Mesh Tennis

JM has just interviewed Federer, where they hugged and shed a few tears together. Nadal doesn’t give him a hug.

Thanks to faniq for this.

Cover:

Rest of Shoot:

One day after winning the Wimbledon title for the first time, Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Mercedes Cup on Monday with muscle pain above his right knee.

The second-ranked Spaniard, who said he won’t play again until healthy, traveled to the Weissenhof tennis center to tell the promoters personally of his withdrawal as the clay-court event’s defending champion and star attraction.

“This was the least I can do. I’m disappointed that I can’t play,” Nadal said. “My doctor said I need a few days off. I will have a checkup and treatment and won’t return to the court until I am 100 percent fit.”

Nadal has played 47 matches since mid-March, claiming six titles and reaching another final. He had fought knee problems since before last year’s Wimbledon tournament.

“The calendar is hard on us players,” he said. “I have played four, five months without a break. I have to recover.” FOX Sports

Sunday, 6 July 2008

Q. Two match points missed. Was it becoming a nightmare? Were you really worried about it? Did you think you could still fight till the end?

RAFAEL NADAL: I didn’t miss. He has a very good serve, and another one I have a good serve, good forehand. Because if I hit the forehand to his forehand and he give me a passing shot, impossible to say sorry for myself, no? So I put the ball to the backhand. He had some mistakes during the match in his passing shot with the backhand, but this time he put amazing passing shot. So later when I lost the fourth set I was sitting down, and just say, Well, I am playing well, I am doing well, I am with very good positive attitude, so gonna continue like this and wait, wait what’s happening. I feeled (sic) confident with myself, so for that reason I was confident on the match still, no, in the fifth. So just very happy because I played with very positive attitude all the time, fighting a lot. So win here is unbelievable for me.

Q. We all know what your emotions were when you lost last year. What are your emotions now on having won this championship?

RAFAEL NADAL: Impossible to describe, no? I don’t know. Just very happy. Is unbelievable for me have a title here in Wimbledon. Is probably — well, is a dream. I always, when I was a kid, I dream for play here, but for win is amazing, no? For any Spanish player win here is unbelievable. For every player, no, but for the Spanish especially, because we don’t have a lot of titles here, and have one is unbelievable.

Q. Losing the fourth set tiebreak the way you did, with two match points, could have been very depressing for other players. How did you emotionally deal with that fourth set so you could come out in the fifth and play your best tennis?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, is the final of Wimbledon, so I have to continuing fighting all the time with positive attitude. I am playing well, so why I have to go down, no? I won two sets 6-4, 6-4. I lost two tiebreaks. A little bit unlucky. I played terrible two points with the 5-2 on serve. I accept that. And just first of all accept I played terrible in the 5-2, and later he did very well. So just tried continuing focusing on myself, playing well. If he has a break and beat me the final, so just congratulate him and go at home, no? That’s it.

Q. Are you tired just a little bit?

RAFAEL NADAL: A little bit tired, sure. Was a tough day, long day, tough match. At the same time, when you are playing one very important match like today, when you finish, you feel more tired than usual, no?

Q. Was that the greatest match you ever played in?

RAFAEL NADAL: For me the more emotional, yes. I don’t know if it’s the best. Probably. Probably the best, yes.

Q. Is this a bigger achievement than winning the French Open, as you said, due to the history of players from Spain not doing so well here?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, when I won for the first time the French Open was unbelievable, too, no? I don’t want to compare the Grand Slams, but Wimbledon is special for everybody, no? Tradition, everything. So for me is more surprise win here than the French. That’s it.

Q. Many Spanish in the past said that grass is for cows. You have never said that.

RAFAEL NADAL: I never say that, no. I love play on this surface I said always. When I lost against Muller in 2005 I say the same: I love play on this surface. Sometimes if serves very well is a little bit bored, but normally right now we can play. And if you see the matches are very nice matches, no? Because you have options to do. You can play very aggressive. Sometimes — well, you can’t play very defensive, but can you go to the net. Is interesting game, no? I think you have to understand well the surface if you have to have good results here.

