une victoire (6-2, 7-5 en 1h24') contre Taylor Dent. En huitièmes de finale, il affrontera Julien Benneteau.

Rafael Nadal aime prendre son temps. Après Toronto, la surface de Cincinnati lui paraît bien rapide. Rafael Nadal aime avoir du temps. Serveur-volleyeur à l'ancienne, Taylor Dent joue son va-tout sur chaque frappe. Tous les ingrédients sont donc réunis pour un premier match compliqué pour l'Espagnol. Pourtant il déroule au premier set avec un double break (4-0) en un quart d'heure. Il met en lumière le manque de vélocité de l'Américain sur chaque frappe (21 fautes directes au premier set, 40 au total).

Mais Taylor Dent prend progressivement la mesure de son adversaire et réalise le hold-up parfait sur un beau revers croisé à 3-2 dans la deuxième manche. Ce n'est qu'un feu de paille... Rafael Nadal débreake dans la foulée et profite de chaque seconde balle adverse pour mettre la pression sur le qualifié américain. Sur un dernier coup d'accélérateur, le numéro 1 mondial conclut sur trois jeux d'affilée. Sur une 40e erreur de son adversaire, il peut serrer le poing et saluer le public. Il s'est donné du temps, mais il a fait son job. Comme toujours.

SOURCE

An interview with Rafael Nadal

Cincinnati Masters
Second Round Press Conference
August 18, 2010

Q. What was will key difference between the first and second sets today? Looked almost like two different matches.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don’t think was two different matches, no? The beginning I think he had a lot of mistakes. When I put the ball inside, he had too many unforced errors.
And in the second, yeah, you know, it happens when I play against big server like Taylor. The match was close, and I was waiting to have my chance, but you are out of the rhythm a from the baseline, no, because he’s not giving to you the long point, and it’s difficult to have the touch of the — the feeling of ball, no?
So he played a good game, one winner after a good close return. And, yeah, that’s what happened. He break me, and I was a little bit lucky after that to have the break with one net. That’s help me, so one mistake from him.
So, yeah, was close second set. After, I came back to break. But anyway, I think I had more chances than him in the second, too. I was break down, but I had a breakpoint in the first game on the second, I think. So it’s true. Was closer the second, but I still think I deserved to win the second.

Q. The speed of the courts here compared to Toronto, a lot players have been saying they’ve been playing a lot faster. This was your first match here in Cincinnati. Can you elaborate on the differences between two big hardcourt tournaments back to back, but yet different speeds?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, that’s something in the future the tournaments can work to make the courts more…

Q. Consistent?
RAFAEL NADAL: The same, no? Make the courts similar, more similar between Toronto and here or between Montreal and here, no? Because, you know, for us it’s difficult to adapt, especially if you only have one or two days. When you arrive semifinals or finals, it’s not easy to adapt, especially in the beginning.
So it’s big change. This first match always is very dangerous.

Q. When you’re in a match, what are some things that you say either to yourself or to the crowd or the with the fist pumps? What do you do to get through a match, to either stay in it or get through it?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) Nothing. I don’t know. I think my point, so…
No, I was there fighting every point and try my best. I don’t say nothing to me. (Smiling.)

Q. Your return points, you did very well on the return. The first serve in the 30%, and the second serve in the mid-60s winning percentage when he was serving. Speak about that, about your return today. I think it was improved.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, not easy to return his second serve. For sure the first is more difficult, no?
But the second serve is fast, too. It’s coming with spins, different slice, kick. So wasn’t easy to return. I know I can’t go back two or three meters behind the baseline, because the court is faster here and then I didn’t have the chance — if he had a good serve and volley with second serve, I didn’t have the chance to pass him if I go three meters behind.

So I try to return inside the court the second serve, and I think I did okay. I did well, so I’m happy with that.

Q. When you’re playing such a big server like Taylor, what adjustments do you make in your return game? You broke him four times today, and you were only broken yourself once.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I just try to wait my moment, be patient a little bit. And after, is important — you don’t gonna have a lot of opportunities, so when he miss the first serve, it’s important that he feels the pressure. He feels that if he miss the first serve, he gonna have big chance to lose the point.
So that’s the only thing you can do.

Q. Do you stand further behind the baseline?
RAFAEL NADAL: Depends of the court. If I have to return this second serve on clay, I gonna go three meters behind and play a long shot and we gonna have the point. Or if he do serve and volley with the second, I gonna have much time to try to have the passing shot.
I played against him in Miami and the court was slow. I can change a little bit, I can return inside few times, and be behind the baseline another times.
But here with this court, it’s faster, the first day without rhythm, it was difficult for me go back three meters and try to be inside for the ball. It’s not an easy position for him.

