US OPEN 2011: Men's Finals 1-NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. 2-RAFAEL NADAL this Monday Sept. 12

US OPEN Men's final pick


Sunday, September 11, 2011

1-NOVAK DJOKOVIC VS. 2-RAFAEL NADAL

I keep wondering whether Nadal is trying to pull the wool over our eyes by insisting that he hasn't had enough time over the past two months to find a solution to beating Djokovic, who has pounded his way past him in five finals this year. It's odd to hear a guy who essentially owned the other in big matches to all but concede that on his rival's great day he doesn't have enough answers to repel him, but when you lose 2011 finals at Indian Wells, Miami (both on hard courts), Madrid, Rome (both on clay) and Wimbledon (on grass), there's a lot of room to doubt your technical prowess.

It's not common for that to happen to a 10-time Grand Slam champ, but it was pretty clear after Djokovic outlasted clay-court dominator Nadal in Madrid and Rome that the Spaniard has serious problems on his hands because no player had ever beaten him back-to-back in major finals on his beloved red dirt since he won his first Roland Garros title in 2005. And then there was Wimbledon, where Djokovic, who has struggled so mightily on the grass, negated the Spaniard's speed on turf by handcuffing him again and again.

I've written this time and time again about Djokovic at this tournament, but it is worth repeating, especially in the context of this match: His ability to flatten out his forehand and consequently add more power to it, as well as having more faith in going down the line with that shot, is critical to his development, especially against Nadal, as he can open up to the Spaniard's forehand before going to his weaker backhand side. He also owns a killer down-the-line backhand, which he hurts his foe with frequently, as Nadal has a lot of trouble getting depth on his backhand while on the run.

Djokovic is also serving bigger and with more accuracy and is on such a high that he's willing to take huge risks at crucial moments, like he did when he crunched a once-in-a-lifetime forehand return winner against Roger Federer down match point in the semifinals. Over a long contest, just like anyone else, he's capable of going into small mental funks, but he has not lost a five-set match this year, and at least in 2011, he has always found a way to recover.

Really, it's only men who can hit flat and through the ball frequently who can topple an in-form Nadal, and Djokovic is one of those men. His inability to find solutions against the Serbian is because he is back-pedaling too frequently and losing control and because he has such little faith in the power of his backhand down the line that he almost always plays it cross court against the Serbian, who is more than willing to punch through it.

With all that said, it's not impossible for Nadal to win this match if he comes in and is willing to take risks. He must try and serve huge while mixing up his locations, step inside the baseline and dictate with his forehand, make sure to keep his backhand deep (and he really hasn't done so all tournament) and, if he gets the chance, charge the net and force the Serbian out of his comfort zone, do it. Djokovic has become far too comfortable against him, and he must make him feel his massive presence once again.

Nadal always gives it his all, and he's going to try darn hard to get on top of Djokovic early and get the crowd involved. He can't afford to start sluggish or else the Serbian is capable of steamrolling him. I would like to say that this will go a long five sets, but I really see it going a long four, where unlike last year, it will be Djokovic raising the big trophy and concluding a fantastic Grand Slam year with three major titles. Thanks for reading. It's been a blast, as always.

An Interview With Novak Djokovic


Saturday, September 10, 2011


Q. This time last year you got to match point, you said you closed your eyes and went for it. Was that your mentality on that first match point today?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I tend to do that on match points. It kinda works. (Smiling.) No, it was a very similar situation like last year. I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home. He was serving. He was 40-15 up. Yeah, I mean, I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back. I got a little bit of energy from the crowd, and I fighted back. I needed to stay positive, and I definitely didn't want French Open to happen again. It was incredible last two games.

Q. Talk about your belief in your shots, that you'd be able to go for something like that. Roger almost seemed baffled that you would take that much of a gamble.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, if you're playing somebody like Roger, you have to take your chances when they're presented; otherwise you're losing a match. I don't want to say, yeah, I've been in control of the fifth set, because that's not true. He was serving for the match. He was match points, and I could easily lose. But this is what happens at this stage of a tournament when two top players meet each other. Just a couple of points decide the winner.

Q. While this match does not yield a trophy moment, can you say that it is perhaps one of the greatest victories of your career?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It is, and it's probably, under the circumstances, the greatest victory I had in 2011. I definitely think so.

Q. Why?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Why? Because I was two sets down, and I haven't won many matches in my life when I was two sets down. You said five, six years ago was the last one, so... Especially against Roger, who we all are aware of his quality. When he's a set or two sets up, he doesn't let you win. When he's in control of the match he's confident, and it's really hard to get back into the match. But I managed to play better, to switch gears, and I managed to play two incredible sets: third and fourth. Then I felt it's the moment. You know, it's the moment when I should step in and show what I got, and it paid off.

Q. Back to a specific moment in the second set, it was one game apiece and you were ad out and you were second serving. I want to get a sense of how do you compose yourself in a situation like that? And then what kind of plan do you have on a second set serve in that moment?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't remember the moment. It's 1 All second set, you said?