Q. What did you say to each other at the end? Could you share with us?

RAFAEL NADAL: I just say, Good tournament. Sorry. Because I know how tough is lose a final like this. This is tougher than last year, and last year I was very disappointing in the end. So he is a great champion, no? His attitude always is positive when he lose, when he win. Always accept the victories and the losses with the same humble for him. Well, he’s not a close friend of me because we are from different countries, and the English. But I always have a lot of respect for him. I admire him a lot. And we have a very good relationship, no? At the same time I am very happy for me, but sorry for him, no, because he deserve his title, too, no?

Q. In the fifth set, how close did you feel to actually losing it?

RAFAEL NADAL: I was close because I have a breakpoint against, no? But I played a very good forehand, and after a good smash. I was close to lose, but every game when I was returning I was close to win, too.

Q. How did you handle the rain delays? Roger is more experienced than you.

RAFAEL NADAL: I got a lot of experience last year (smiling).

Q. What did you do in the longer rain delay?

RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing. What can I do, no? Just be in the locker room, changing a little bit the clothes. That’s it. I can’t have a shower because I have all the tapes. We don’t know when we have to come back to the court. Wait. Try to warm up and be about positive attitude with calm. Listen some music. That’s it.

Q. How concerned or worried were you that you weren’t going to be allowed to finish because it was so dark?

RAFAEL NADAL: I feel it. In the last game, I didn’t see nothing. The true, I wasn’t see nothing, no? Was unbelievable. I thought we have to stop. Well, if I lost the last game we have to stop, that’s for sure. But at the same time when I was preparing for serve in the - how was the final score? 9-7? 10-8?

Q. Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: So with 8-7, when I was ready for serve, I said, No, I can’t believe. I can’t see nothing, no?

Q. You’re the first person to climb into the Royal Box. How well do you know the Prince?

RAFAEL NADAL: I meet with His Highness sometimes. So, well, always was a pleasure for me, and just can say thank you very much, His Highness, for be here watching my final. So always is a special feeling, no?

Q. What did he say to you?

RAFAEL NADAL: They congratulate me, and I was speaking a little bit more with His Highness in the locker room after.

Q. You’ve beaten Roger now on clay, on his grass. That only leaves hard court, doesn’t it?

RAFAEL NADAL: I won against him on hard court final of Dubai.

Q. This year.

RAFAEL NADAL: This year not. Well, I don’t know, no? Right now just focus on the next tournament, Toronto, or Stuttgart. I fly to Stuttgart tomorrow, so I have to decide. But just focus on this. If I meet Roger on hard gonna be very good news, because we only can meet in the finals, no?

Q. Can you just try and express your feelings as the match went on and on and became tighter and more dramatic, what were some of the things that were going through your head?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t know. Just focus in every point. Is impossible to think too much, because if you think too much you not gonna play well. I just focus next point, have point by point, no? I don’t want to think about the title, nothing, because later is tough.

The format appears to be limited to Windows Media Player (.wmv), until this pops up on you tube. Watch the video by following this link.

Update: here’s the same video on youtube:

The quality isn’t the best on this video, but I’ve watched a bunch now, and this is the best available until the more official streams are released. I’ll post those when I find them. The trophy presentation is not included.

Still waiting for the post-match interview with Nadal to be posted - so let’s chat about his girlfriend. Nadal mentions in his blog that he’s not exactly happy about the recent attention given to his personal life, and that the widely distibuted photos of the gf are 2 years old. Here’s the info - nothing really new about them in the past few years - plus a few pics I could find:

Twenty-year-old Maria Francisca Perello, who comes from Nadal’s home town on the holiday island of Majorca, has been dating the player for three years.

But the down-to-earth beauty, whose nickname is Xisca, keeps away from the spotlight and rarely watches her boyfriend play, partly because she does not wish to distract him.