Q. Going back to the previous question about the speed of the court from Toronto and here, which of these two is more comparable to New York?
RAFAEL NADAL: All different, because the ball is a big difference. You know, the ball here is Penn and is the Wilson at US Open. So it’s very different, the ball. But is a mixed between both, I think. I think it’s slower than here for sure, but at the same time it’s a little bit faster than Toronto. The bounce is not that high than Toronto.
So I will love to have that ball in US Open.

Q. A what’s your inspiration to do your best, give your best when you’re out on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: No one. I just focus on the match. My motivation is keep improving my tennis, enjoy to play, because I am, I think, very lucky guy to be here for the eighth year on the tour. So it’s long time. Still 24, so that’s unbelievable for me.
I did more than what I thought seven, six years ago, so I feel very happy. My motivation is just keep improving, and I think just not only when I am on the court, when I gonna practice. That’s my motivation. Be better player year by year.

Q. When you have some free time during a tournament, what are some things you look to do off-court visiting cities?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, here I don’t visit nothing, no? It’s a little bit far the city, so I stay at the hotel or I gonna play golf before.

Q. If you’re in another city, some of the other ones…
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well, next week for example in New York, yes, I walk around a little bit in the city. I go for the musicals sometimes, to watch musicals. But that’s before the tournament.
When you start the tournament — the day of, yes, maybe you have the afternoon to do a few things. But it’s difficult because you practice and everything is — you don’t have a lot of time. When you come back from a practice or if you play a long match the last day, you want to relax a little bit.
In this case, next week I gonna have one week there before the tournament. For sure I gonna do different things.

Q. There’s nobody playing on the circuit today that was even born the last time there was no American ranked in the top 10. Is that bad for the overall health of tennis, not to have an American in the top 10?
RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) The ranking is the ranking. Looks a little bit strange, but Roddick gonna have big chance to finish the year top 10, I think. I think he gonna do it.
Sam Querrey and John Isner are potentially Top 10s if they keep improving, I think, no? So it’s bad for the tennis? Well, always the same. Tennis is a global sport around the world, so I think doesn’t change a lot if the Americans are 8 or are 11.
I think that doesn’t make a big difference.

Q. Do we need an American to be among the top players then, maybe the top 3 or 4? Like when you were growing up there was Agassi and Sampras, and we don’t have that now.
RAFAEL NADAL: That’s very difficult to have that always. Now other players, you know; it’s not only in America that you play tennis. Tennis players in all the world.
America is a big country, yes, very important country for the tennis, but…

Q. I just wonder if you worry about losing the casual tennis fan, not the hard?core tennis fan.
RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) I repeat. I think, for example, Roddick don’t need to be top 10 to be very famous or to be very popular around the world. Because he did a lot for the tennis and did a lot on the tour the last ten years.
So I think, I repeat, you know, if next year I gonna be — if I am No. 12, do you think it change a lot? No. The thing is if you are ready to win tournaments. You know, when I start and when I was 18 years old, 20 years old, for me was very important for me the ranking, because you start and you want to be in the top.
For me, still important, no? But the more important thing is be ready to try to win titles. And if Andy, for example, is ready to win these titles, I think for him is not the most important thing the ranking, because he was in the top 8 for ten years.

Q. Your next match is against Benneteau, and you haven’t played him in five years. Talk about his game, what have to do well, and the challenges of playing someone you haven’t played in a long time.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I don’t remember. But anyway, I know him; he know me. I think gonna be a very difficult match. He’s playing well, beating Wawrinka and beating Llodra in the first round. So I think gonna be a very difficult match.
I gonna try to play my best tennis. Only like this I gonna have chances. I have to be aggressive and try to have control of the point. That’s it.

SOURCE

Masters Cincinnati - Nadal surmonte Benneteau



Julien Benneteau a échoué devant Rafael Nadal à Cincinnati malgré une balle de match 5-7, 7-6, 6-2. Le Français se souviendra longtemps de ce match, lui qui serait devenu, s'il avait gagné, le 1er joueur de l'histoire classé hors du Top 20 à battre Federer et Nadal quand ils étaient N.1 mondiaux.

MASTERS CINCINNATI - 3e tour

Rafael Nadal (ESP, 1) bat Julien Benneteau (FRA) 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. Prochain adversaire : Baghdatis.

Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) bat Tomas Berdych (RTC) 7-5, 6-4

Julien Benneteau a eu les cartes en main. Mais à la différence de son match face à Roger Federer à Bercy l'hiver dernier, il n'a pas réussi à enfoncer le clou. En face de lui, il y avait cette fois Rafael Nadal. Un numéro un mondial qui était loin de son meilleur niveau, mais qui a réussi à faire basculer une rencontre alors qu'il subissait le jeu. Au premier set, Benneteau a appliqué à la lettre la tactique qu'il avait dévoilé la veille : attaquer Nadal, ne pas le laisser jouer. Compact, opiniâtre, il a mené 3-1, 15/40 sur le service de Nadal avant de se faire reprendre une première fois par la patrouille. Nadal s'incline cependant à 5-5 face à un Benneteau surprenant. Le set lui échappe. Marqué physiquement par les efforts fournis lors de la première manche et des matches précédents (Llodra, Wawrinka), "Bennet'" s'accroche. il sauve une balle de set à 5-6 sur un revers tonitruant pour forcer le jeu décisif, mais rate là le tournant du match.

"Là où je peux avoir des regrets, affirme Nadal, c'est d'avoir fait un mauvais jeu à 3-2 en ma faveur dans ce set alors que je venais de le breaker. J'ai mal servi (une double faute notamment) et raté des coups". A 6/5 dans le jeu décisif, Julien a déjà réussi l'exploit de combler un mini-break de retard. Il tient une balle de match sur le service de Nadal. L'Espagnol joue long sur le revers et déborde le Français. Ce sera le dernier point qu'il jouera en ayant en tête la victoire. "A 2-3, j'ai été très près de perdre, j'étais à la limite, a confirmé Nadal. J'ai eu de la chance de revenir au score. Julien a vraiment très bien joué car moi aussi j'ai bien joué au début, pas parfaitement mais bien. Il était très agressif, avec de très bons revers."

Nadal: "J'ai eu de la chance"

Mais au bout d'un marathon de 2 h 48 min, qu'il a conclu épuisé et perclus de crampes, Benneteau a rendu les armes la tête haute. Très solide en début de match, notamment au service (7 aces au premier set, 12 au total), il a décliné dans ce secteur dans le deuxième set et accusé le coup, physiquement et mentalement, dans le troisième. "Contre un autre joueur que Nadal, je crois que j'aurais gagné, mais contre lui, il faut sortir des coups que tu n'as pas besoin de sortir contre un autre. Sa balle est plus lourde que quiconque. C'est nerveusement et physiquement dur de jouer à son niveau tout un match, c'est pour ça qu'il est le N.1 mondial." En quart de finale, Nadal rencontre vendredi le Chypriote Marcos Baghdatis, qui a sorti 7-5, 6-4 le Tchèque Tomas Berdych (N.7), finaliste de Wimbledon.

"Je n'ai aucun regret sur cette balle de match, a assuré le Français. Je n'ai rien à dire à part "bravo Nadal" car il ne m'a pas laissé l'occasion de lui mettre la pression et je n'ai rien pu faire." Quelques heures après avoir frôle l'exploit contre le N.1 mondial, Benneteau a terminé sa journée par une défaite en double avec son compatriote Michael Llodra face à la fratrie américaine Bob et Mike Bryan (6-4, 6-2). Le match n'a cette fois duré que 50 minutes...

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SOURCE

An interview with Rafael Nadal

Cincinnati Masters
Third Round Press Conference
August 19, 2010

Q. What happened in the third set where you broke him three times? Was he doing anything different? Seemed lie it was easier to break him in the third set.
RAFAEL NADAL: In the third? Well, he was I think destroyed physically. Yeah, he was very tired. Yeah, with the serve he slow down a lot his power. So was I think was more physical than another thing.

Q. Julien said that the key to his success in the first two sets is his return. Sometimes even to your first serve. Do you feel so? Do you try to adjust?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he played great; he played very good tennis. Especially in the beginning I wasn’t play bad. I was playing sure not perfect, but well. He was playing really well, very aggressive, very good shots from his backhand, even if he arrive in not very good position.
So, yeah, his serve works very well. So was a very difficult match, I think.

Q. When you were younger, did you practice a lot on faster surfaces, maybe more so than maybe your peers?
RAFAEL NADAL: For me it’s not a very big problem playing fast are surfaces, no?
(From translation.) No, I practiced more on little bit slower courts.

