Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Andy Murray

A. MURRAY/J. Chela

           

7‑6, 7‑5, 6‑2

           

ANDY MURRAY

 

            Q.  How do you explain the sort of strange pattern of that match?  Was it the wind?  Was it the way that obviously the last few days have gone for you?

            ANDY MURRAY:  It was just very up and down.  The wind obviously doesn't help, but it was just a really scrappy match.  I didn't start particularly well and then got a little bit better, started moving a bit better towards the end of the first set.

            Then I got up in the second, sort of maybe lost concentration a little bit, which you can't afford to do against someone like Juan who has a lot of experience on this surface.  Something I definitely won't get away with against Rafa.

            Then in the third set I played better, but it was just very scrappy.  I didn't think the standard of tennis was particularly good.  Struggled a bit with my rhythm, but I got through in straight sets.

            Q.  How far did this seem away on Saturday night?

            ANDY MURRAY:  You know, I'm surprised I'm here, to be honest, because I haven't actually played that well.  You know, aside from everything else that's happened, I haven't played particularly well.

            You know, that's a very good sign for me, because, you know, a few months ago I was not playing well and losing badly.  I haven't been playing that well.  I'm in the semis of a slam.  That's a good sign.

            Glad that I'm here, but, you know, I've got two days to rest up, recover, and get ready for Rafa, which is always one of the most exciting matches for me on the tour.

            Q.  Andy, you agree if I say that this is the first year your level on clay is high enough to win the French Open?

            ANDY MURRAY:  I didn't hear the start of the question.

            Q.  If I said that this is the first year that you're level on clay is high enough to win the French Open?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Yeah, I think in the buildup to the French I was playing very well, and now I'm going to have to get that level out on Friday and sustain it for a long period, you know, to beat Rafa.

            But, you know, I feel I can do it.  It's just, you know, making sure that come Friday I, you know, play my best tennis.  I have to play a very consistent match, and I have to be mentally strong.  Tactically I'm going to have to be very good.

            So I can definitely win.  I just need to play my best.

            Q.  You talked about nerves before affecting you during the Troicki match.  Were the feelings a little similar did you feel today going into this one as well?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Not at all.  No, the match with Troicki was before ‑‑ yeah, yesterday before the fifth set was, you know, I was nervous.  Today I didn't really feel that way, but it was just because of the conditions it can sort of throw you off a little bit.

            And, you know, you might have tactics going into the match, and, you know, the way that you're sort of visualizing yourself playing.

            And then because of the conditions, you have to change that a little bit, play with a little bit more margin, which I didn't at the beginning of the match.  I was sort of going for shots that weren't on, made a lot of mistakes early.

            And then I started to do better after the beginning of the match.  But, no, I wasn't that nervous today in comparison with yesterday.

            Q.  Seemed like you moved better today.  Does the ankle feel like it's recovering?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Yeah, it's definitely getting better, you know, with each day and more sort of playing a match on it.  You know, you gain confidence more with the movement each time.

            I still, at times, wasn't moving great.  I was moving a lot better forward today, definitely moved better forward.  Sideways could still definitely be better.  But I felt it a few times.  Nothing major, but I just need to, in the next couple of days, do all the right things again.  A lot of treatment, a lot of icing, and I'm sure it will get better.

            Q.  The last few days have been kind of full of drama, kind of the king of the Suzanne Lenglen.  I don't know, maybe all the drama of all the matches.  Do you think you're fresh now mentally to go with Rafa, or do you feel like you wasted so much energy in the first part of the tournament?

            ANDY MURRAY:  I mean, I don't think I wasted the energy.  You know, I needed to fight back, you know, against Troicki in tough circumstances.  I think all my matches except that one were straight sets.

            You know, maybe, you know, it has been a tough few days for me mentally.  I'm glad I've got tomorrow off where I can rest and recover.  It does make a big difference, you know, in 48 hours ‑ or near enough ‑‑ 48 hours are enough to recover and calm myself down and take everything in and go from there.

