WIMBLEDON
Date: 2008-06-30

WIMBLEDON

June 30, 2008

Rafael Nadal
LONDON, ENGLAND
R. NADAL/M. Youzhny
6-3, 6-3, 6-1

The Moderator Questions for Rafael Nadal.

Question How is your knee?
Rafael Nadal: I think fine.

Question Have you had it checked out?
Rafael Nadal: Well, nothing very important. That's sure.

Question You weren't too concerned then, even when you had to have the restrapping? You weren't too bothered? You felt okay, felt fine?
Rafael Nadal: I felt a little bit. I felt a little bit pain. I was a little bit scared because I felt something. I felt, well, crack something a little behind. But I think it's fine, no?

Question Was there ever a moment you thought you would have to pull out?
Rafael Nadal: This is a lot. No, no. I never thought about that, no.

Question How much have you had to battle through pain in your career, and how important is that quality in you?
Rafael Nadal: I think I am fine. I don't have a lot of pains. Like every professional sportsman have pain because our body's always at a hundred percent. We go to the limit, no?
But I think no more than the rest.

Question Can we say that today the match was easier than expected for you?
Rafael Nadal: Sure. 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 against one difficult opponent like Youzhny for me is very good result. I did very good match, so happy for the victory. Especially very happy because I am playing well and I'm in quarterfinals.

Question Have you ever had the problem with your knee before? Have you had the same trouble with your knee before?
Rafael Nadal: Was not the knee.

Question It was below the knee?
Rafael Nadal: Was behind the knee.

Question Have you had that before?
Rafael Nadal: No, no, no. Was a bad movement.

Question Could you talk us through the challenges you would face with your next opponent, Gasquet or Murray.
Rafael Nadal: Well, both are very good players, young players. The same age like me. Andy one less probably, yes. Young players. Good players. Both gonna be very tough opponents. I know that. I have to play my best tennis if I want to be in the semifinals.

Question Do you think today was your most complete performance so far at Wimbledon?
Rafael Nadal: Today? I played well. I played very well.

Question If it is Andy Murray in the next game, do you think the Wimbledon crowd will be a difficult thing to overcome?
Rafael Nadal: Wimbledon crowd always are very respectus (sic) with everybody. And with me, when I go on court, I feel the people are with me always, so that's very nice. I just can say thank you very much for the England people and the London people. I felt the same last week in Queen's. Well, I am very happy about the crowd here always.
I know if I play against Andy Murray, probably the crowd gonna be with him. But I think with me gonna be nice, too, no?

Question Before the tournament started you said your idea of a dream would be for Spain to win the football and for you to win Wimbledon. How do you feel halfway now?
Rafael Nadal: I think for right now we have the first thing, and the second gonna be difficult.

Question Did you celebrate last night?
Rafael Nadal: Well, for sure I celebrate. But, you know, I play today. I can't go out and celebrate. But at home, yes.

Question You won 21 points at the net out of 24. What does it mean for you?
Rafael Nadal: Unbelievable volley (smiling).
That's mean I was playing very good from the baseline, because when I arrive to the net, I arrive in always very good position. That's what that mean for me.

Question How did you celebrate the football result?
Rafael Nadal: Jumping.

Question Champagne or jumping did you say?
Rafael Nadal: Jumping. Champagne will reserve for finish the tournament.

Question Where did you watch it and who was with you?
Rafael Nadal: We watch it here at home with my team and the team of Feliciano López. There like 10 persons, 11, 12. I don't know.

Question Have you sent any messages of congratulations to any of the players?
Rafael Nadal: Yeah, I send to Casillas, sure.

Question Did you find it quite draining, watching the game last night? Was it hard emotionally? Did it take a lot of energy out of you?
Rafael Nadal: If I say that and today I won 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 I going to be very stupid, no?

Question If Andy Murray doesn't win Wimbledon, do you think the crowd here would like you to win it more than anybody else now?
Rafael Nadal: Ask the crowd. I am not nobody for say what the crowd wants. I just can say when I go on court I feel the crowd support me a lot.

Question Federer said before that he had a quiet week. Can we say the same for you, you had a quiet week?
Rafael Nadal: Never quiet. Never is quiet, no? Always is difficult. Every match. Sometimes you win with easy result, but in every match you have some difficult moments.
So I don't want to say and I don't like to say is a quiet week. Is important week because I am in quarterfinals, so is a very good result being in quarterfinals here for the third time in a row here in one difficult tournament like Wimbledon and playing like this. But quiet, never.

Question Do you think your knee will require any more treatment?
Rafael Nadal: I don't know. Right now I am feeling better. Tomorrow we will see how I wake up. But hopefully going to be fine.