Q. It seems that you brought at least the best point down – the match point at thevery end of the tiebreak, seemed like you really started to get the intensity, the focus, and the hitting was also at the best. What do you think about that?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, well, for me the match was good, especially in the first set. In the 5-All, I played a terrible game, few mistakes with the forehand. But at this point, the ten first games of the match for me was very good level from both of us. So after that the match was a little bit more up and down. I had terrible game in that moment. In the 6-5 I had very good chance to break back.
And in the beginning of the second, I did a disaster, because I was 2-0 with break. He give my his game because he did three double faults, and I played another time very bad next three games.
So I was 3-2 down with a break for him, so I was at the limit in that point, yeah. (Smiling.) I was very close to lose in that moment. I was lucky I played a few good points; he had few mistakes; I came back.
But the tiebreak, I didn’t play bad in the tiebreak. I played well. I think he played well, too, with two very important aces for him, 5-4. I hit a very bad forehand with the 5-3 to go to 6-3 and was the set and almost the match, but I missed that shot to the net.
After, he played two aces, and after I played very good. The match point I played two very good forehands, and in the 6-All I play very good serve and forehand winner.

Q. Do you think that moment though that your game maybe turned right there?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. No, I think my game was on and off for moments. No, no. I think the forehand worked very well for a moments, and for a moment I had two mistakes in a row. So that’s my serve. I am happy.
I lost my serve few times, but I think the movements I felt much better today than the rest of the days on the movement, more comfortable with the my serve.
The only thing the backhand.

Q. You have a really dominating record against Marcos. You’ve never lost to him in six previous matches. Why do you think your game matches up so well with him?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. I don’t know. We had very tough matches in this the past, too. Sometimes win or lose depends on a few things. It’s not depends on a game, sometimes depends on few points.

Q. Do you think there’s anything that have to do specifically well against him tomorrow?
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn’t see him playing, but to beat against Berdych he must be playing really well. I have to play aggressive, I have to serve well, and return better than today, because today my return was, no comments.
And that’s it. Just wait that he doesn’t have his inspiration there, and just try to play my best tennis.

Q. Quite a few players have pulled out of games or have not been able to finish games or are getting blisters or hurt or are complaining about being tired. What do you think is going on? Is particularly difficult here, or it’s just coming after one week’s action?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, the hot here is important. It’s not easy to play here. Yeah, the season is long.

Q. How are you feeling yourself going through three sets?
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel good. Physically it’s no problem.

Q. You mentioned that you’re gonna have to be a little bit more aggressive against Baghdatis. Do you feel that…
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I didn’t say that. I said I have to play, no more aggressive. I think I played aggressive, but the ball sometimes wasn’t inside the court when aggressive I played.

Q. I guess what I meant to say is do you feel you played aggressive enough? Or looking back maybe in the first couple sets, do you think you wanted to play more aggressive but necessarily you didn’t?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, the thing is not to play more aggressive. I played aggressive. The thing is I don’t have to slice my backhand like I am doing. Seems I am a little bit afraid to hit the ball with the backhand. The feeling I know is not the best for me now with the backhand.
But anyway, I have to hit if I really want to have chances to keep winning. It’s gonna be impossible keep winning here, and for sure for the US Open gonna be impossible. I have to do it, and I gonna do it. I am sure.
The court here doesn’t help me for get the right feeling to do this, because I don’t have a lot of time and the bounces is low. But I have a good backhand. Not now, but I gonna do it. I am sure.

Q. Fans are really hoping to see a Rafa/Roger semifinal. Do you miss playing Roger? You’ve only played him three times in the last two years.
RAFAEL NADAL: That’s a lot. (Smiling.) I don’t know. No, I don’t miss play against Roger, no? For sure always is a pleasure play against him, especially because if we play each other always we play for very important things.
So always was a pleasure play against him, but I am not thinking about play against him. I’m thinking play against Baghdatis now.

Q. Coming back to Julien Benneteau, he’s only 32 in the ranking. Were you surprised by his level of play today?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think he improved a lot his level last couple of years. He keep improving every year. And for sure if he playing like this, he gonna have good chances to keep improving on the ranking. His level is high.
The thing is play at this level a lot of times. You know, to be in the top of the ranking and to be top 20 or something like this, the players that are in that position is because they can play good a lot of times.
So for sure Julien can play at very good level. You can see. I am sure if he continues like this, gonna have very good chance to be higher in the ranking, no? Thing is play like this a lot of times.

