Nadal accède au 3e tour à Indian Wells



dim 16 mar, 10h13

INDIAN WELLS, Californie (Reuters) - L'Espagnol Rafael Nadal, tête de série numéro deux, s'est facilement qualifié pour le 3e tour du Masters Series d'Indian Wells en battant le Colombien Santiago Giraldo en deux sets 6-3 6-3.

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An interview with Rafael Nadal

PACIFIC LIFE OPEN
March 15, 2008
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How much of a problem was the wind out there today for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Whew, big wind for me today. With these conditions, it's always very important, all the wind, so maybe today I win, and that's it, no? I can't do too much.

Q. You set a really wonderful pace for two or three years and you helped bring a lot of players up, and now it looks like they're going to force you to go up another level here. Is that accurate or inaccurate?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, right now it's -- I think when when I arrive on tour it was a lot of big players, too. When I arrive, it's Roddick, Hewitt at the top, I don't know, some more. So it was tough for me to come to No. 2. Right now I have three years of already being the No. 2 in the world.
The true is right now there is a lot of young players coming well, but the same age like me. No more.

Q. But they owe you a lot.
RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. They owe you a lot.
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, going to be difficult right now. But I going to try my best for continue being in the top positions. I know if I am playing good, I'm playing fine, at my best level, I have chances for do this, no?

Q. What are the most difficult weather conditions to play in? Is it wind? Is it heat? Which is the most difficult?
RAFAEL NADAL: The true is only difficulty is the wind. Because if rain, we stop until another condition that we can play.

Q. Your thoughts about your next match? Could be Feliciano or Donald Young.
RAFAEL NADAL: You know what's the score right now?

Q. When I came in, it was about 5-5.
RAFAEL NADAL: There, it's there. Can you tell me? Behind you.

Q. First set to Young and second set is 6-5 Young, on serve. So 6-5, Donald Young is serving for the match.
RAFAEL NADAL: Young is serving for the match? Okay, so we don't know yet. (laughter.) Donald Young, I don't know him. I saw him one or two matches in my career, but I don't know him very well.
Feliciano, for sure I know him a lot. I practice, for example, today. So both. Both players are going to be tough. I am focused on me, no? Try to play my best tennis, and if it is like this, and Donald beat me, congratulations.
I am focused on try to play. Better if not the same wind as today.

Q. If you were to play Feliciano, do you approach the day any differently? Would you still practice with him, or would you just keep away from each other until after the match?
RAFAEL NADAL: If I play Feliciano, I'm going to start to win the match tomorrow in the golf course. (laughter.) I don't have many problems, no, for this, no. I know it's going to be -- can be the next opponent of me and anyway I practice with him today.
In Dubai, I play the first round against Kohlschreiber, and I practice with him the day before. I think some players have -- don't like these things, but I think we know each other not perfect but good, and one practice before not going to change nothing.

Q. Who is the better golfer out of the two of you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, right now I don't know. But I think -- I only know the Spanish players, and, well, in this tournament I am little bit, no? Two loss -- two wins, he lost, zero lose, so Ferrero have to improve little bit. He was at the range yesterday. I have to practice in the afternoon, have to go to the range. Maybe today, too.

Q. Which courses do you like playing out here?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think every one is very nice.

Q. You've played all the courses out here?
RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. How many courses have you played out here?
RAFAEL NADAL: I played on one, two, three, four.

Q. Four?
RAFAEL NADAL: But not this year.

Q. Not this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: This year only one.

Q. Your greatest strength as a golfer? Playing golf, the best part of your game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Depends at the moment. Sometimes the drive. Sometimes the irons. I lost the drive right now.

Q. Which is a tougher game: golf or tennis?
RAFAEL NADAL: Difficult to compare, no? But I always say the same. Mentally I think both are very tough, because in golf you can't have any mistake. But in golf you play very good shot you are going go birdie, no?
In tennis you do very good shot and you can lose the point. So I think on golf you play against yourself. In tennis you play little bit against yourself, but especially against opponent, so that's difficult to compare for that reason. I prefer play golf, no, because all the time depends on you, no?

Q. Do you play right-handed?
RAFAEL NADAL: I play right, yes.

Q. The theory is that left-handers grow up playing right-handers and they have a mental program for right-handers. They have their toughest time against left-handers. That's what Laver once said. Is that true for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't understand that. (Spanish interpretation.) Whew. Can you repeat, please?

Q. You're left-handed.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

Q. And when you grow up playing tennis --
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

Q. -- you play mainly against right-handers.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, okay. I understand that.