Q. 1 All and you were serving. It was ad out, and nobody had broken yet.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Okay. It was the first break points I think of the match.

Q. Yeah.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, you know, I have been serving great in the first set, winning quite comfortably my service games as well as he did. But we both knew that the chance will come sooner or later for me or for him. Unfortunately for me it came for him first, and he used it. He used it, you know. He's definitely one of the best returners in the game. I needed to stay calm, stay positive, because it's a best of five match. I knew I could come back.

Q. Just back to that first match point where you had just dropped your serve at love; the crowd is not really on your side; you are getting frustrated. In that shot, was there some anger and frustration? And then what was in your head when you reacted to the crowd after that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, look, I needed to get some energy from the crowd, you know. I mean, it's kind of normal to expect that maybe they're a little bit more on his side because he's somebody that has won this tournament five years. He's the greatest player ever results you know, I mean, you don't need to spend words about him. Crowd loves him everywhere, especially here. So it was okay. It was no surprise. But, you know, I thought at that certain moment I needed to get a little bit of the crowd energy behind my back and try to get back into the match. And I did. That forehand return, I cannot explain you because I don't know how it happened. You know, yeah, I read his serve and I was on the ball and I had to hit it hard, and it got in, luckily for me.

Q. But you seemed to say after that, you know, rocket winner, What do I have to do to get people behind me, no?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, no, I mean, look, you know, it's semifinals of a major and two top guys are playing against each other. It's so close. I mean, maybe it did seem, and it was maybe true that he had more crowd on his side, but I think I had fans on my side, as well. It was very exciting, very loud, and I was just trying to focus myself, to be positive, and trying to take one point at a time. It happened for me. He missed a forehand on 40 30 and I got back into the match; he makes a double fault. This is what happens, you know, under pressure. For these kind of moments you train every single day. You work hard on the court, off the court, because you want to be in this position.

Q. Everyone now talks about the match point and that it's easy, no? Before there was some different moment when everything changed. After the first two sets, Federer loses his second game in the third set, and he made a lot of mistakes then. Then everything changed. How do you explain what changed then and afterwards? You won all your serves so easily, and then suddenly in the fifth again you are in trouble.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, at this level, really couple of points, as I was saying, decide the winners. So when he was two sets up, I was trying to convince myself I can get back into the match. I was feeling good physically. There was no problem. Mentally I had the motivation. I mean, come on, it's semifinals of the US Open, you know. What more you're asking for, you know? Full stadium, very exciting match against a top player, so I needed to fight. That's what I did. I think when I made that break early in the third set I relaxed a little bit. I started hitting the shots that I maybe didn't hit in the opening two sets, and he started making more mistakes. But that's a switch of the momentum. That's what happens. You can't always be on the same level. It's normal. Somebody, you know, feels at a certain stage of the match that he has control, and then it's very hard to get back. I think we both knew in the fifth that -- in the fourth that when I made the second break that he was kind of maybe a little bit saving the energy for the fifth. He started very strong, so it was a great set.

Q. If you had been on the other side of the net watching what happened on that forehand winner that saved a match point and then your communication with the crowd, what do you think you would have been thinking at that point?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: What do I think?

Q. If you had been watching that happen as the opponent, what do you think would have been going through your mind?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know. Look, I don't know, because at that stage you're trying to get as much support as you can. You're trying to get energy. I mean, I haven't done anything against my opponent, you know. I was trying to get the crowd on my side, and, you know, I did. That's what he does. It's what everybody does. It's normal. We are professional athletes. At this level you need that in order to win.

Q. How about, though, on the shot itself? If that had been done to you, saving a match point...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't know, really. I just answered the question.

Q. Roger wasn't real happy with what he did with that serve at double match points, but the next one he put it right into you and you fought it off. It ended up being almost just as clutch and almost as important, correct?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: On the second match point? Yeah, I mean, look, I was a little bit lucky in that moment, because he was playing tremendously well the inside out forehand throughout the whole match. It flicked off the net and went wide, and it got me back. It was deuce, and then I still, you know, believed that I could get back into the match. It was very close. I mean, this is what happens at this level. You know, couple of points can really decide the winner, and we are both aware of that.

Q. In the game he ended up breaking you in the fifth set, after he just won that first point to go to Love 15, you were talking to yourself there. Did you already let yourself get too negative even in that moment?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I talk to myself too much. (Laughter.) You don't want to know what's going on in my head at that moment.

Q. Was there any point in that match where you thought you were going to lose? Also, do you think your amazing run this season helped pull you through that?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I would lie if I say, you know, I didn't think I'm gonna lose. There was a couple of situations and moments in the match when I thought, you know, I'm losing or, you know, when he was match points up. It's always important to be calm, to stay positive, and to believe, to believe that you can win. I mean, since you are already in the fifth set and he's serving for the match, it's only one break of difference. So if I make the break, I'm back in the match. That's what happened.

