R. NADAL/M. Daniel
7‑5, 6‑4, 6‑3
Q. This question is not about the game. It's about your dress. You are in pink today. Why you are in pink today?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. Yeah, same like always, why I was white and yellow two weeks ago. Because it's better than dress the same color every week, no?
Q. The start of the game was a bit difficult today. Any reason?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, always tough, you know, beginning here. Roland Garros always is difficult. Yeah. I say, no, I expect a tough match, and it's normal, now. And when I start, normally I didn't start to play my best here the last four years. But the important thing is be with positive mentality and try to win, no? And I win. I won in three sets. That's important.
I played in some moments in the third a little bit better, so just try to keep improving to play better in this match.
Q. Is there a chance that in the third round you could come up against Lleyton Hewitt. You've played each other eight times before, and you've won four each. What do you make of him as a player?
RAFAEL NADAL: What?
Q. Lleyton Hewitt. You could face him in the third round.
RAFAEL NADAL: I understood. Only the last.
Q. (Through translation.)
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I'm sure Lleyton is a great champion in this sport. He has very good career. So always is a pleasure to play against him, but right now we are in second round,yeah? Not yet. I have to wait.
Q. Do you feel that the heat change, the condition if compared to last year maybe or two years ago where it was pretty cool here, the condition of play?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, much better, no? I prefer to play with these conditions than raining or cold, no?
So it's much better for us, I think.
Q. Do you feel more confident or less confident than last year when you started Roland Garros?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. Important feeling is ‑‑
Q. There is no difference?
RAFAEL NADAL: Every year is different, no? But I never compare, two years, so ‑‑ I don't know.
Q. Yesterday you were telling us you're a bit nervous, anxious. Was it the way you felt today when you walked on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, not really. Maybe at the beginning to start with. The court is big, and at the beginning, I didn't quite get the best feelings, but I won in three sets. That's very positive. I should have won more easily, but at 5‑4,when I had to serve, then I had to serve again ‑‑ sometimes I missed some opportunities to win the set earlier, but it was a difficult match.
I had practiced well before, but I know that I can improve, and I hope I'm going to continue improving for my next match.
Q. My question is not about your game but about Fabrice Santoro. He's playing his 20th tournament here. What do you think about him, about his career on the tour?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he is a legend on the tour. He plays with his very own personal style. Two hands. He was a very charismatic player on the tour,and he's a model for all of us. 20years, long career. That's fantastic. We all wish we can play for20 years.
So he had a beautiful career, and he really deserves a tribute.
Q. What can you tell us about the way Marcos Daniel plays after your game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't know. His backhand is better than his forehand, but I think I made it a bit easy for him. That's my opinion.
Q. How fit are you as compared to the previous years?
RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, comparing again. Well, physically, I feel ‑‑ well, I don't want to compare with last year, because I can't remember. That was a year ago, you know.
But I feel good, and last year, I played a match ‑‑ well, I didn't play well, really, and little by little I felt better. This year ‑‑ well, it's not a very good start. I'm not going to say it's positive. I would have preferred to start with a very positive start, but I hope this tournament is going to be long enough for me to give me time to adapt and to improve and get good feelings all along the tournament.
Q. About the fact you didn't play that well, are there any compartments in the game where you felt you were not at your best?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, my leg game was not that good. I didn't play well with my legs. But, you know, in sports it's ‑‑ in a tenth of a second you have to catch the ball and everything can change in a game. You need to be present there, on time. If you play well, you have the feeling you'll be on top of the next ball, but today I was a bit short in my shots. I was not very precise. It wasn't neat and clear during this match,so this is what I need to improve.
I need to play more ‑‑ I need my shots to be longer, and I do need to improve on that.
Q. You played at the hottest hour of the day. Now, for the upcoming matches, what would you prefer? Would you prefer to play at a different hour because of the heat? Is it affecting you?
RAFAELNADAL: No, I have no problem with that. I can play at any hour, and this is perfectly bearable temperature.
(via www.rolandgarros.com, photo/Reuters Pictures)
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