SOURCE

Nadal : "J'étais tout proche de perdre"



Par Pauline Dahlem, vendredi 20 août 2010 à 11:40

Passé à un point de la défaite face à Julien Benneteau, Rafael Nadal est revenu face à la presse sur son match face à Julien Benneteau. Le numéro 1 mondial a reconnu connaître actuellement des difficultés avec son revers. Il n'a par ailleurs pas manqué de louer le niveau de jeu de son adversaire. Interview.

Que s'est-il passé dans le 3e set où vous le breakez 3 fois ? Faisait-il quelque chose différemment ? Cela semblait plus facile pour vous de breaker.
Bon, je crois qu'il était surtout détruit physiquement. Il était très fatigué. Cela s'est ressenti sur son service. Il était plus lent, beaucoup moins puissant. Donc je crois que c'était plus physique qu'autre chose.

Julien a dit que la clé de sa réussite dans les deux premiers sets était son retour. Êtes-vous du même avis ?
Je crois qu'il a super bien joué. Il a pratiqué du très bon tennis. Particulièrement au début du match. Car de mon côté, je ne jouais pas mal ! Ce que je faisais n'était pas parfait mais c'était plutôt bon quand même. Lui jouait vraiment bien, il était très agressif, réussissait de supers coups avec son revers même lorsqu'il n'était pas très bien placé. Son service a très bien marché aussi. C'était un match très difficile.

Votre ressenti sur ce match ?
Pour moi, le match était d'un bon niveau, surtout dans le premier set. A 5 partout, j'ai joué un jeu terrible où j'ai fait plusieurs fautes en coup droit. Mais les 10 premiers jeux du match ont été joués à un très bon niveau de la part des deux joueurs. Après, le match a connu des hauts et des bats. Au début du second set, cela a été un véritable désastre de ma part. Je mène 2-0 break. Il vient de me donner son jeu en faisant 3 doubles fautes. Et puis je joue 3 très mauvais jeux. Du coup je me retrouvé mené 3-2, break contre moi. J'étais limite limite à ce moment-là ! (Rires) J'étais tout proche de perdre. Mais j'ai eu un peu de chance tout en jouant bien quelques points tandis que lui a fait quelques fautes. Et j'ai pu revenir. Dans le tie-break, je ne joue pas mal. Mais lui non plus ! Il claque deux aces très importants pour mener 6-5. Et après, sur la balle de match, je réussis de très bons coups droits et à 6 partout je sers bien et fait un coup droit gagnant.

Pensez-vous que c'est à partir de cet instant que vous avez commencé à mieux jouer ?
Non. Non, j'ai eu des hauts et des bas tout le match. Par moments le coup droit marchait très bien et à d'autres instants j'en ratais deux d'affilée. Quant au service, je me suis certes fait breaker plusieurs fois mais je sentais bien mieux mon geste que les jours derniers. La seule chose, c'est le revers...

Pensez-vous avoir été suffisamment agressif ?
Le truc n'est pas de jouer plus agressif. J'ai été agressif. Le truc justement, c'est que je ne dois pas slicer en revers comme je l'ai fait. Il semblerait que j'ai un peu peur de frapper la balle en revers. Je n'ai actuellement pas le meilleur feeling sur mon revers. Mais de toute manière, je dois me mettre à le frapper si je veux avoir des chances de continuer à gagner. Ce sera impossible de gagner d'autres matches ici et surtout à l'US Open si je ne frappe pas ce revers comme il faut. Je dois le faire et je vais réussir à le faire. J'en suis sûr. Les courts ici ne m'aident pas pour retrouver de bonnes sensations en revers parce que je n'ai pas beaucoup de temps en raison de la rapidité de la surface. Et puis le rebond est bas. Mais je sais que j'ai un bon revers. Pas en ce moment, mais je vais le retrouver. J'en suis certain.

Les amateurs de tennis espèrent vraiment voir une demi-finale Rafa vs Roger. Cela vous manque-t-il de jouer contre Roger ? Vous l'avez seulement affronté trois fois en deux ans.
C'est beaucoup ! (Sourire) Non, je ne sais pas. Cela ne me manque pas de jouer Roger. Bien sûr, c'est toujours un plaisir de jouer contre lui surtout parce que lorsque nous nous affrontons, c'est lors de grands matches avec des choses importantes en jeu. Mais à l'heure actuelle, je ne pense pas à jouer contre lui. Je pense à jouer contre Baghdatis.