Q. What did you exchange in conversation? What did you say to one another? I know it was quick, but what did you say to one another after the match when you were shaking hands?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, usually we say just, Bad luck or, Great match or, Well done. That's all.

Q. There's a saying that if you hold yourself through a disaster you will win. When you were coming into the fifth set, you get that feeling?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I'm sorry, it's really hard to understand. Can you repeat, please?

Q. There's a saying that says if you hold yourself through the disaster, you will win. My question is: Did you get that feeling when you're coming into the fifth set?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't think it was a disaster. Look, it's a sport, you know, where one wins, one loses. But, you know, we have saying, What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. So I guess since I didn't lose that game, I managed to come back in the match and I got mentally stronger and it was easier for me to play from that moment on.

Q. Just considering the season you're having and going into that match, the difference between having two majors or three majors, can you talk about how that affected you going into the match and maybe even during the match how that might have played out in your head?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, it's obvious that this is the best year of my career, by far. The confidence level that is very high at this moment for me helps me to get into this big matches and go for the shots that, you know, that I maybe in some situations wouldn't, that I wasn't going for those shots in the past couple years. But it's all I think a process of learning and getting experience and maturing as a player, as a person. And, yeah, it might have been the case that it helped me in this match, knowing that I have such a great season and knowing that I have such great confidence. I really have nothing to lose, even though it's semifinals of a Grand Slam and playing somebody that is a great rival of mine. But for these matches you're working hard and you want to be there. You want to be there and you want to win against guys like Federer.

Q. Why are tennis crowds so different than crowds in other sporting events? I can't imaging at Madison Square Garden and the Knicks winning by a million points and the crowd starts rooting for the team that's losing.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I can only give you an answer that, you know, it's just the difference in the sports, because I guess in tennis you're not allowed well, you're not allowed. You're kind of not expected to talk, to scream, to chant, to shout during the points; where in the other team sports you're able to do whatever you want whenever you want. I guess that's the difference. The crowd really has to get into the match, has to understand the sport they're in. But I think actually here in US Open we have the loudest crowd, you know, except the Davis Cup matches. I think here crowd really gets involved. It's all about show. On the changeovers you see a lot of people dancing, the kiss camera, all these kind of things. It's interesting. You know, it's interesting. It's not like any other event.

Q. On court you said that the return of the shot was lucky. Could you talk about that? And secondly, you probably hit millions of shots. Was that the best shot Novak Djokovic has ever hit?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Under the circumstances, maybe, yes. I mean, match points down and I read his serve. I read his serve. I anticipated well, and I hit it, so I don't know if it was lucky or not. It was just maybe it was lucky because it was in the right moment, but I took my chances. I took my chances, and I hit it very clean.

Q. There's another exciting match coming up later tonight, a friend you're close with, Caroline Wozniacki. How do you see her game against Serena Williams?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, Caroline is No. 1 player of the world but someone who hasn't still won a Grand Slam, so I'm sure she's very much motivated to have a shot at the Grand Slam this year. Why not? She's been in a couple of finals, semifinals. She's much stronger, I think, than she was in the past couple years, and Serena is someone that is most successful in the WTA. So it's going to be interesting.

Q. You had a high profile fan rooting you on today in Sean "Diddy" Combs. How did that come about?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: (Smiling.) Well, it was great to have him there. We met at one party that I cannot talk about details. (Laughter.) It was fun, you know. He's a huge star obviously in show business, and he's a character and a very successful man. So it was great to have him there. I think it was very interesting the way he supported me.

Q. You're having a great season. Andy Murray is having a good season, already four semifinals in 2011. He could be your opponent in the final.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He could. We're still waiting to see, because he's playing defending champion. Both of them are great players. I mean, we are top four players in the semifinals once again. I cannot say that I'm a favorite in the finals because you really don't know what's gonna happen. It's very unpredictable at this stage. I'm expecting another tough match, another match that will be decided by small margins. Andy is somebody that is definitely looking for his first Grand Slam, you know. Motivation is there. He has the potential.

Q. Considering that you're amidst a historic season, on Monday do you think you'll have the crowd support wanting to see you complete this incredible year?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I wish. You know, I don't know. You never know what's gonna happen. You know, I'm really looking forward just to get to the finals and be out there on the court and compete with the best. I'm sure that we gonna have a full stadium, 23,000 people, and I'm sure I'm gonna have a lot of supporters there.

Q. When you lost to Federer at Roland Garros, everyone said it was the best Federer of the season. Today you lost the first two sets. Were you thinking that he was playing even better? I saw you were looking at your corner a lot, like, What can I do?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I definitely didn't want Paris to repeat. You know, I was trying to stay focused and then push myself to stay out there, to fight, because physically I'm ready, I'm fit. I didn't feel tired after two sets. Mentally I needed to get a little momentum going on my side. I mentally needed to get myself in the match, and tried to be a little bit more aggressive. That's what happened. You know, it changed when I broke him in the third set, yeah. But, you know, it's really hard to compare those two matches because it's two different surfaces. But definitely the Roland Garros loss that I had against him was painful.