            Q.  Do you think your match versus Djokovic in Rome was the best that you played on clay in your life, or recently at least?  And to play at that level would be enough to compete at a high level the same with Nadal, or not?

            ANDY MURRAY:  They're different matches.  It was definitely one of the best clay‑court matches I played.  The tennis was very high level, you know.  For the most part, it was very good.  And also, my match with Rafa a couple weeks before in Monte‑Carlo was also very high level.

            But, yeah, I mean, I have to maintain that for, like I say, a long period.  I'll have to play as well as I did for those days to give myself a chance.

            Q.  You like a challenge.  A guy with 43‑1 on the clay in Roland Garros, is that something that really gets you going?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Yeah, one of the best challenges in tennis.  Obviously his record here is ‑‑ well, it's incredible.  You know, yeah, definitely I look forward to it.  I understand obviously it's going to be an incredibly difficult match for me.

            But, you know, that's what I need to make sure the next sort of day and a half, two days, I do all the right things, watch some videos of matches that I played against him, and recover.

            Because you're going to need all of your reserves to get through a match with Rafa at the French.

            Q.  It's the first time you're reaching semifinals in the French Open.  Are you happy enough with that, or you want to go further?

            ANDY MURRAY:  I want to try and go further.  You know, it's a good result for me.  And like I say, I'm surprised a little bit because I haven't played as well on a surface that, you know, I haven't been as comfortable on, you know, the last few years.

            So I'm happy that I'm in the semis.  It's a good result.  But I want to ‑‑ obviously want to go further.  It's not worth going through what I've gone through the last four or five days to just sort of be happy getting to the semis.

            Q.  There's obviously been a lot of talk from Rafa himself about maybe the fact he's not feeling his best, he hasn't been playing his best.  Do you take any confidence from that, or do you think it's sort of being a bit overplayed?

            ANDY MURRAY:  He's still playing pretty good, so I know Rafa will play excellent tennis against me on Friday.  Pretty much every time we've played we've had some really good matches and he's always played well.

            Even in practice he plays well against me, so I don't expect him to play badly on Friday.

            Q.  Haven't you been surprised the fact that the four top men are in the semifinals and in the women draw, none of the top four is in the semifinal?  Before, women's tennis we're always respecting, you know, the rankings.  Now it's completely the opposite.  How do you explain it?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Well, I think because some of the most consistent ladies aren't here.  Henin has retired; Clijsters was coming back for her first tournament for quite a long time; obviously Serena is not playing, and that's going to ‑‑ I mean, if you can imagine a men's Grand Slam without Federer and Nadal, then it's going to be a bit ‑‑ you know, everyone's not going to know what's going to happen.  There's going to be some surprises.

            So I think, yeah, it's a little bit surprising.  But most of the names that are still in are very, very good players.  So it's not ‑‑ I don't think, everyone knew going in there were going to be strange results and different people towards the end of the tournament.

            Schiavone won last year, Na Li made the final of the Australian Open, and Sharapova is one of the best competitors in the game.  So I don't think it's that surprising.

            Q.  Could you spend a couple of words about the other semifinal?  Nadal said the best player of history against the best player of the moment.  What's your opinion?

            ANDY MURRAY:  Yeah, I mean, it's going to be a great match.  I'm sure it will be interesting to see how they both play.  I'm sure for Novak it will be a little bit strange; five days off in the middle of a Grand Slam is very rare.  He definitely wouldn't have been through it before.

            We were talking about it a little bit the last couple of days.  Like what would you actually do if you had five days during a Grand Slam?  Would you play some sets?  Would you take it easy?

            I know he's played a lot of tennis, but, you know, he's got to be switched on from the start against Roger, because he's playing Roger.

            So it will be very interesting, and I think if the conditions are like they have been the last few days, it's going to be pretty unpredictable.

