RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

Rafa Nadal and Kei Nishikori have participated in the main promotional event of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, which was set up in the interior of the Palau de la Música, a masterpiece of Catalan modernism. The two tennis players exchanged a few balls on a mini tennis court installed under the wonderful organ of the room. At the end of the photo session, Nadal attended the media with these thoughts regarding the moment he is going through

  About his first practice today:

"The sensations are normal. It's the first day of practice in a different place. I have done what I had to do."

 On his performance in the Masters 1000 of Monte Carlo:

"You can always go lower. There are four rounds before the semi-finals. My personal opinion is that I played one of the worst matches on clay. It´s a reality. There is no need to hide it. I do not see the benefit of wanting to deny it. "

"What has happened has happened, but it is a result of what we want to argue or the reasons that may be. And it is true that I made some bad semi-finals, but before I had played two good matches and an irregular third one. What may happen in the future is not known. I will put work and the most appropriate attitude.

"In Montecarlo I took a step forward with how I was a week before.

I lost a good opportunity to start the season in a fantastic way. But now I'm going to have another one. "

 On the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell:

"How I am here? We'll know from Wednesday. The hope is the same as always. This is a very special tournament that is part of the history of tennis and of my own. I have another morning to practice and we will see how we are doing. On a physical level, I'm more or less well. "

"We come from a complicated time with chained problems, one behind the other. It is true that I have not won any titles, but I reached the finals in Australia, semi-finals in Indian Wells and now semi-finals again in Monte Carlo. The year is not bad and I'm third in the Race, but with more problems than I would have liked. "

"The job is to find myself. During the last 18 months I have had too many stops and ups and downs non tennis related. And when that happens it's hard to pick up rhythm and continuity. But it is true that it has happened so many times and that after things go well and that everything that happened seems to be forgotten. I hope to be ready to play well and if it is not here it will be in Madrid, in Rome or at Roland Garros ".

"You can win 14 tournaments here or somewhere else, but things are not like that and it is the difficulty itself that puts into value all that we have been doing not only myself, but other colleagues in this sport".

 On David Ferrer’s retirement:

"The important thing is what he feels and what he decides what makes him happy. That is what works. The main thing is that he is happy with what he decides to do and that he has the goodbye he deserves as a player and as a person. "

Source: Barcelona Open

Photos: AFP; Barcelona Open

Rafa: "What can the future bring? The only thing I can bring is motivation, work & required attitude so that I can try to play as best as possible. Then, things can go better or worse, everything is part of sport."
Rafa: "Physically, I feel more or less well. Obviously, I'm coming from a tough time with a lot of problems in a row and, in the end, it comes a time that it is hard to maintain certain kind of level."
Rafa: "I hope to be ready to play well. If it is not here, it'll be in Madrid. If not in Madrid, it'll be in Rome and if not there, it'll be in RG. You can't pretend to be always perfect." 

Translated by Genny SS