News & Photos / Interviews / Interview with Rafael Nadal

RAFAEL NADAL/T.Gabashvili

6‑1, 6‑4,6‑2

Aninterview with:

RAFAELNADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Fitness‑wise, do you feel you were sharper in this match than in thefirst round?

RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) Yes. Ifeel well, no? I felt well in the firstmatch, too. I think I played a littlebit better today than the first day, so that's positive thing.

Yeah, I won in three sets, so that'sa good thing, too, no? Very happy to bein the third round now, no?

Q. Also, in the first round, I think you broke Borg's record for the numberof straight victories. Now I think youhave 30 straight victories at the French Open. What does this record mean to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't care to try to haveresult, without thinking about this record, no? Happy for this record, but important thing is have good result, play mybest tennis and try to be there the second Sunday, no?

Anyway, today ‑‑ sure, isimportant and very nice to have 30 victories in a row at Roland Garros. Very happy for that, but just focus on thismatch, no?

Q. Were you surprised to play on the Susan Lenglen and not on the PhilippeChatrier?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I always play second round on SusanLenglen.

Q. Were you worried, because of the rain, the match was going to stop. You would start playing again at 8:45.

RAFAEL NADAL: What?

Q. Were you worried that the rain would stop the match and that you wouldthen go back on court at 8:45?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. I was worried ‑‑ not for that. I was worried, because always is good to have one day off during thetournament like this, because you can practice. You can prepare the next match better than if you go on court next daywith 5‑2, 4‑2, no?

So I was a little bit scared on that. Sure, this is positive if I can watch thefinal now, too?

Q. Lleyton Hewitt is two sets up in his second‑round match, so you'relikely to face him in the third round. What do you make of that?

RAFAEL NADAL: Always, it's a very tough match to playagainst Lleyton. I have to play well tohave chances to win, so that's what I want try. I play my best tennis. I going tohave chances.

Q. Compared to the best level you can play, how many percent would you sayit is right now?

RAFAEL NADAL: That's impossible to say. I don't know, but sure, I can play better,yeah. I hope.

Q. I think you chatted with readers from the Spanish newspaper in El Mundo,and in that newspaper you said that you thought Djokovic right now was a biggerthreat than Federer. Could you commenton that?

RAFAEL NADAL: I never say that. No, I never say that. I always say if you ask me who had the betterclay season this year, was I think, my opinion, was Novak. Then the rest, no, after me. He played final in Monte‑Carlo, final in Rome, and semifinals in Madrid with very tough match against me, youknow.

So when he won in Belgrade, he played really good tennis. That's what's my feeling. But anyway, both are really good players,and ‑‑ but they are on other side of draw. I think about my draw.

THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions, please.

Q. Well, thank you for coming to meet us that soon after your match. So was everything organized as you wanted itto be today?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, well, I asked to play earlier than that,but, you know, you can't decide. We haveto comply with what's organized, so I had to play the fourth match. I accepted it. I'm here to play at Roland Garros and off towatch the soccer game tonight.

Q. Did you think that you would finish the game that quickly?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I thought about it, because I wanted tofinish before the rain. I didn't thinkabout it because I wanted to watch soccer tonight. You know, I'm a professional. All I want is to win my matches. I don't have football in mind all the time,don't you think I have?

Q. I guess you're much happier with what you did today than you were foryour first match?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I did play better today. I had better feelings, and I was very happy Iplayed in three sets, and very happy I'm making in the third round.

So I try and improve every day,because next round is going to be difficult. I should be playing Lleyton Hewitt, and he is a big opponent.