            Q.  Do you think that your poor start to the matches here over the past two days are in a way related to your ankle condition?

            ANDY MURRAY:  I think the match with Troicki, yeah, for sure; today, no, I don't think so.  Because I hadn't really tested my ankle out before going out against Troicki, I didn't move particularly well.  Not used to playing with heavy strapping on my ankle, so I moved badly.  It was very stiff in my movement early.

            But I don't think today it was anything to do with my ankle.  I just didn't play well.

Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Robin Soderling

R. NADAL/R. Soderling

           

6‑4, 6‑1, 7‑6

           

           

ROBIN SODERLING

            Q.  Today it was windy out there.  Was it a key factor?  You couldn't serve so well as you expected or Nadal moved, or a little...

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Um, yeah, of course it's always difficult to play when it's windy, but it's the same for both players.

            As you said, you know, it was ‑‑ in the beginning it was tough to serve really well.  I think first two sets was pretty windy, and then it got a little bit easier, a little bit calmer in the third set.

            But overall, it was a little bit difficult today.

            Q.  Did you feel a big difference in your game in the third set?  Did you feel you could come back in the third?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Yeah, well, at least I tried, you know.  I'm really happy the way I finished the match.  Of course, you know, I had a few break points at 5‑All.  Maybe I could have won the third set.

            But it's best of five.  It's still a long way to go.  At least that's a start.  Then he played a really good tiebreak.

            Q.  In the past days, Nadal was saying that he was not playing too well.  How did you find him today?  Do you think he was playing at his best, more or less, or did you expect him worse or not?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  I think to play against the world No. 1 you never expect anyone to play bad.  I mean, it would be pretty stupid.  I think, you know, about his game, I think it's better you ask him, because it's tough for me to say.

            To me he played a good match, you know.  As usual, he didn't miss much, and I think he served pretty well also during the conditions, which were not easy.

            So I think ‑‑ I think he should be pretty happy with his match.

            Q.  When we think about the match where you beat Nadal here two years ago and then the two other matches you lost, the final and today, like when you look back at them, what was the difference in the first one that made you win?  Or was it that he was not waiting, this kind of fast groundstroke game from you?  What made the difference that made that you lost the last two and won the first one?  How do you analyze it?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Well, every match is always a new one.  It's always different.

            But of course the match here in 2009 where I won I played really well.  As you said, I served well.

            I just had a little bit of a better day than today, of course.  You know, I took my chances.  I really did in that match, which I didn't do today, especially ‑‑ well, I only had some chances in the third set.

            But, you know, to win a match like this you have to take your chances.

            Q.  You mentioned Rafa's serve.  How surprised were you to see him going for the wide serve on those break points you had at 5‑All, and then once in the tiebreaker when he was going to your backhand all the time?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Well, I think this is the serve he goes to all the time when he's under pressure.

            So I was not very surprised.  But he did it well.  It was not easy to serve today.  But I think he served well.  He had a high first percentage, so he made it difficult for me.

            Q.  You mentioned that you had problems with your serve, especially because of the wind in the beginning of the match.  But did you feel you also had a problem with backhand or forehand?  Was the serve the main problem?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Yeah, to win a match like this I need to serve better than I did today.  Of course.  And obviously play better, as well.

            But I think, you know, I'm feeling pretty good.  This wasn't a great match, but it's still not bad, you know.  I said before I'm really happy with the way I played in the third set.  I came back.

            You know, I lost the first two, and the second one was not good at all.  And then, you know, I come back, I really gave it a fight, and I was even close to winning the third set.

            Q.  I don't even know if you know this, but two days ago Rafa said he didn't feel confident that he could win the tournament; he didn't feel good about his level.  First of all, were you aware of those comments going into this match, or no?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  Yeah, you guys told me.

            Q.  So my question is:  When you hear that, do you think, Oh, he's vulnerable, or do you think he's even more dangerous and I'm not going to listen to this at all?

            ROBIN SODERLING:  No, I don't care at all.  Nothing.

Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Juan Ignacio Chela

A. MURRAY/J. Chela

           

7‑6, 7‑5, 6‑2

           

           

JUAN IGNACIO CHELA

 

            Q.  I would like you to make a summing up of your French Open 2011.  I'm sure you had good feelings on the court, especially compared with other years.  Can you give us a briefing about that?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Well, it was a very good tournament for me.  It's the second time I've reached the quarterfinal here and the third time I'm in a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam tournament.

            I didn't expect that in my career.  I'm very pleased.  Of course I'm just coming out of the match right now and I'm still under the feeling that I lost, but I believe I will leave this tournament with a positive feeling.

            Q.  But this was a change of plans for you maybe, so how are you going to get organized now?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Well, now, thanks to my new ranking, I'll be top 20, more or less, and I would like to finish even better at the end of the year.

            I want to keep pumped up and to keep improving.

            Q.  You played very well during that match.  Can you explain how that first set escaped from you?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Yes, it's a pity I lost that set.  Against those good players, you have very few opportunities.  If you have one, you need to convert it.

            So two breaks up, and one was just along the line and I missed it.  So I think that set was a key in the match.  After, I was always behind and running after the score.

            Q.  2004 was the year where you beat Coria.  Are you here to show that Argentina is still here?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Yes.  Most players of my country, most of them are retired now.

            So the difference between now and 2004 is that at the time I was the only one who had lost in the quarterfinal.  I remember Paola Suárez winning the doubles also, or in the finals at least that year.

            I remember that when I came back a lady in the plane asked, What was your result?  I said, I lost and Nalbandian won.  She touched my shoulder and she said, Don't worry.  We'll take you home all the same.

            Now, well, I'm alone.  And because I'm the only one, people think I did very well.  But of course those years were better for Argentina.

            Q.  So it's a bad year for Argentina?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  No, it was a good year, all the same, because we had other good results.  Juan Martin is the best player from Argentina this year.  For me, it's a bonus.

            Q.  You know, at one stage you said, Maybe I'll just play Davis Cup.  Now how did you get pumped up to continue working and to carry your career so far?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Well, this year when I said, no, I'm not gonna play anymore, not even the Davis Cup, well, the next day we reached the final.

            And during the year I have played many tournaments and the Davis Cup.  But after playing all that I was extremely tired, and I made a decision that was a difficult decision, because I was injured.

            People said, It's not very bad, but it was bothering me a lot.  It was bothering me.  I had some pain.  So I tried to come back.  I was using tape.

            But I wanted to do well immediately.  I had a lot of pressure and I was not able to win any matches or tournaments, so I had to play the challengers again.

            But I knew it was the right way to come back.  And to come back among the top 100, top 50, it was the only way.

            So I was playing each match as if it was the final in a Grand Slam.  I was practicing every day, day after day.

            Q.  Before that tournament, I believe you were planning to play one year more or maybe two years more.  Have you changed your mind now that you have some good results?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  No.  I'm going to play next year, that's for sure, because I have a good ranking and I still want to play.  I'm very eager to play.  But after that, I don't know.  We'll see.  We'll see.

            Q.  Did you talk with your family or people from Argentina?  I guess everyone was watching your match there.

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  Well, they're all very happy.  They know what it means for me and they know how I enjoy tennis.  I worked for that.  My wife ‑‑ for my wife it's a very important day, too.  She has exams today, so I think she didn't even have time to watch the match.

            THE MODERATOR:  Any English questions, please?

            Q.  You had plenty of chances in the first two sets, but you didn't obviously convert them.  Can you explain what happens?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  (Through translation.)  In the first set, the opportunities were better.  I was two breaks up, and he is a player who plays very well, who volleys very well.

            So I had a set point that I was not able to convert.  Against that type of player, if you don't convert your opportunities, then it becomes very difficult.

            In the second set it was the contrary.  He was up all the time and I was fighting back.  I thought I could come back into the match, and again it was 7‑5.