A propos de Julien Benneteau, il est "seulement" 32e mondial. Avez-vous été surpris de son niveau de jeu ?
Non. Je crois qu'il a beaucoup progressé ces deux dernières années. Il progresse chaque année. Et c'est sûr que s'il joue comme cela, il aura de bonnes chances de continuer à avancer au classement. Il joue à un haut niveau. Le truc est de jouer à ce niveau très souvent. Vous savez, pour être au sommet du classement, dans le Top 20 ou quelque chose comme ça, les joueurs doivent pouvoir très bien jouer et ce très souvent dans l'année. Donc c'est certain que Julien peut jouer à un très bon niveau. Je suis sûr que s'il continue comme ça, il aura de grandes chances de progresser au classement. Encore une fois, la clé est d'être régulier et de jouer très souvent à un tel niveau.

www.welovetennis.fr

Nadal arrêté par Baghdatis



Samedi 21 août 2010 - 9:20

Double surprise lors des quarts de finale du Masters 1000 de Cincinnati. Après l'élimination d'Andy Murray par Mardy Fish, Rafael Nadal se fait également sortir. Le N.1 mondial s'incline devant le Chypriote Marcos Baghdatis, 20e mondial, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Vainqueur à Washington au début du mois, Marcos Baghdatis a empêché Rafael Nadal d'atteindre pour la dixième fois d'affilée le dernier carré d'un tournoi Masters 1000, ce qui aurait été un record. Le Chypriote, victorieux au bout de 2h32 de match, s'est offert sa première victoire contre l'Espagnol, après six défaites.

Nadal a commis un nombre inhabituel d'erreurs (41 fautes directes), notamment en coup droit (22) et a surtout fait une double faute sur une balle de break à 4-5 dans la troisième manche, qui a permis à Baghdatis de servir pour le match. De son côté, le Chypriote a parfaitement servi avec 18 aces, 87% de points gagnés sur premier service et six balles de break sur huit repoussées. "La clé, ça a été quand il y avait 4-4 dans la dernière manche et 30-0 pour moi sur son service, là j'ai manqué deux retours faciles sur second service alors que j'avais le match à ma portée", estime Nadal.

"J'ai super bien servi ce soir, ça a été la clé du match, juge Baghdatis. J'ai su saisir ma chance quand elle se présentait, je n'ai pas raté les occasions."

Baghdatis affrontera samedi en demi-finale le Suisse Roger Federer, N.2 mondial. L'autre demi va opposer deux Américains: Mardy Fish et Andy Roddick.

Federer s'est qualifié en dominant le Russe Nikolay Davydenko (N.6), 6-4, 7-5. Tenant du titre dans l'Ohio, il enregistre sa 14e victoire (contre seulement 2 défaites) contre le Russe.

Pour Federer, cette rencontre était son premier match entier dans le tournoi. Dispensé de 1er tour, comme les huit premières têtes de série, il avait passé le 2e tour avec une victoire 5-2 face à l'Ouzbek Denis Istomin, contraint à l'abandon sur blessure, et avait bénéficié du forfait de l'Allemand Philipp Kohlschreiber au 3e tour. Federer, récent finaliste à Toronto, atteint donc le dernier carré à Cincinnati avec moins de 2 heures et 20 minutes de tennis dans les jambes.

Enfin Andy Roddick, tête de série N.9, s'est qualifié pour les demi-finales en dominant le Serbe Novak Djokovic, 3e mondial, 6-4, 7-5.

www.sport.fr

Nadal rate Federer

Créé le 21/08/2010 à 10:06
Par François TESSON
De Sports.fr

Ils pouvaient se retrouver en demi-finale d'un tournoi pour la première fois depuis 2005. Mais si Roger Federer a bien rempli son contrat en écartant Nikolay Davydenko (6-4, 7-5) vendredi soir, en quarts de finale du Masters 1000 de Cincinnati, Rafael Nadal a été surpris par le Chypriote Marcos Baghdatis (6-4, 4-6, 6-4). Un peu plus tôt, Novak Djokovic et Andy Murray ont également été sortis.


Rafael Nadal a subi la puissance de Marcos Baghdatis. (Reuters)

Pas de repeat pour le Big Four. Comme à Toronto la semaine passée, les quatre meilleurs joueurs du monde avaient l'occasion à Cincinnati de squatter à nouveau le dernier carré d'un Masters 1000. Mais la marche était visiblement un peu haute, à 10 jours de l'US Open, et les prétendants nombreux. Et après Novak Djokovic et Andy Murray, victimes d'Andy Roddick et Mardy Fish vendredi soir, c'était au tour de Rafael Nadal de céder dans la nuit de l'Ohio face à la fougue de Marcos Baghdatis (6-4, 4-6, 6-4), laissant Federer un peu seul dans l'arène.

