RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

2017 US Open QF Rafael Nadal bt. Andrey Rublev  6/1 6/2 6/2

Next opponent - Juan Martin del Potro

Q. You played already 37 times with Roger Federer. You may have to play him for 38 times or no? Play him, mean you are going to stay No. 1 for a while.

RAFAEL NADAL: You don't need to explain. I know everything. To be short.

Q. Well, is it better for the world's general expectation? What would honestly excite you more, to play him or not to play him? You cannot change your opponent.  ... Read more »

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2017 US Open R4 Rafael Nadal bt. Alexandr Dolgopolov  6/2 6/4 6/1

Next opponent - Andrey Rublev

Q. Really solid performance today. What was your game plan for taking on Dolgopolov? What is your preparation now that you know who your opponent will be in the next round?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, thank you. I think I played a solid match, obviously. Not many mistakes. I don't know how -- I didn't see the statistics, so I don't know how many unforced errors I had, but my feeling is not many.

So I feel that comparing to other days, I feel more calm on court. Is true that I was able to have the break earlier, but really I felt more comfortable from since the beginning, no? ... Read more »

2017 US Open R3 Rafael Nadal bt. Leonardo Mayer  6/7(3) 6/3 6/1 6/4

Next - Alexandr Dolgopolov 

Q. Slow start today, losing the first set in a tiebreaker. What, in your opinion, accounted for that slow start? What allowed you to turn things around and break finally after 13 times?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't want to contradict you, but for me was not a slow start. Was a slow start of converting breakpoints. When you have that many breakpoints, you created the opportunities, more than usual. So if you are able to convert one, two of them, probably we will talk about another story because that's the real thing, no? Then you don't make it, of course opponent is a good player, you arrive to the tiebreak. I make a mistake, he play well, had some good serves, you lost the tiebreak. ... Read more »

2017 US Open R2 Rafael Nadal bt. Taro Daniel  4/6 6/3 6/2 6/2

Next opponent - Leo Mayer

Q. A bit of a slow start today, but you got the job done in the end. What would you attribute that slow start to? Where do you feel you struggled?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, of course, there is nerves there at the beginning. Yeah, when you have some nerves, when you don't convert Love-30s, couple Love-30s in a row, 15-30s, then some breakpoints, you arrive to 4-All. The opponent, very first breakpoint, he make it. Well, he make it? Of course, I miss it. Yeah, you feel one set down. Then, of course, you play under more pressure. ... Read more »

2017 US Open R1 Rafael Nadal bt. Dusan Lajovic  7/6(6) 6/2 6/2

Q. Difficult first set but then you seemed to find your rhythm and pace and got through it pretty easily the second two. Talk about the match and where things began to turn for you.

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, tough beginning of the match. Some nerves, obviously, after a week here practicing well, I think. I was practicing, I think, every day at very high level, no? Today I didn't play at that high level, but just like this, important thing is I won, and I have one more day to keep practicing and another chance to play better the next day, no?

Yeah, the important thing is win, because is normal that you have some nerves at the beginning and you get a little bit tight at the beginning of the tournament. So important thing is be through, and that's what I did today, no? Tough start but then I played better, of course. ... Read more »