            Q.  He's got a very good record against you.  Do you think there is something special in his game that bothered you?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  (Through translation.)  I think he has a good record against many other players, not only me.  I think he can win Grand Slam tournaments.  He's a very complete player, and he can mix it up a lot.

            He does everything well, and he can play against any player.

            Q.  Yesterday he said he seriously injured his ankle.  Did you have the feeling that he was indeed seriously injured?

            JUAN IGNACIO CHELA:  (Through translation.)  I'm not sure his ankle bothered him a lot.  If he was really injured, I don't believe he would have been able to run that much.

            He played five sets begins Troicki.  We played three hours, and I didn't notice he had any difficulty in running.

Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Rafael Nadal

R. NADAL/R. Soderling

           

6‑4, 6‑1, 7‑6

           

           

RAFAEL NADAL

            Q.  You said you were perhaps not playing well enough to win the title after the last match.  Do you think perhaps your mind has been a little changed today?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I said two days ago today I am not playing enough good to win Roland Garros.  We will see in two days.  That's what I said.

            And today I played better.  Much better, in my opinion.

            Q.  Obviously you're playing Andy in the next round; you know him very well.  Can you just talk about your friendship with him and how you've seen his game so far this year?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I think he had a fantastic start of the season during Australia.  I thought he had one month without playing his best, but after that he came back and very well playing a very good tournament in Monte‑Carlo; after, playing, in my opinion, a good tournament in Madrid.  But he lost against a player that ‑‑ Bellucci was playing unbelievable there, so was tough match for him.

            And after, in Rome I think he played fantastic match in semifinals against Djokovic.  Was the closer player to beat him this year.

            So he's doing great.  Right now he is in semifinals having tough match against Troicki the other day saving important moments.  So he's coming with confidence, and will be a very difficult match for me in semifinals.

            Q.  Coming back to the match, how tough was it to finish the match in the third set?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, this ‑‑ you cannot expect to be in semifinals of Roland Garros winning 6‑1, 6‑1, 6‑1.  That's true, no?

            I was winning very comfortable, I think, playing a good level, 6‑4, 6‑1, 2‑0.  I think, in my opinion, I had few more mistakes next in that game.  Probably I played a little bit more nervous.  But he played well.

            I lost the game, but the game must be deuce, because the umpire had a mistake with my serve, in my opinion.  Because when you do a serve to the line, the opponent cannot return the ball.

            In my opinion, the line said out later than Soderling touched the ball.  So that game, I came back in that game, and that game must be deuce.  And with the moment of the match, how that match came, was big chance on me to put the 3‑0 in the score and probably finish the match early.

            But anyway, for me was very positive to play a tiebreak, to win a tiebreak in a tough moment like today, losing the first point with fantastic backhand down the line of Robin.  I think I did a lot of things very good today, so...

            And in the same time, was positive to have a close end of match.  Because you have these feelings, you feel the pressure, and that help me for the next match, in my opinion.

            Q.  I know it depends also on the opponents, but two days ago you said you couldn't win the tournament.  Today, the way you played today, you can win the tournament?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I don't know.  I can be in semifinals.  I am in semifinals.  So for me is very good result in semifinals.  Six semifinals here in Roland Garros.  Easy to say; very difficult to do.

            Seriously, for me is fantastic news, fantastic result, especially how the tournament came without play my best during all the tournament.

            Today I played well.  Quarterfinals another time playing I think a very good match against a very difficult opponent.  I don't know if I can win the tournament.

            Today I was ready to beat the No. 5 of the world and two‑times finalist in this tournament.  We will see what's going on next round.

            Q.  I'm assuming that you know that Andy hurt his ankle quite badly on Saturday and has been playing with lots of treatment and painkillers.  How difficult is it to play a guy you know pretty well when you know he's injured?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, playing five‑sets matches and today playing a tough match and keep winning, probably he have pain, but the pain is not limiting.  (Translation.)  (Laughter.)

