Rafael Nadal Interview - French Open, May 25

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. This question is not about the game. It's about your dress. You are inpink 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 colorevery week, no?

Q. The start of the game was a bit difficult today. Any reason?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, always tough, you know, beginninghere. Roland Garros always isdifficult. Yeah. I say, no, I expect a tough match, and it'snormal, now. And when I start, normallyI didn't start to play my best here the last four years. But the important thing is be with positivementality and try to win, no? And Iwin. I won in three sets. That's important.

I played in somemoments in the third a little bit better, so just try to keep improving to playbetter in this match.

Q. Is there a chance that in the third round you could come up againstLleyton Hewitt. You've played each othereight 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 facehim in the third round.

RAFAEL NADAL: I understood. Only the last.

Q. (Through translation.)

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I'm sureLleyton is a great champion in this sport. He has very good career. Soalways 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 yearmaybe 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 thanraining or cold, no?

So it's much better forus, I think.

Q. Do you feel more confident or less confident than last year when youstarted Roland Garros?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. Important feelingis ‑‑

Q. There is no difference?

RAFAEL NADAL: Every year is different, no? But I never compare, two years, so ‑‑ Idon't know.

THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions.

Q. Yesterdayyou were telling us you're a bit nervous, anxious. Was it the way you felt today when you walkedon the court?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, not really. Maybe at the beginning to start with. The court is big, and at the beginning, Ididn'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 someopportunities to win the set earlier, but it was a difficult match.

I had practiced wellbefore, but I know that I can improve, and I hope I'm going to continueimproving 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 careeron the tour?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he is a legend on the tour. He plays with his very own personalstyle. Two hands. He was a very charismatic player on the tour,and he's a model for all of us. 20years, long career. That'sfantastic. We all wish we can play for20 years.

So he had a beautifulcareer, 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, butI 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, Idon't want to compare with last year, because I can't remember. That was a year ago, you know.

But I feel good, andlast year, I played a match ‑‑ well, I didn't play well, really, andlittle by little I felt better. Thisyear ‑‑ 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 hopethis tournament is going to be long enough for me to give me time to adapt andto improve and get good feelings all along the tournament.

Q. About the fact you didn't play that well, are there any compartments inthe 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 atenth of a second you have to catch the ball and everything can change in agame. You need to be present there, ontime. If you play well, you have thefeeling you'll be on top of the next ball, but today I was a bit short in myshots. 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 playmore ‑‑ 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 youprefer? Would you prefer to play at adifferent hour because of the heat? Isit affecting you?
RAFAELNADAL: No, I have no problem withthat. I can play at any hour, and thisis perfectly bearable temperature.