RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

2021 Rome Masters R2 Rafael Nadal bt. Jannik Sinner  7-5 6-4

Next - Denis Shapovalov

Rafael Nadal:

"After Madrid, it was important to start with a positive feeling.

I think I did a lot of things well. I played a solid match. I'm happy in a lot of positive things against a very tough player like Jannik. Very pleased with the victory.

I think Jannik is a very complete player. He's still improving all the time. You can't appreciate the improvement in one day. To see the improvements of players, you need to follow them for many tournaments in a row. You follow him and you see that his level is higher and higher all the time.

He has a great backhand and a great forehand, too. I think I tried to… hold well, not going back too far from the court. I think I held well the position on court.

I hit some very good forehands, cross-courts too to avoid his great backhand cross, and then he has a great change down the line. I think I did that well.

I was on court with big respect for him and very focussed every single moment. That's why I am here with a victory.”

Photos: Rome Masters; Corinne Dubreuil; Getty Images; AP; AFP; Reuters; EFE

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• On-court interview

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• Press conference