            I wanted to say like this but, I don't know if was right.  So that's what I feel, no?  I think probably that the pain is on the ankle, just turned ankle.

            I had sometimes in the past, and is something that you feel pain, but in my opinion, is not limiting you when you are playing, because just resist a little bit the pain.  It's not something that you gonna go down or you feel that the foot is not have enough power to keep running, no?

            So in my opinion, that's not gonna affect him and his confident to be in the semifinal.  He's playing well.  He's big player.

            Q.  What do you think about Djokovic/Federer semifinal?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, the best player of the world today against the best player of the history, so difficult to say more things.  Gonna be, in my opinion, fantastic match.  Will be for sure a really tough match, in my opinion.

            We will see what's going on.  I think both of them have chances to be in the final.  Djokovic is playing fantastic; Roger did very well during all this tournament.  Roger have enough potential to beat everybody, and you know how good can be Roger in the final rounds of a Grand Slam.

            Q.  Was there anything you did or any adjustment you made that got you to the point where you played to this great level today?  Was it an adjustment you made in practice?  Was it really not until you got on court that you felt, Okay, I've reached this new level and I feel better?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  It was nothing secret, nothing magic.  Just I said every day, and I don't want to change what I said every day.  Just I try my best in every moment.  I try my best in every practice, in every match, trying to play with positive attitude all the time, trying to find solutions all the time.

            Today I found a lot of solutions in my opinion.  So I am happy about how I arrived to the semifinals, especially after the big victory of today I think against a difficult opponent.

            So that's what I did.  Is no secrets in this sport.  Only try your best every day and try to enjoy it, suffering sometimes.

            Q.  Matches between you and Andy seem to produce something special every time, almost like you enjoy playing against each other.  He certainly says he always enjoys playing against you.  Is it the same for you?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I prefer playing against an easier opponent, that's for sure.  (Smiling.)

But play against Andy always is a big challenge, because you know how good is he, and his talent is difficult to compare with a lot of players, in my opinion.

            Yeah, he has all the shots.  He can defend very well; he can attack very well; he runs fantastic.  The only thing that you can beat him is playing at very, very high level.  It not gonna be impossible.  That's what I gonna try.

            THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions, please.

            Q.  Incredible match.  Once again, you're going to spend your birthday here.  Well, we'll see on Friday.  But today you were able to control the serve of Soderling and you returned very efficiently.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I think I was able to move very well, even better today than in any other matches in this tournament.  I had the feeling I was really covering the court much better and I was able to run a lot better than the former matches.

            Sometimes he was putting me out of the court, and I was able to run back.  I think he was a very tough opponent, and I was able to put him out of the court because this is how I like to play.  What I like is play a bit slower with higher balls, and I was able to play that game.

            I needed to hit the ball very many times before I was able to win the point.

            Q.  I think what counts beyond the score is in fact the way you were able to win that match.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, what satisfied me most without any possible doubt was the improvement in my game.  I'm happy to be in the semifinal again of the French Open.

            But now what I believe is I was able to overcome a very tough situation.  I reached the semifinal without playing my best tournament.  Well, today was my best match, I believe.  My highest level in the tournament.

            I think I improved every day.  I was able to today find solutions that I didn't think I was able to find.  So I'm very happy that I was able to find those solutions today, and I was happy because I was very focused during the whole match.

            I think during the whole match I didn't have any letdown, so I was able to maintain my game at the level I wanted.  He's a tough opponent, and I was able to play very good points to be up in the score.

            He gave me nothing.  I had to fight all along the match.

            Q.  The other day you were saying that every time you were meeting a tougher opponent you were adding something to your game and you were doing something better.  Can you tell us how you can practice that?  And also, two break points, one in the tiebreaker, you were able to serve extraordinarily well.  How can you save those serves for these important moments?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I never try to save something.  Never.  I always try to do my best.  And also, how can I raise my game when I need it?  Well, you know, your opponent helps you to improve your level.

