RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

2017 Roland Garros R1 Rafael Nadal bt. Benoit Paire  6/1 6/4 6/1

Next opponent - Robin Haase

“For me, it's important to serve a little bit better than what I did today... I feel that some moments I was not serving that well. The rest of the things I am happy with,” Nadal said. 

“I know him (Robin Haase) very well and he knows me very well. He's a dangerous opponent. He hits the ball very hard. So I need to be very focused on the serve because returning him can be tough,” Nadal said. “I'll do my utmost, which is always what I do when I practise, when I play a match. I put out my best tennis... I'm not particularly obsessed about anything in particular, except that I have to play my best tennis. Then we'll see what's going to happen.”

“The most important thing is to win. If it’s in three, it’s better,” Nadal told the crowd. “I’m sorry for Benoit, he’s dangerous, talented. He can change the rhythm of the point." 

“Today I started strong, he had more mistakes than usual off the forehand. He had a try for 5-3 in the second set, I played a good point. From there it was difficult."

Photos: AFP; Getty Images; Icon Sport; EPA; AP; REUTERS; FFT; Corbis; MAXPPP; Antoine Couvercelle

• Last game; Interview; Highlights

• Highlights

• Interview with  Alex Corretja

• Press conference