Passé proche de la correctionnelle face à Benneteau en huitièmes (une balle de match sauvée), Nadal n'y a cette fois-ci pas échappé face au glouton Marcos Baghdatis, qui après sa finale perdue à Washington, et une défaite frustrante face à Jérémy Chardy à Toronto, s'est vengé à Cincinnati, en "avalant" tour-à-tour Marin Cilic, Thomaz Bellucci et Tomas Berdych avant le n°1 mondial. Et le Chypriote a encore faim. Son niveau de jeu, notamment au service (87% de premières balles !), lui autorise cet appétit. "J'ai plutôt bien servi, expliquait-il après sa première victoire en sept confrontations face au Majorquin. J'étais plus agressif. Je savais qu'il ne me donnerait pas, alors je suis allé le chercher."

Nadal, de son côté, était déjà tourné vers l'avenir. Recordman de victoires en Masters 1000 (18), l'Espagnol lorgne désormais vers l'US Open, le seul tournoi du Grand Chelem sur lequel il n'a jamais vraiment brillé. Loin du compte face à Andy Murray à Toronto, Nadal n'a toujours pas convaincu. Mais il en est conscient. "Je peux améliorer mon jeu, c'est certain, reconnaissait-il après coup. Je dois améliorer mon jeu si je veux avoir mes chances à New York." A ce titre, une confrontation avec Federer, qui eut été une première en demi-finale (hors-Masters Cup) depuis Roland-Garros 2005, aurait fait figure de sacré test.

sports.fr
SOURCE

An interview with Rafael Nadal

Cincinnati Masters
Quarterfinal Press Conference
August 20, 2010

Q. More than 40 unforced errors. Was that the key?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, no. No, because the key of the match — the matches are a lot of points, but few points are the key of the match, no? I think I did the more difficult thing, is change the dynamic of the match because I wasn’t play well.
But I came back well. I started to play a little better with my backhand. That was very important, very positive thing for me. I started to serve a little bit better. I was in a good position in the end, no?
Yeah, it’s true I had unforced errors. But, yeah, the thing, or the positive thing, is I finish the tournament better than I started. That’s what is positive.
Another thing is in important moments when I had all in my favor I came back after difficult situation, set and break down, and I had all in my favor in the third, no? 4-All, Love-30, playing few good points. I missed two returns, two second serve returns. That was the key of the match, no?
After that he played well. I think his serve was very good today. Just congratulate him. He’s very good person, and it’s very positive for our sport. I am happy for him. He had injuries and he came back, and now he’s playing well another time.

Q. Was his serve a lot better than you were expecting? You only got seven points off his first serve all night. That’s kind of low for you.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, that’s very few points. But he served really well, that’s true. A lot of very good first serves, and close to the lines. So yeah, it’s not easy to return.
But I repeat: I was in the right position at the right moment 4-All, Love-30, two second serves. So I had the match there.

Q. Were you a little disappointed by your net cord play? Looked look you didn’t finish some points at the net on a short ball, for instance.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, that was unlucky I think. At the 4-All I was a little bit unlucky in that situation, because I was playing – 30-15 – I was playing well during all the game, and two balls was there in difficult position for me behind the baseline, behind the net.
I had to go to the net. I didn’t have another chance on this ball, no? First one I thought he was waiting for me a lot of times to his backhand. I thought I gonna change, and he had a very good passing shot winner.
And the next one I played a good forehand to his backhand, and he had a good defensive, a little bit lucky, because the ball was very low in that moment. I didn’t another option to do that and repeat the shot to his forehand and go to the net, and he hit another good passing shot.
So nothing to do in that moment. After the double fault was (indiscernible). But that’s it. After he served well last game. Nothing to do.

Q. So today it was a mental problem you think?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. Not only a mental problem, no? My game can improve, that’s for sure. Must improve if I really want to have chances to have some opportunity in two weeks or in one week in New York.
So I have one week to keep working, keep practicing hard, and that’s what I gonna try: to keep improving my confidence with the backhand. And the serve I think I am in the right way, but I need to keep working. I gonna have a good chance to work.

And the forehand, I am playing well with the forehand, but I am having too much unforced errors for the moment. But the feeling with the forehand is good. I need to be a little bit more consistent. That’s the only thing, no?
So forehand maybe is not the problem, but the backhand, yes. So I have to improve. The positive thing today I started to hit the ball with the backhand, no, not to play with the slice all the time. I finished the match playing much better with the backhand than I started, no?
So that’s positive. But that’s what I had to do yesterday. I didn’t try yesterday, so… yeah, probably that reasons I played bad the important moments today.

