R. NADAL/L.Hewitt
6‑1, 6‑3,6‑1


Q. That was a really great match today from your side. Are you close to maybe your best? What are your thoughts about that? How did you feel on the court?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I feel, yeah, I feel much better today than the other days. I improved a little bit every day. I play better the second day than the first. Today is important improve, no? Always a win against Lleyton is a very good news. You must be playing well.
So I won 6‑1, 6‑3, 6‑1, so is amazing result for me. Very happy for be in fourth round right now.

Q. I know you're not happy with some of the rules from the world antidoping agency. Could you tell me again why you think that these rules are so problematic?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, always the same, no? Always when I say something, later you write. I am the first one who wants the sport totally clean, no, the tennis totally clean.
But I think, I don't know if it's ‑‑ well, I don't know, no. I know that's not correct. Have to reserve one hour every day for the anti doping, no? I think it's not nice they are at your room at 8:00 in the morning. They call you and say, We are here, and you have two more hours for sleep, no?
I think that's not nice. And the second thing is we have to work inanother matter. That's what I feel,no? Because I against this new rule,no? (Through translation.) It would bebetter, but never mind.


Q. What were you saying in English? Could you repeat this in Spanish?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yes. You know, people write all sorts of things, and, you know, things werewritten in the papers here in France. I wouldn't say stupid things, but I wouldlike this sport to be as clean as possible.
There's no doubt about what Isaid. You see, of course there are thosewho cheat, should be punished. This isall. When you practice this type ofsport, what is important is that, you know, they have to find me and know whereI play.
These guys have to know where Iplay. I was on Monday in Madrid. I was with my friends. Then I have a bath. My mother called me. She told me the guys were in my house in Madrid. It was my only free evening. I have to take this antidoping control. It was the same several days ago. Ferrer and Fernando were tested as well, at6:00 a.m. because they had to play from 6:00 to 7:00, or they had just played,or rather they had played a five‑set match. It's crazy.
I don't know if, from the legalpoint of view, this is correct. That is,to know where you are every single moment of your life, and to account forthis. This is what I think.
I don't think this is a right thingto do. It's wrong. It's a high price to pay to practice yoursport, to play tennis. I want tennis to beas clean as possible, of course. This iscrystal clear. But there's room formaneuvering. You see, there's a certaintype of leeway.

Q. In Australia, during a press conference you've talked about this, and Irealize that nothing has changed. Itseems that nothing will change.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I have the impression that all theplayers say the same about this. I don'tknow if there's one player who says something different, but I don't thinkso. The vast majority are against thisrule.

Q. How could players be against this?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, that's not what I meant. And I don't want to keep on talking aboutthis during the whole press conference. You know, we're all players. That's all it is.
I know that drugs is not an easymatter to deal with, but we've paid the price for this. And, in fact, the ITF should takemeasures. I don't have the impressionthat it's good to put so much pressure on us. They harass us, I think.
The ITF should do something aboutit, otherwise we could perhaps come up with another solution, another remedy,another solution for us to play tennis in a more tranquil way.
You know, if I lose tomorrow, I'llgo back to Mallorca, and who will know where Iam if I have no access to Internet, if I don't send e‑mails to my family?
Now, if they knock at my door in Mallorca, they're going to give me a warning. It's happened to Carlos before. They sent him a warning, and this is mostunfair.

Q. I promise it's going to be the very last question on drugs orantidoping. This year it seems thatthere are more tests. In addition to theinternational federation, there are more tests. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: More analyses?

Q. Yes. More than what is done bythe ITF. It seems that the French agencyhas decided to carry out more tests. What has happened to Gasquet, for instance.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know anything about this. I think that this is not yet clear. Okay, Gasquet has been tested. Isupport him. I'm certain that he's nottaking anything. He's not takingcocaine. I know him. He's a good friend of mine, and I discussedthis with him last week.
No, no, impossible. He's most certainly not taking cocaine. You know what the world is like today. You know, when you go to a party, anythingcan happen these days. If you kiss agirl who's taken cocaine, anything can happen, and that's the truth. That's reality, and this can destroy yourlife or your career, rather, and this is most unfair.
You know, I wanted totell him again that I support him fully. He's got my total support. I toldhim on the phone, and sometimes I think these measures go too far and they'remost unfair.

Q. Now, let's talk about the match. I suppose you're happy. Your gameis developing nicely, and we've seen that since the first round. You've changed. You've evolved. What about your feelings? Is it like last year's?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, last year I didn't play that well duringthe third round. But what is importantis what has happened so far.
Each day I play better,and I think, you know, this is what it's all about. I have to improve daily. I'm happy, really. My backhand is good. To start with, I played good shots. My drive is better.
You know, when it was 3to 2, I was up 3‑2, and then Love‑30, that was good. I managed to fight back. But at the end ofthe day, the result was good, which is excellent news.


(via www.rolandgarros.com, photo/AP Photo)

Rafael Nadal - Roland Garros 29. May Interview