Q. But my question was if Federer was playing better or...

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Sorry. I mean, he's always playing in such a high level that it's really hard to say if he's not playing good. You know, he's always, I think, lifting his level of performance towards the end of the Grand Slam. That's how he has been playing throughout all his career.

Q. You addressed the possibility of facing Andy Murray. If it is Rafa, what sort of challenge is that for you, knowing your history, knowing that you met in the finals last year, finals at Wimbledon, everything else? What is the key for you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Just try to play my game. You know, I know that I have a game that is good enough to win against him. I proved that this year in three different surfaces, so I believe that I have a good chance. I need to go out on the court believing I can win. But, you know, we're talking about a player who has won 10 majors already in his career and he's only 25. He's defending his title. I think last year in 2010 throughout the whole tournament and in the finals I never seen him serve better than that tournament. So I think, you know, again, depends from my serve and his serve, as well. But, yeah, it's gonna be a tough match.

Q. You have been in such an incredible zone this year. At the level that you're playing, are you past the point of being surprised by anything that you do on the court? What I mean is, when you launched that forehand on match point and it sticks, are you like, Well, that's the level I'm at now, or are you stunned by what you're able to do every once in a while still?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: When you are match points in the fifth set after four hours of play and you hit that forehand winner, you must be a little bit amazed under the circumstances that you hit that shot. You definitely don't expect yourself to come up with it. It's all mental I think in the end. It's all mental to be able to handle the pressure well, to be able to step in, and take the chances that are presented.

 

 

 

 
 
An Interview With Rafael Nadal
 
 

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Q. How does it feel to be going back to the final?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, for sure is emotional day for me, you know, winning against one of the best players of the world and being in another final of the US Open. So is very, very special, especially because it's a final Grand Slam. That's the first thing. Second thing, I had a few tough moments this summer, and I think every day I wake up with big motivation, big illusion to practice and try my best at every moment, and finally I had a very positive result. I am playing very good level, I think every day better, and today I played my best match against a most difficult opponent.

Q. It's a repeat of last year's final. What similarities and differences do you think might be out there on Monday versus last year?

RAFAEL NADAL: Similarities is we are the same players. Differences, last year I don't know if I had matches against him, but this year I lost last five matches against him, five finals. This will be the sixth. That's an advantage for him. He's obviously the favorite for the final, and I know I have to do something better than the other matches to try to change the situation. That's what I gonna try.

Q. Did you watch his match against Roger, or were you already focused?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I was watching the football and I was watching the match in the same time, yeah.

Q. What do you think of his game?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think he play fantastic later. The beginning Roger I think was playing very well. His serve was working really well and he was playing aggressive with his forehand. Was a little bit of mistake for Roger in beginning of the third, in my opinion. But after, he was very unlucky in the fifth, no? Matches like this, you lose one every lot of, lot of matches, and he lost one two in a row in this tournament, last year and this year. Probably was worse this year, because last year he had the match points but on the return. This year he had the match points with the serve. The return from Novak with the 40-15 was -- I don't have words to describe, because, you know, you hit a shot probably without thinking because you see the match total lost with 40-15 and serving for Roger. Is not a normal serve. Is one of the best serves of the world. He returned the ball with eyes closed. The ball went to the line. After, one mistake from Roger and the match changed completely. Hats off to Roger. I think he deserves to be in the final because it's hard lose two years in a row with a similar situation. But Novak this year is playing fantastic level mentally obviously, and he won few matches that in normal conditions he's supposed to lose. That's, yeah, big confidence.

Q. Will you have a new strategy Monday? How much are you looking forward to having tomorrow's day off that you really wanted?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think I gonna do serve and volley. (Laughter.) You know, I have my game, and I beat him in the past playing my game. The thing is play my game very well and be enough strong mentally all the time, fight every ball, believe in the victory in every moment. That's something that for moments this year I didn't. But just play aggressive, try to play a similar match than last year here. I saw that match a lot of times and I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I gonna be able to do it. (Laughter.) So that's always the same.

Q. What about the Sunday off that you really, really seemed to want?

RAFAEL NADAL: Is beautiful have one day off after few days. It's fantastic. Only negative thing I going to arrive later to the Davis Cup semifinals. But for me be in a final of Grand Slam and have one day off in the middle I think is a very positive news for me, because I played three matches in a row.

Q. You have played Andy many times. You know how good a player he is. He keeps getting so close and can't quite win one of these things. How dispirited would you be if you were getting so close but couldn't quite win a major title?

