Q. Next time
you're going to play Federer on clay you cannot
say you're not the favorite.
RAFAEL NADAL: I know now you're going to have
this question for you. I'm going to have to say
same, because, well, the truth is on clay I have
I had a lot of titles. I am playing well. But in
my opinion, the match of today was very open.
I don't know the chances for him or for me, but
very, very open all the time. And, you know, if
he was coming without losing a set, I was coming
to the final too without losing any set, too. We
have maybe the same options. Not the same
chances for everyone, but he's the No. 1 of the
of the world and he's the favorite.
Q. When you win a set and you won the
first set today he gets demoralized. It almost
seems like he doesn't think he can come back
against you on clay. Perhaps on something else,
but not on this surface.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. But it was very
important moment in the 4 3. Remember 4 3 in the
first set? He has two breakpoints, I think. But
I finally won this game. It was very important,
because it was a tough moment for him. In 4 All
he has some mistakes with the forehand. I can
have the break and, okay, I'm finish the set
with my serve.
After that, the match change a lot, no? I have a
lot of chances for break in the first game. I
have one chance with very difficult passing
shot, but finally it fall a little bit in the
net.
The second game I have break, but after I have
in the 4 2 not very easy, but, well, forehand
for I have the point can and to go up for a
little bit.
So, well, I have the chance with 5 2 and the
match was finished with 5 2 and two breaks. But
finally he come back and win this game and the
match was close in the end.
It was important game for me 4 3 in the second
set. He has three mistakes. That give me a lot
of confidence.
Q. But overall it was easier than
expected for you, is it? It was two sets, one
hour and a half. Did you expect such a game?
RAFAEL NADAL: I always expect very tough match,
because I play with every time when I go on
court I think it's going to be it's possible I'm
going to have a very difficult match. Especially
if you come to the court against the world No. 1
it's going to be tough.
So, well, I was with confidence because I was
playing my best tennis this week. But I know he
was very, very good, too. Finally I won in two
sets, but sometimes the score is not the same
like the match. The match was tough. I think the
beginning he was playing better than me.
Q. Were you surprised he made so many
mistakes with his forehand, because normally
it's his best weapon?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I am trying I was trying put
my forehand against his backhand and change to
his forehand not a lot not much times, no?
But in the beginning he covered a lot his
backhand. He touch a lot of forehands and it was
very difficult for me. But I change a little bit
and I tried to open the court with his forehand
for after play to his backhand.
So, no, that was important tactic change, and
well, the match change a little bit there. Well,
it's true, he has some mistakes in the forehand
that normally he doesn't have.
But I play good. I play always steady,
consistent every point, I know that. So I was
playing like this.
Q. What is your reaction to the idea
that you played the five times you won five
times against him on clay. You played 19 sets
and you won 14. So he wins one set every three
of yours.
RAFAEL NADAL: I never was thinking about that. I
just know that I don't know. I know the truth is
I won in the final tiebreak in the final of
Roland Garros. I won with two matchpoints
against him.
Rome, here I won difficult four sets. Well,
every match is difficult. In Roland Garros two
years ago I won in four sets, too. So every
match is difficult. It's the first time when I
beat him, no, sorry, second when I beat him with
two sets when I won him in Miami, but long time
ago. It's not the same, no?
Q. But the way you won today, you won
very easily.
RAFAEL NADAL: Never easy.
Q. But it's a surprise or not, just the
way you won?
RAFAEL NADAL: For sure it is surprise when
winning in two sets against the No. 1, no? I
expect a very tough match and it was tough.
Because in the beginning I saw the match and,
well, Roger was moving very good, attack me the
ball. Going inside for plays his backhand.
It was tough for me in the beginning especially,
no? But after he have some mistakes and I feel
very comfortable on court but it was very, very
difficult first set.
Q. You served very well today: 85% in
the second set. Was it one of the keys in the
game?
RAFAEL NADAL: The first serve.
Q. Yes, 85%.
Q. 74% in the first.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I was serving slowly.
Q. Yes. But it was a tactic to do that?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I know, sometimes Roger play
better if you serve fast. I know that, no?
Because it's better for him the point is going
fast than if it's going slow.
And if I serve slow I have more time for the
next shot. So, well, my tactics is always have a
lot of first serve percentage inside against
him, because if I miss the first serve with the
second serve it's difficult because he attack
the point very well and very difficult come back
for me in the point.
Q. Did your bandana fall off on
accident? Was it an accident?
RAFAEL NADAL: For sure an accident. I was
touching it like this, but
Q. So you knocked it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. I pull out and I go to the
net after because
Q. (Indiscernible).
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, nice word. Because the point
continuing with the hair in my face. Finally I
decide to go in the net.
Q. So in Wimbledon you going to play
with no bandana?
RAFAEL NADAL: Without?
Q. Yeah, so you can go more in the net.
RAFAEL NADAL: I'm going to try.
Q. So when is your next tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Barcelona.
Q. Obviously you have a lot of respect
for Roger, but the game he plays on clay, is
there an aspect that you think he may need to
improve on the surface to get closer to you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't know, no? He's very
good. So I don't know. I really don't know,
because I can't say nothing about him because
going to be stupid, no? To be speaking against
the (in Spanish.)
What can I say about ten Grand Slam against two?
So, well, he's very good in also places. Last
year he play three finals two Masters Series one
Grand Slam on clay.
So this year he start well, no? He's not play
bad play the first clay court tournament final,
no? He start well without losing a set. Playing
very good two matches against Ferrer and
Ferrero. Tough opponents always on clay.
So I saw him on TV and I like a lot his game,
especially against David Ferrer and Ferrero.
Very, very good matches.
Q. Are you going to bring the Italian
sparring partner to your next tournaments also?
RAFAEL NADAL: He's Italian, from Italy?
Q. Yeah, Florence.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah. I don't think I always warm
up and practice with him here, especially when
the week is over on the Friday or Saturday. So
yeah he's very good sparring.