Nadal’s uncle and trainer, Toni Nadal, revealed: ‘I guess a lot of girls will be upset to know the truth.
‘My nephew always maintained he was single. It was a well-kept secret but actually his girlfriend is waiting for him in Majorca.’

Described by friends as ‘an intelligent girl from a good local family’, Xisca is about to take her important exams in business at university in Majorca’s capital, Palma.

Her cousin Maria Perello Limones said: ‘She is a straightforward, no-nonsense girl not interested in glamour and fame.
‘You won’t see her rolling out of a nightclub or laden down with designer bags after a shopping spree.’

That is just as well, because despite his wealth and fame, Nadal is a simple home-town boy who likes relaxing on the beach, fishing and sharing long meals with his family.

He still lives with his parents and sister in their luxury apartment.

Friend Pedro Hernadez explains: ‘Raf and Xisca are both very shy and ordinary people who like to live simply.

‘They are not at all interested in a celebrity lifestyle. They get together when the tournaments are over. That’s how Raf winds down.’

When back home in Manacor, an unfashionable industrial town in the heart of Majorca, Nadal and Xisca while away the days at the beach in nearby Porto Cristo.

They also spend a lot of time with each other’s families and Xisca is very close to Nadal’s grandmother.

The player is the town’s most famous son, but Xisca has kept such a low profile many locals are unaware of the relationship.

Earlier this year it was suggested that Nadal was infatuated with Danish tennis sensation Caroline Wozniacki, 18.

But the relationship has been emphatically denied by Nadal.

Indeed, his grandfather, also Rafael, confirmed: ‘I saw him and Xisca just before he flew to London and they looked great together.’ Daily Mail

As an aside, here’s a video of Caroline Wozniacki denying that she had a relationship with Nadal (English subtitles, about halfway through):

Rafael Nadal has been keeping a Wimbledon blog for the Times Online - covering everything from fan questions (I haven’t seen any about the wedgie pick yet) to crazy paparazzi incidents to practice and even recipes. Yeah, I said recipes. Here’s some excerpts:

Fan Questions
Are you a rough sleeper, meaning you usually wake up with your sheets, pillows, and hair all messed up?
Brandy, Memphis
Rafa: Yes.

Hello Rafa, first of all good luck for Wimbledon, this is a question outside of tennis hope you dont mind. Just want to know about your famous Pasta creation (with mushroom and shrimps) if its not a secret, can you please tell us fans what main ingredients you use besides the mushrooms and shrimps. Is the sauce tomato based or cream, and what other ingredients you use.
From your two Australian fans Hatice and Belin. Thank you.
Rafa: Many thanks. No, no, no sauce tomato and definitely not cream. I put oil on a pan and then cook sliced onions. once they are well done I put the mushrooms and after all that the gambas. I also put crushed chilis to make it a bit spicy. Then I cook the pasta and mix everything together, Very simple but very good.

Why have you changed your pre-serve routine?
Doris from Hamburg
Rafa: I am just a bit faster not to get warnings.

I’ve read that when you’re at home in Mallorca you enjoy going to the beach. What do you like to do there? Surfing? Volleyball? Building sand castles?
Katie, UK
Rafa: Just swimming, maybe doing some sports and what I like most is to go on the boat.

My question is a little bit indiscreet. For sleeping, do you wear pyjamas, underpants or nothing?
Céline, Paris
Rafa: Underpants

Stalker Paparazzi

One thing that did surprise me yesterday was the eight paparazzi waiting for me at a restaurant. I didn’t tell anyone I was going out and when I arrived they sort of attacked me. I don’t know if this is the right word, but believe me it was strange. Too much. I am a person that always works with media, does interviews with them, works closely with them, but I don’t find it fair that when I have a few hours free, with my family, simply going for dinner, they persecute me and get those pictures that they sell. I am a public figure, I understand, but I don’t live off publicity. I live off what I do on-court. I work there. But I feel this thing last night was too much. I am not complaining since it is not my style, and I am not going to hide and not go out because there might be paparazzi but I just find it unfair. But as I say this is the way it is and hopefully society will one day go against this kind of people.