RAFAEL NADAL: One player who is ready to play the third semifinal of the four Grand Slams the same year is completely unlucky don't win one. That's the true, no? So when you are in semifinals, when you are winning Masters 1000, the normal thing is win Grand Slams. So he's caring a little bit of unlucky in these kind of matches. I played very, very good match I this today, my best match here. That's a little bit of unlucky, too because he's ready to do it. I think if one player deserve to win a Grand Slam, Andy is the one. I seriously believe he gonna do it, and I really wish him all the best, because I really want to see him win a Grand Slam. When you win one, the second is easy. (Laughter.)

Q. He'll take one. Can you just talk about how Novak's two handed backhand comes back differently against your forehand as opposed to Roger or someone with a one handed backhand?

RAFAEL NADAL: Murray didn't have a bad backhand. Andy, the player that I played against today. He has fantastic cross backhand, too, very similar to Novak's. So that's nothing new for me. Didn't change a lot. If I play my good shot against his backhand, the forehand with topspin long, normally I will take advantage on the point. But I have to do it not one time. I have to do it 1000 times during the match. That's what I really have to do, and that's what I gonna try.

Q. At the start of your book, you say the hardest thing you have to do on court is to keep your mind quiet, and that Wimbledon is really hard because it's so silent there, so quiet at Wimbledon. Could you talk about performing on Ashe Stadium where it's so huge, so noisy. What is that like as a professional athlete?

RAFAEL NADAL: Every court is special. Every court is different. You have to understand the different situation and enjoy the different situations. I enjoy the tradition of Wimbledon. I enjoy the calm of the crowd. But for sure I enjoy a lot of passion from here, and the support from the fans was really important always. In Wimbledon I think I have huge support, but here, too. A lot of people here supporting me from two weeks and from few years ago. So I just can say thanks to them. Going out in a bigger tennis court of the world always is special, and that means playing in the center court of one of four Grand Slams. But I think the crowd is doing fantastic. Every feeling is different. Roland Garros is not the same than Wimbledon. Australia probably is a little bit more similar to here. But, you know, here we are here.

Q. Do you ever take a moment before or during the match at all to look up at the arena? It's such a huge, huge arena.

RAFAEL NADAL: When I go out and they say my name, I go out, I normally look around. That's the only moment really. The rest I am there. I don't look too high.

Q. At the end of your match on court you said a few things about 9/11 to the crowd and to New York. What prompted you to say that, and was that planned?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, for sure I felt real bad. Is the really -- I don't know exactly how to say in English, but the image, what I remember from that moment is probably... (Through translation.) Unforgettable. So that was really fresh for me at that moment, because I have been there, in the top of the twin towers, four months before. I went here for holidays with my family. So I really didn't believe what's happened. So, yeah, that's a hard day for all the people here in New York tomorrow, all the people in America. But I think for all the people around the world, too, no? Because this kind of tragedy for everybody is hard to accept, hard to understand. I am not an exception. I felt much pain and I suffered, too.

Q. What city were you in?

RAFAEL NADAL: I was in Madrid. I was in Madrid. I was playing a tournament.

Q. You lost a lot of big matches to Novak this year. Before that, I think you were very good against him in big matches. What about him tennis wise has changed? What are you feeling from him on the court that wasn't there before?

RAFAEL NADAL: Probably his movements are better than before. He's having less mistakes than before. His level is similar, you know. You cannot have big change in one moment. He's playing with high confidence. Victories like today is big confidence for everybody. He's great to keep his mind fresh in important moments, fight every point. He's doing everything fantastic. I had to win one of the first two matches against him this year, the final of Indian Wells or the final of Miami. After that I felt favorite, a little bit more favorite than in the other places in the final of Wimbledon, because I think I played very well during all the tournament. Probably played my worst match against him. But when you are playing the worst match against him, and I was playing very well before. It's because he is doing something really well. I cannot just look at me, on my side. I have to look around a little bit more and understand why I didn't play that well. He's doing a few things very well. I am not very happy about my mental performance against him this year. That's true, no? Because for moments I didn't believe really 100% with the victory. That's big problem. Because when that's happening, you have your chances less, much less than if you believe. Because if you believe, you are running more, you are putting one more ball inside. So that was problem, and that's what I gonna try to change for Monday. If I'm not ready to change for Monday, I have a goal to do it for next year. So I am ready to work hard. I am ready to work my tennis, to work my mental part, and hopefully I will ready for Monday. That's what I would like. But if not, yeah, I really believe that I can come back next year and do it better.

Q. Was there ever any player -- I'm assuming Roger would be it -- where you didn't have that belief, like you didn't have against Novak this year, where you would have those moments? Were there other players where you had those same moments where you didn't have that belief?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, against Roger, few matches. Against Nalbandian in Bercy I didn't believe. And a fewer more times. That's something natural, no? Not an obsession. I'm a human and I have my doubts. Everybody have, no? So that's something really normal. But the most important thing for me is even if I wasn't ready to beat him this year before here, I keep fighting and keep being in finals even if I lose painful loses. But next week I was in final another time, and that's good. The mental performance was very positive in this way, not against him. But I was ready to recover and to put past, to forget the loses and keep fighting for the rest, for the next tournament. I happy about that, and not that happy the match against him, so I play against him and be happy with everything.