            Today I was able to improve my game enough to be able to win.  Sometimes it's not enough.  I don't know if you can practice on that or not.  But I believe the best players always are able to do that, because otherwise they wouldn't be the best players.

            During the past years, I was among the top players in the world and I was able to do that.  I believe one day I won't be able to do it anymore, but today I did it.  I'm going to keep going and remain very cool, because what I did is now reach a semifinal in a very important tournament for me and for everybody else, too.

            I was able to win many points, and I have many points to defend.  But what is important is not the points I'm making but just playing well and just being in a good position in the ranking.

            Now, of course, for the serve I always try to serve the way I believe is the best for me to win the following point, and I always try to hit where he doesn't expect.  I don't want to give him an easy ball.

            Sometimes I try to gain some time.  I try to serve in a way that gives me more time to return.  In the beginning he ‑‑ what I tried to do is serve on his backhand.  I tried to serve in the important moments on his backhand and put him out of the court.

            Because if you always serve in the same place he always goes to the same place.  Sometimes I tried to surprise him.  That's always what we do.  Sometimes if you do the contrary that you have been doing before, you surprise him.  This is what happened in those moments.

            So I used that in the tiebreaker, and it was very useful.  It was also very useful in other important moments.

            Q.  I would like to know, can we say that this was the most complete match you have played in the season on clay, given the opponent you had?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, not of the whole season.  I played two finals in a row.  You should not forget that, because you can't reach finals in a row like this being unsatisfied with your game all the time.

            I think those matches were good.  I don't believe this is the best match of my season.  I played very good matches in Barcelona against Ferrer or the first round in Madrid, against Llodra in the quarterfinal.

            So I had many matches that were pretty good in my view.  And also the final in Rome was very good for me.  I played a very positive match there.  I think that I was able to play my level on clay.  Sometimes when conditions are more complicated I was able to play well all the same, and this is very positive.

            Also, I was able to recuperate after tough matches, and this is good.

            Q.  Can you answer in Spanish something you answered already in English?  Can you tell us what do you feel that now you are playing Murray?  And what do you think about the other match between Djokovic and Federer?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I believe that Murray was able to play five‑setters lately, and I don't believe the fact that he has some pain in the ankle will limit his performance at all.

            It happened to me also to have some pain, and the issue is how you resist the pain.  For me, logically I believe that as the tournament goes on, you improve every day, and you don't think about what you feel.

            I think on Friday he will have no pain anymore.  He'll be 100%.  He's a very special player.  He has a lot of talent.  He does many things very good.  The only way of beating him is to play my best level, very aggressive.

            I have to oblige him to play many good points to win me.  I will enjoy my match.  I will play very focused, and I hope I will play as well as I did today.  He's one of the best players.

            Among Djokovic and Federer, I believe it's the best player of the time against the best player of history.  So there again, it's going to be a beautiful match.

            I would watch it if I was a spectator.

            Q.  This year you seem more serious.  You don't laugh as much.  You used to make many jokes before.  You seem a bit sad.  Can you tell us why?  Is there a reason?  Are you just tired of the press or the questions we're asking?  Maybe it's just an impression of mine.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, maybe.  Maybe you're right.  I didn't realize.  I'll think about it, and I'll come with a smile next time.  I'll try to be more happy.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  The level of the tournament is very high.  You had difficulties.  Of course people must realize it's very tough what you're doing and the tournament is difficult.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, people who are just spectators who are not in this world of course don't always know what is our daily life and what are the difficulties we have every day.  Because we have to keep winning every day, and to reach where I am, again, it takes a lot of work.

            But it's not a problem for me.  Everybody knows I think that in top competition anything can happen.  In end, there's only one winner.  It's just mathematics.  The other hundred players lose.  Every tournament is the same.

            I believe it's a very demanding sport, mentally and physically.