Defending ATP’s Good People

And it’s been a while since I wanted to say this. I would like to send a big hello and give my support to Vittorio Selmi. He is an ATP employee and one of the men who really know about this sport. He is an open book. Knows the history of the game, was part of it, one of the pillars together with other people and a person really important that was always close. Well he is going through tough moments in his life since the management of the ATP, the top management, has put him aside. A person that has been working for 30 years for this sport doesn’t deserve this treatment. Something really bad from a human point of view that shows the type of people at the top of this organization, our organization, the one that is supposed to be representing us. Vitto, cheer up and hope to see you soon. We want you on top form!

On A Possible Knee Injury

Talking about that scare I really thought at that moment that I injured myself. I even thought about the ligament since I heard a crack. I was very scared, believe me. Then when Michael Novotny (the ATP trainer) and the tournament doctor came and checked it out, they told me it was normally OK and that I could continue to play. Scary moments when everything goes through your mind. Having to retire on the second game of the match in the 2nd week at Wimbledon is not precisely what you dream about. So the worries are big. But as I say everything is OK and hopefully tomorrow when I wake up the back part of the leg should be fine. I did a precautionary test after my press conference and I should be fit to play on Wednesday.

There’s tons more, some of it I am still trying to figure out (what the hell is “doing the dog at Roland Garros” ?) - check out the entire blog here.

And it came true!

Rafael Nadal def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (8-10), 9-7

Q. Did you say any thanks to the rains, the first delay? I think the rain helped you.

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don’t know.

Q. To find your game.

ROGER FEDERER: I didn’t win the final, so it obviously didn’t help that much.

Q. It’s awfully soon afterwards, but how much can you appreciate what a fantastic match you were a part of?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, sort of. I mean, it’s sort of always nice to be part of them, you know. Probably later on in life, you know, I’ll go, That was a great match. But right now it’s not much of a how do you say a feel good thing, you know, or a positive thing to end this match. But from my side I thought I played well, you know, and everything. Missed too many chances obviously in the first couple of sets. But Rafa played well, you know. I’m happy we lived up to the expectations, you know. I’m happy the way I fought. That’s all I could really do.

Q. Was it too dark to play?

ROGER FEDERER: What can I tell you?

Q. Should it have had a better finish than that in near darkness?

ROGER FEDERER: It’s hard to tell. Look, it’s over, so… What’s the point arguing about it? It’s the way it is.

Q. Of all the shots that you’ve hit in your career, where would you rate the backhand that kept you in the match down match point?

ROGER FEDERER: Sure, I mean, it was an unbelievably important shot, you know, to hit. Probably was one of my first really backhand passing shots I hit all match. You know, to save it for match point was obviously great, especially after I think Rafa’s shot. He hit just the previous one, the forehand, you know. The passing shot he hit I thought it was all over really. So for me to come up with that one was a great feeling. I had to turn it around and push it to the fifth set, was awesome. I really thought, you know, with winning last year in five, with the momentum, that it was going to be enough. But, you know, it wasn’t, so it was quite unfortunate.

Q. How would you describe what Nadal did today?

ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, I think he played well. You know, I mean, I think he was rock solid the way we know him. He’s definitely, you know, improved his game, you know. But I think since the beginning of the year he’s been playing well. He’s been playing very consistent. He’s playing better on the quicker courts. I don’t think he really needed a match like this today to really prove himself.
But for some only trophies count. I sort of agree to some stages. But, no, I mean, he’s a great competitor, you know, a great player to play against, and I think he did very well today.

Q. What was your thinking on the very last shot when it was getting so dark? Did you just think, I’ll try to get it over and let him deal with trying to see it, try to get it back?

ROGER FEDERER: I don’t know. I was thinking first should I go up the line or cross court, and then I chose cross court and missed it. So, yeah, I mean, look, by that time maybe it was all over anyway, you know. But, yeah, maybe shouldn’t have missed the shot. Maybe wouldn’t have missed that on some other occasion. Who knows.