Q. But now you have to change the mental approach because you're playing a left-hander, maybe. If you're playing a left-hander, do you have to think differently? I'm only quoting Rod Laver, who said for him the hardest player for him to play was left-handed. (laughter.)
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it change a little bit strategy, because the normal shot is crosscourt, not against the backhand of the other. But you play against left-hander you have to change little bit and put little bit more on the backhand of the left -- you have to play more -- I don't know in English. Down the line, yes.
So, but for the rest I think is not many difference. Really, we play a lot of times against left-handers, we practice. I think this doesn't matter.

http://www.tennis-x.com/story/2008-03-16/i.php

ATP - Indian Wells - Nadal logiquement

18/03/2008 00:06

Rafael Nadal (n°2) a sereinement décroché sa place pour les huitièmes de finale en dominant l'Américain Donald Young (WC) en deux manches (6-1, 6-3).

www.lequipe.fr

MS Indian Wells - Nadal-Tsonga II



L'affiche est celle d'un blockbuster américain : Rafael Nadal et Jo-Wilfried Tsonga s'affrontent pour une place en quarts de finale du MS Indian Wells. Un mois et demi après la sévère défaite infligée par le Français, on est en droit d'attendre une réaction d'orgueil du Majorquin...

MS INDIAN WELLS - 4e tour

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) - Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Après une demi-finale de Grand Chelem revue et corrigée par le réalisateur de Godzilla, Indian Wells vous propose le deuxième volet des aventures de Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Rafael "Rambo" Nadal n'est pas mort et revient sur le court défier la nouvelle terreur du circuit. La bande-annonce est caricaturale certes mais l'affiche mérite l'attention de tous. Un mois et demi après sa performance exceptionnelle, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga va pouvoir réévaluer son tennis.

Rafael Nadal n'a pas bien débuté la saison. Ses défaites, quelques fois sévères, devant Mikhail Youzhny (Chennaï), Andreas Seppi (Rotterdam), Andy Roddick (Dubaï), ont trahi un engagement physique moins intense de la part du Majorquin. Il joue aussi actuellement plus court et les autres joueurs ont moins peur de ses contres. La raclée mémorable que Tsonga lui a infligée à Melbourne (6-2, 6-3, 6-2) doit être revue dans cette perspective. "En Australie, il avait eu le contrôle de la balle tous le temps. Je vais essayer de ne pas répéter le même scénario" , a -t-il expliqué lundi. A bout de force fin 2007, obligé de modifier en permanence ses appuis, il faut se rendre à l'évidence : après trois années de tennis il faut calmer les chevaux, réduire la voile et gérer le calendrier.

"J'ai la possibilité de montrer que l'Australie n'était pas de la chance"

Tsonga a été le révélateur de cette nouvelle attitude. Il a appuyé fort là, disons cogner, là où ça fait mal. L'Espagnol sait qu'il va devoir défendre un nombre insensé de points ce printemps sur terre battue (les titres à Barcelone, Monte-Carlo, Rome et Roland-Garros, et une finale à Hambourg), mais il sait surtout dans quel état il a abordé le second semestre l'an passé. Son "niveau de jeu moyen" reste suffisamment élevé pour rester au sommet. Il ne le met pas à l'abri des assauts des joueurs en forme. Roger Federer connaît le même problème et cela même s'il l'a moins subi et mieux anticipé.

Pour résumer la situation, on sent Nadal plutôt emprunté, sur la réserve. Il n'a pas encore livré une seule bataille dont il a le secret. Pourquoi donc réagirait-il vigoureusement à Indian Wells s'il ne l'a pas fait lors du premier Grand Chelem ? Parce qu'il doit défendre son titre. Parce qu'il est "orgueilleux", lance Tsonga. "Il aime les défis". Le défi de Nadal sera de faire oublier sa mine déconfite après la demi-finale de Melbourne : "Il est dans le meilleur moment de sa carrière, il n'a aucune pression, tout lui réussit. Je pense que ce n'est peut-être pas son vrai niveau. Jouer comme ça toutes les semaines, c'est impossible. Il faut savoir perdre avec humilité. "

Tsonga sait aussi ce qui lui reste à faire : "J'ai la possibilité de montrer que l'Australie n'était pas de la chance. C'est très bien. J'ai besoin d'être motivé pour être au top. Ma qualité n'est pas le tennis pur. Mais je gagne beaucoup de matches avec la motivation. J'aime aussi jouer avec le public. Je sais que je peux impressionner mon adversaire". Ses deux premiers matches à Indian Wells ont confirmé ses ambitions et la qualité de son tennis. Jo joue encore top 10, et mieux, possède la confiance d'un top 10 : "Dans ma tête, le favori c'est moi". C'est un premier pas volontaire dans le court. Nadal s'avancera-t-il d'autant ?

A SAVOIR : le nombre de match disputés par Rafael Nadal ces dernières saisons...

. 92 en2007

. 72 en 2006

. 88 en 2005

. 48 en 2004

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