It was 1.20 am, when Rafa Nadal was answering questions at the Philippe Chatrier after defeating Djokovic. “Goodnight, this is very exciting and amazing for me. Thank you very much to all. It is very important for me to play here, the most important place of my career. I feel a lot of affection in this tournament towards me”, the Balearic began by saying.
After 4h12 of play, the Spaniard talked about how the match had been: “It’s always a great challenge to play against Novak. I’m very happy about this match against one of the best players in history.” Victory 29 against number one and Rafa clung to the great energy received from the stands as one of the keys: “Of course I feel it in the most important place of my tennis career.”
“See you in two days, that’s what I can say,” Nadal responded to Marion Bartoli’s insistence on whether he will play again in future editions. For now, Rafa will be back on the track on Friday to face German Zverev, executioner of Carlos Alcaraz, in the semifinals.
In press conference, Nadal alluded with more detail some aspects of his victory and advanced that after the tournament he will explain how he has managed to keep the pain in his left foot at bay.
Match analysis: “If we look at the four hours of the match, I have been more dominant than him in more moments. I have lost the second set and that is why the match has been extremely complicated. I have played my best match of the last four months, but since I have not been able to play a lot of this level, I lost that second set where I had a double break.
How did it hold up: “We will talk after the tournament and you will understand everything. Now is not the time to give explanations, but he has it and when the tournament is over I will say it. We have to be focused on what remains and we have a very difficult match against a great player (Beast)“.
Surprised?: “This level is surprising for me, but this track is special, it has something unique and I have been able to achieve a level that I had not had in recent months. Now we have to maintain it.”
Great level on the most important day: “It’s a special night. With 2015 being the year that I was the least favorite going out to play against Novak on this stage. I had serious doubts about whether I was going to be able to live up to it. It gives me a very important energy to have achieved it. Unfortunately, It’s just a few quarter-finals.”
Recipe for victory: “Since I had no choice but to play with that aggressiveness and that intensity, you know you have to do it. There was no plan B. Either I got the A level or I went home. Knowing that makes you get it somehow.”
Strategy: “The reading is simple, but difficult to execute. He was playing very well, dominating the match, in control, in an attacking position. Until 3-1 in the second set, it was like that. If you give life to Djokovic, he always comes back “I’ve lost that aggressiveness and I’ve been dominated. The second set slipped away and I thought, ‘If I keep this up, I’m going to lose.’ I had to go back to the backhand crosscourt, to be more aggressive. I’ve gone to the limit, but against Djokovic There is no other way”.