Q. Did you make any question about the light to anybody or you just kept playing?

ROGER FEDERER: Kept on playing. I didn’t argue. I think I guess I would have said something if I would have broken back to go, what was it, 8 All. Yeah, because, I mean, it wasn’t possible to play anymore, so… It would have been brutal for fans, for media, for us, for everybody to come back tomorrow. But what are you gonna do? It’s rough on me now, obviously, you know, to lose the biggest tournament in the world over maybe a bit of light, you know. It’s not the first time anyway against Rafa. Lost to him in Paris as well in the semis. So it’s not a whole lot of fun, but it’s the way it is. I can only congratulate Rafa for a great effort.

Q. Do you think the last chance you had to win this match was when you had a breakpoint to go 5 3 in the fifth or later on?

ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, the chances were always there. I mean, I was ahead in the score, so that put pressure obviously on Rafa. I think I did well on a couple of big games to come back, you know, from Love 30, 15 40, and that increased pressure even more against him. I think I had once also maybe 30 All later on, or Love 15. I could have maybe put him under pressure just a little bit more, but I couldn’t be put myself in position. The one breakpoint I had, I mean, he hit a great forehand. I couldn’t really do a whole lot on that one.

Q. You lost 11 breakpoints out of the first 12. For what reason was that? You were nervous. Some returns were not at your usual standard, in my opinion. What do you think about it?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I wasn’t happy the way I was playing breakpoints early on, no doubt, except the one I made. It was fantastic. I was definitely struggling in the wind a little bit. It was very gusty early on. It was tough conditions, you know. Well, sometimes Rafa played great. He came up with some unbelievable passing shots when he needed to, you know. And then other ones I played poorly on them, which I just think maybe I should have really decided much more what I really wanted to do, you know. But Rafa keeps you thinking, and that’s what the best players do to each other in the end. Rafa also missed many opportunities later on. You always makes it hard for the opponent, and that’s what we both do to each other.

Q. We know how much you respect him. Especially after that tiebreaker, were there any points in there where you’re thinking, This kid has to fold up now? He has to be a little bit mentally crazy? A couple times you were down, served your way out of some real holes. Did you think at any point that he’s got to crack at some stage?

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I was just hoping, you know, or I was seeing that he was getting very nervous, you know, in that, what was it, fourth set tiebreaker where, I mean, I think he should have never lost the breaker in the end, you know. But he was really nervous. He didn’t make the returns he usually does. He couldn’t play aggressive. I played some okay shots, and it was enough to come back. So, I mean, I really thought, you know, that he was feeling it really a lot, you know, maybe the first time in his life. So I was hoping, like I said, with the momentum going into the fifth set, that it was going to be enough just from my end that I would play a little bit better. But I couldn’t really, you know, play maybe my best when I really had to. And towards the end, like we know, with the light, it was tough. But it’s not an excuse. Like I said, Rafa served well and played well and deserved to win in the end.

Q. You have such a deep love of the game and respect for it. The match today had so many elements, such a high level. Leading commentators are already talking about it being the best match in the history of this game. Could you reflect on that. Can you sense people would put it in that strong context already?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, look, it’s not up to us to judge if it was the best ever. I think it’s up to fans and the media to debate. I’m happy we put in a great effort, Rafa and myself. You know, it was a fair battle, which was tough with the rain delays. You know, some great points. Really I just think we both played tough till the very end, you know. In tennis, unfortunately sometimes there has to be winners and losers. You know, there’s no draws. But I really had to push hard to come back. And I wasn’t able to break him, I guess, in the last three sets, but still I pushed him right to the edge, you know. I guess, you know, with the fading light even the victory became even more special, similar to, you know, when Pete won his, what was it, 14 again Rafter, you know, also in the fading light. That looked incredible. I wish obviously it was me with the trophy, but that’s the way it is now.

Q. Was this the toughest match of your career?

ROGER FEDERER: Probably my hardest loss, by far. I mean, it’s not much harder than this right now, so…