Photos: MAPFRE; JOSE INCHAUSTI; EFE; EPA; Europa Press
Rafael Nadal:
"I am fine. My recovery is well under way. It is a small muscle tear that means I need to rest and recover. So that is what I am doing. I am working every day, and over as many as hours as possible, in order to shorten the recovery period. My schedule remains the same and I am planning to go to Mexico (for the Acapulco Open) soon."
On Spain's chances in the Davis Cup
"I do not know where we will play our Davis Cup quarter-final against Germany. I am very happy that Spain are through to the last eight, and maybe we can start to think that we can win the Davis Cup once again this year. We have another tie at home that will be difficult. For me, right now, the Australian Open has only just passed and the Davis Cup is a couple of months away. Anything I have to say, I will talk about it first with my captain. When the time comes, then we will know if I am ready or not, if I can play or not. Let's hope I can help the team as soon as possible."
On disappointment with what happened at the Australian Open, and how he will look to the future
"It's true I had a good opportunity (to win the Australian Open), I was playing well. I went through the right preparation and I arrived at the right level. Well, what happened happened, I have to accept it and look forward. I cannot regret when these things happen. Yes, it has happened sometimes in my career, but I accept it. You take a hit, you go back home to rest up and to keep working. I must not overthink things. I just have to look forward in a positive way."
On how he can choose which tournaments to play
"I play the tournaments that make me happy and I play when I am happy and that's how it is. Fortunately, my career has gone well and I am at an age in which I can choose when I play and when I don't play. So, I play when I feel like playing. If I feel like playing some tournaments more than others, then they are the tournaments I participate in. Each individual person makes his or her own path, and every person has to do what feels right for them." |