Nadal 'not playing well enough'
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2011, Wednesday
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DECODING Rafael Nadal's self-evaluations can be a tricky proposition.
The top-seeded Spaniard spoke about his game and his mindset after handling 37th-ranked Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia on Monday to reach the quarterfinals.
Nadal chastised himself for being "too anxious." He said he needs to "hit the ball with a little bit more conviction."
Nadal insisted: "The thing is, you have to be (a) realist, and today, I'm not playing well enough to win this tournament."
Maybe he's playing possum. Maybe he's being sincere. Or maybe, as explained by Toni Nadal, Rafael's uncle and coach, this is just the way his nephew is.
"All his life, Rafael never had big, big confidence," Toni said. "He's not a guy who thinks, 'Oh, I am so good.' Never. He tries to improve, he tries to play better, every day."
Toni's nephew has done precisely that at Roland Garros. Since falling behind two-sets-to-one against John Isner in the first round last week, he's won 11 consecutive sets. He made half as many unforced errors as 2006 French Open semifinalist Ljubicic, 48-24. He accumulated 20 break points, converting six.
After trailing 4-5, 30-all - "I felt like he felt the pressure," said Ljubicic, who was two points from taking the first set there - Nadal steeled himself and won 30 of the next 32 points on his serve.
"For moments, I am playing well. But for moments, I am still having (a) few mistakes in a row," Nadal said. "That's what cannot happen in (the) next round."
That's because he'll face No. 5 Robin Soderling of Sweden, the only man to defeat Nadal at the French Open in 2009.
In an on-court interview after he eliminated No. 18 Gilles Simon of France, Soderling was told that some people, including Nadal himself, are saying the five-time champion isn't at his best.
That drew a comment of "I hope not," and an accompanying chortle from Soderling.
Novak Djokovic is off until Friday's semifinals. Nadal was asked how he'd feel about a four-day break. "Fantastic, no? Tell me: What's the worst part of that?" Nadal replied.
The top-seeded Spaniard spoke about his game and his mindset after handling 37th-ranked Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia on Monday to reach the quarterfinals.
Nadal chastised himself for being "too anxious." He said he needs to "hit the ball with a little bit more conviction."
Nadal insisted: "The thing is, you have to be (a) realist, and today, I'm not playing well enough to win this tournament."
Maybe he's playing possum. Maybe he's being sincere. Or maybe, as explained by Toni Nadal, Rafael's uncle and coach, this is just the way his nephew is.
"All his life, Rafael never had big, big confidence," Toni said. "He's not a guy who thinks, 'Oh, I am so good.' Never. He tries to improve, he tries to play better, every day."
Toni's nephew has done precisely that at Roland Garros. Since falling behind two-sets-to-one against John Isner in the first round last week, he's won 11 consecutive sets. He made half as many unforced errors as 2006 French Open semifinalist Ljubicic, 48-24. He accumulated 20 break points, converting six.
After trailing 4-5, 30-all - "I felt like he felt the pressure," said Ljubicic, who was two points from taking the first set there - Nadal steeled himself and won 30 of the next 32 points on his serve.
"For moments, I am playing well. But for moments, I am still having (a) few mistakes in a row," Nadal said. "That's what cannot happen in (the) next round."
That's because he'll face No. 5 Robin Soderling of Sweden, the only man to defeat Nadal at the French Open in 2009.
In an on-court interview after he eliminated No. 18 Gilles Simon of France, Soderling was told that some people, including Nadal himself, are saying the five-time champion isn't at his best.
That drew a comment of "I hope not," and an accompanying chortle from Soderling.
Novak Djokovic is off until Friday's semifinals. Nadal was asked how he'd feel about a four-day break. "Fantastic, no? Tell me: What's the worst part of that?" Nadal replied.
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