Q. The forehand errors you talked about, was that more as a result of just playing aggressively?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sometimes. I think I have to play aggressive, but sometimes I am playing too aggressive with the forehand, no, trying to have more winners too fast. So that’s another thing that keep improving. But maybe it’s because I wanted to protect the backhand, no?
But I think if my backhand improve all my game’s improve, because my movement’s gonna improve a lot because I didn’t have to cover the backhand with the forehand. So I gonna cover better the position on the court.
I can serve with more calm the first serve, because if I miss the serve and he has a return, for me it’s no problem to play with the backhand. But right now, when he had a good return to the backhand, I started all the time the point in the very bad position. So I think the backhand change all my game, because I had to make too much adjust to save that shot.
But I am happy I finished, because I started to play with the backhand with more confidence, no? So that’s positive for me.

Q. You are going to train with Toni very soon?
RAFAEL NADAL: I gonna keep practicing. I am gonna have now I think two days off. Remain one week, and I don’t need I think to practice all the days. Maybe I gonna have a few days off.
After I gonna practice three days with Francis in New York, and Toni arrive on Wednesday, no? But I repeat: Doesn’t make the difference if Toni’s here or not. The thing that make the difference is myself. Always is the same.

When I win, I win. Sure, I had the support of all my team. But when I lose, it’s my fault. And when I win, it’s mine also.
So I think in the end, the player is — if the player wants to do it, the player can do it with any coach, no? So for me, I repeat, the important work for the coach, the biggest work is when you are a kid. So that’s the more important work for the coach, no?
Today, you know what you have to do. The coach can help you in few things for moments, but doesn’t change a lot.

Q. Do you think the matches that you had in Toronto and Cincinnati are enough preparation to go into the US Open feeling comfortable?
RAFAEL NADAL: I hope so. (Smiling.) What I can say? I don’t know. I don’t know. We will see in two weeks the result in New York.

SOURCE

TENIS. MASTERS 1.000 DE CINCINNATI
´Mi juego debe mejorar´

Nadal critica su revés tras caer por primera vez ante Baghdatis a una semana del US Open.

06:30


Baghdatis y Nadal se saludan al término del partido de cuartos de final. Foto: Reuters

AGENCIAS. CINCINNATI. Rafel Nadal se mostró crítico con su juego, especialmente con su revés, tras perder en los cuartos de final del Masters 1.000 de Cincinnati ante el chipriota Marcos Baghdatis por 6-4, 4-6 y 6-4. "Mijuego debe mejorar si quiero tener alguna oportunidad en Nueva York", en referencia al Abierto de Estados Unidos, último Grand Slam de la temporada que comienza el próximo lunes día 30 en Flushing Meadows.
"Mi juego puede mejorar, eso seguro. Debe mejorar si realmente quiero tener alguna oportunidad dentro de una semana en Nueva York. Tengo una semana para continuar trabajando, continuar practicando duro y eso es lo que voy a intentar. Intentar mejorar mi confianza con el revés", indicó el tenista mallorquín, que perdió por primera vez ante Baghdatis en los siete partidos que han disputado.

El número uno del mundo destacó que si mejora su revés todo su juego lo hará. "Mi movimiento va a mejorar mucho, porque no tendré que cubrir el revés con la derecha, por lo que cubriré las posiciones mejor en la pista", apuntó. "También podré realizar mi primer servicio más calmado porque si lo pierdo, y me responden el resto no tendré tanto problema para jugar con el revés", añadió el mallorquín.

Además, Nadal destacó que, en el partido ante Baghdatis, cuando el chipriota hacía "un buen resto al revés", él siempre "empezaba el punto en una posición muy mala", y tuvo que "hacer muchos ajustes para asegurar el golpeo".

Por último, como nota positiva del partido indicó que ha empezado "a jugar con la derecha con más confianza", factor que es "muy positivo" para el jugador manacorí.
Apoyado en su potente servicio, con el que logró ni más ni menos que trece saques directos, y jugando de tú a tú a Nadal en cuanto a derroche físico, Baghdatis logró tras dos horas y 32 minutos inclinar la balanza a su favor y presentar sus credenciales al título. De paso frustró la semifinal más esperada, entre Nadal y Federer. El suizo eliminó en cuartos al ruso Nikolay Davydenko por 6-4 y 7-5 en una hora y 39 minutos, y esta pasada madrugada buscaba ante Baghdatis su pase a la final.

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