Q. In your book you described leading up to last year's US Open final. You were very complimentary of Djokovic. You basically said he had no real weaknesses. How does that affect your approach when you admit that Djokovic is solid throughout his game?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think he's very complete player. You have Novak in front and you say, How I can beat him? You know, the backhand is fantastic; the forehand is fantastic; the serve he's doing really well; the movements are probably the best of the world today. The only way to beat him is believe in the victory, play aggressive, and play every moment perfect. So that's what I have to try. My approach to the match is always the same: try my best in every moment and try to play my game very well.

Q. Andy said to me just a short time ago he felt the mood was a bit different because of the approach of this very sensitive anniversary tomorrow. A lot of New Yorkers will be silent at 8:46 and 9:03, the times when the planes impacted the Twin Towers. Just wondering, is that going to be part of your day tomorrow and whether it gives you a different perspective on tennis being here tomorrow at such a sensitive time?

RAFAEL NADAL: (Through translation.) I already say before, no? But tomorrow at this time I gonna be at the hotel. So, you know, I cannot do much. The only thing that I can say is all the support from the families of the victims for all the people here, from New York. You can have silence in memory of them, but the pain is done. It's difficult to accept, and the only way to -- you cannot do much. Just remember the moment and have the support for the families.


An Interview With: Roger Federer


Saturday, September 10, 2011

Q. This must hurt, Roger. Can you tell us what your feelings are now and where you think it slipped away?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, it's awkward having to explain this loss because I feel like I should be doing the other press conference. But it's what it is, you know, I mean. Yeah, I mean, it's the obvious, really. He came back; he played well. I didn't play so well at the very end. Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame, you know.

Q. You seemed like you were taking control in the fifth set. How disappointing is it to not be able to kinda keep that momentum going? You certainly had it in that fifth set.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I had it. There's no more I could do. Snaps one shot, and then the whole thing changes. It's strange how it goes, you know, but it was a good tournament for me. Sure, I'd love to be in the finals and give myself a chance to win the title, which is not the case now. So I have to accept that and move on.

Q. You just said I have no one to blame but yourself. Where do you lay the blame?

ROGER FEDERER: Maybe I said.

Q. Do you find it amazing that he can come up with two blinding forehands in successive years on match point? The odds are pretty remote, aren't they, of him doing that twice?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, it happens sometimes. That's why we all watch sports, isn't it? Because we don't know the outcome and everybody has a chance, and until the very moment it can still turn. That's what we love about the sport, but it's also very cruel and tough sometimes. It got me today. It hurts, but it's fine. Could be worse. It could be a final.

Q. Could you hit a much better serve for the return he hit that winner?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, much better. I didn't hit the best serve. But it's just the way he returns that. It's just not -- a guy who believes much, you know, anymore in winning. Then to lose against someone like that, it's very disappointing, because you feel like he was mentally out of it already. Just gets the lucky shot at the end, and off you go.

Q. What did he do better this time than when you played in the French Open?

ROGER FEDERER: Are you serious? I mean, I thought it was a close match. I should have won here. French Open was very close, too. He could have won that. It's just one of those matches, you know. I mean, I set it all up perfect, but I couldn't finish it.

Q. What did you see of Novak's reaction and playing to the crowd after he hit that forehand winner? What were you thinking at that point?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I see probably 2% of what he does or other players do because I am focused on my stuff, and I don't look what they're doing. I don't really care. As long as it's sportsmanship, I don't care. I don't know what he did, so it's not an issue.

Q. When a guy hits a shot like that forehand on match point, is that a function of luck, of risk, or is it a function of confidence that someone would make kind of...

ROGER FEDERER: Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Look, some players grow up and play like that. I remember losing junior matches. Just being down 5 2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots. It all goes in for some reason, because that's the kind of way they grew up playing when they were down. I never played that way. I believe in hard work's gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on maybe I didn't always work at my hardest. So for me, this is very hard to understand how can you play a shot like that on match point. But, look, maybe he's been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal. You've got to ask him.

Q. Comparing this loss to the Tsonga loss in Wimbledon being up two sets, how do you react to that? Are you more frustrated with this one?

ROGER FEDERER: Same thing. I felt like I played okay today. Maybe better at Wimbledon, but then again, it's a different surface, it's different opponents. Today I clearly felt like I never should have lost, where in Wimbledon it was I don't want to say it was more out of my control, you know but it's, you know, a bit of reaction tennis on grass. I was never up a break in the third, fourth, or fifth at Wimbledon, which today I was. I was one serve away, really. Yeah, I mean, I get over these losses quickly. Wimbledon didn't get me down.

Q. You were really dominant until the first game of the third set, and you made quite a few errors in that game. Kinda let him back in the match. Given how much longer it went and all the things that happened, how important or unimportant was that game?

ROGER FEDERER: You have to figure that Novak was gonna get his teeth into the match at one stage, right? It's a pity that it happened then, because I think I had a couple of game points, too. So it hurts getting broken that way. You know, if it goes 15-40 and you never really have a chance to close it out, it's more acceptable. So like this, it was a bit -- again, a bit unfortunate, I thought. He played well. I didn't serve my very best. It was a combination of many things. And then what he does really well this year, he front runs really well and he started playing great. It was hard to counter his playing. That's why it was very important to push for the two sets to love lead. Everything I did today I thought was the right way. He just played really well in the third and the fourth.

Q. After the shot that everyone's talking about, double match point, your next serve was right into his body and he fought it off. That was a good serve, right?

ROGER FEDERER: It was a better serve. I don't know, I mean, who cares right now? Yeah, maybe I get a bit unlucky with the net cord. Who knows? Seriously, at this point I don't care anymore. It's all in the past.

Q. In Melbourne, after your run there, you said not so fast, everybody. Hold on. Let's see how the year unfolds. A lot of great runs, a lot of good victories this year. No slams. What's your assessment of your season? I know you're just coming off a tough loss.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, that's a great question. Look, I think the top four guys again had a great season at slams. I definitely had some serious chances to do a bit better, and I still made, what was it, semis, finals, quarters, semis? But I think in a few of them I could have gone all the way, if not a step or two further. It's maybe, you know, a tough year in terms of some tough losses at some crucial stages of the season. Look, it's not the first time it's happened. I have had big matches where I ended up losing some, but the majority I was able to win throughout my career. Some of them you just have to move forward with also losses like this and not get too down about it. Sure you always feel like what an opportunity, what a pity, because you got to wait for a year till the US Open rolls around. But then again, the season is not over yet. I'm looking forward to what's still to come. Like I said, the year could have definitely been better, but then again, there was some reasons for that too, I'm sure.

Q. Can you put into context this year for the competition, the level of quality of play among the top four compared to, say, the past five years?

ROGER FEDERER: I would say similar, isn't it? I mean, Novak has finished No. 3 for three or four years in a row. Murray has been in the top 5 for quite some time. Rafa, myself, anyway, we have been around for what, six years, seven years together at the top? What's it been eight now I have been in the top 4? So it's been pretty much similar. It's just that this year someone else won slams than Rafa and myself.

Q. When you lost the fourth set or you were close to losing the fourth set, were you trying to save energy for the fifth? No, you didn't have any strategy?

ROGER FEDERER: I don't play that way. I don't give away stuff and just hope and save and do that stuff like other players do. I mean, yeah, I believe I can turn it around. I believe in, you know, making things happen and work hard, and, yeah, believing it doesn't matter what the scoreline is. It gives you a bigger lift if you're up 5-1 than being down 5-1. Who cares? You never know, like we saw today.

Q. Did you notice the crowd's spontaneous eruption in your behalf as you entered the court in the fifth set, and did that contribute to your good start in the fifth set?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, the goal clearly was after, you know, not getting that many chances in the third and the fourth that I was definitely gonna come out sort of running and, you know, ready to go and excited about being in the fifth set, because I love playing five setters. It's what it's all about. I've worked extremely hard throughout my career that, you know, I can win these matches. So that the crowd got into it was fantastic. I mean, you know, I don't want to say I expected it. But it's true, every time you get reminded how great the crowd is here in New York, you know, and that they actually wait for something to happen. For them, that was a key moment. They were happy with our performance, and I think they were really hoping I was gonna win today. I felt that. It definitely gave me a lift on top of that, and that's why maybe it's even more disappointing I couldn't deliver that lift today.

Q. You spoke a moment ago about the tough finishes in the slams. How was your belief in yourself different, if at all, today than it was maybe before this season?

ROGER FEDERER: Same thing. I mean, look, I did all the right things in so many tournaments. But like I said, sometimes in sports it just goes the other way, you know. Maybe you've already won so much that it evens it out a bit sometimes. I don't know. But for me, anyway, it was still a good run here. Like I said, I played great. I thought I was playing some really good tennis these last few matches, and that's definitely gonna give me a lift. Sure, it's a bit of a bummer here, what happened today. I guess it happens occasionally.

Q. Your first slam was in 2003 and your last one was 2010. At the end of this year, will you have a different feeling than the last seven?

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, it's not January 1st yet. Let's see what happens. There's still some stuff left: hometown tournament in Basel, the World Tour Finals coming up still where I'm qualified for. So there's still a lot to play for this season, but definitely I've had better seasons, yeah. But then again, you can't play every season identical. You don't want it to be, otherwise it becomes boring, too. I guess I will be extremely hungry going to Australia next year. It's clear and obvious, and I know if I keep on working hard now that I'm feeling so good right now it will all pay off. I know it. I haven't felt like this in a long time, so this is a good time.

Q. Players have been very vocal and effective in making their views known here. You know the game. Do you expect to see major changes here, or do you think things will just revert again and the schedule will be as it is next year again and so on?

ROGER FEDERER: It will be disappointing if that's the case. I don't want to have to say that. Without putting any pressure on them, I think it's obvious that there needs to be a change, especially at the back end of the tournament. I believe also at the front end you can't play first rounds over three days in a place where you do get rain and you don't have a roof so you don't have that protection. Yeah, I mean, it's not the first year we're finishing on Monday. I just think the competitive advantage that maybe one player has over another in any Grand Slam final, at the US Open it's just unfair for the player. I just hope that a tournament, they understand it, they see that. It shouldn't even be like a debate and trying to put them in a corner. I just think it's common sense. We'll hope for that, otherwise we will have to make ourselves heard again, which is not something we like doing.


An Interview With Caroline Wozniacki

Saturday, September 10, 2011


Q. Did you ever feel at any point you were really getting your teeth in into the match, that you could turn it around?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, I was definitely trying. You know, I never gave up. I was always trying just to play the next point, the next point. But, you know, Serena just played very, very well today. You know, she's in great shape, serving well, returning well, playing her hard strokes. Especially that serve was just a killer. You know, I don't know how many aces she made out there today, but it's definitely not fun to be returning those first serves.

Q. There were times you looked like you couldn't believe they went by you.

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: You know, I was just looking and I was hoping that they were going to go out, because, you know, I felt like, yeah, I couldn't do too much. She served really precise and really hard, and, you know, it was just too good today.

Q. Is there any way to prepare for her power when you don't face it that often or at all?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, there's definitely no one on the tour who is playing with as much power as she is and serving as well as she is. You know, just gonna try again next time and try to do better. Yeah, today she was just better than me. I have to accept that and just go back on the practice court and try to improve a few things and then try again next time.

Q. What exactly would you like to improve?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, a bit of everything, to be honest. But, you know, it's definitely the first couple of shots in the rally that makes the difference, the serve, the returns, the first shot after that. You know, Serena's great at that.

Q. Do you think there's anything that Sam Stosur can do in the final to try to make a match?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: She definitely would have to serve well. She definitely needs to get a lot of first serves in and serve well and try just to go for her shots. But I still think Serena has the edge, and I still think that Serena will win tomorrow.

Q. With the Grand Slam season over, you're the prize money leader and the ranking points leader. You've had more titles by far. Do you think it's been a successful year for you?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: It's definitely been a successful year for me. I cannot complain. I won six titles. I have made two semifinals of Grand Slams. I'm No. 1 in the world, No. 1 in the race. I'm healthy, which is very important. So I'm just ready to take up the next couple of challenges that are due this year, and then three more tournaments and then I'm done. I can relax a bit and prepare for next year.

Q. Do you feel No. 1 right now after being out there with her?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: You know, I'm still No. 1 in the ranking and No. 1 in the race. No one can take that away from me for now. I still think Serena played unbelievable today and she's a great champion. You know, I really respect her both on and off the court.

Q. What is it about her that allows her to be able to -- she missed so much time on the tour. This is only her sixth tournament back, and looks like she's right there again. How is she able to do that?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't know. I don't think I could do that. I like to play matches and get into that rhythm, but Serena has the experience. She's so tough mentally, as well. She has the power to overpower us. You know, I think you have to ask her. What she's done since her comeback is great. I mean, even before that. I mean, 13 Grand Slam titles is unbelievable. Maybe 14 tomorrow. Maybe not. We'll have to see.

Q. Can you describe what it's like when she has that serve going on all cylinders and she's just attacking, what that is like to be feeling the ferocity of that?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, you know, it's kind of like, okay, you feel like you're in the game, you're in the game, and then bam, bam, you're not in the game anymore. (Laughter.) You know, it feels like you're getting close, and then she serves some good serves. Or she starts off with three good serves and then you try to come back; it's 40-30, and then get she makes a good serve. So it's tough with that big of a weapon. Again, you know, you need to take every chance you have and try to just go for it. You know, I lost today. Again, it's one match. I'll hopefully get a lot of chances in the future, as well.

Q. You talked about how your game is your game and you can't radically overhaul or change it. You do a lot of things well. Do you think to be able to challenge somebody like Serena with that power you're really going to have to find a way to beef up the power on your own serve? What's your thinking about that?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Um, well, I definitely -- again, I need to -- to beat Serena I need to serve and return well, get a lot of balls in play, and then when we get to the rallies, you know, it's a bit different. But, you know, you need to go for your shots, you need to go for your serves, but also get a lot of first serves in. Because you don't want to make an easy second serve and then she goes in and attacks. So, you know, you need to find that balance.

Q. Did she come to the net more than you expected?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't know. I don't know. I didn't really...

Q. Didn't feel that way?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: No.