Nadal: “If I were the captain, I wouldn’t play the next game”

Serious, wearing Spain’s Davis Cup kit and a white cap with his logo, Rafa Nadal attended a packed press conference for which journalists had to be accredited if they were on the list of lucky ones who could cover it. He had just lost 6-4 6-4 to Botic van de Zandschulp in Spain’s first match against Holland in the Davis Cup Final 8.

Emotions running high listening to the national anthem: “It was an emotional day, it may be my last individual competition, that’s how I felt. Then, of course, the emotions with the national anthem for the last time were very special. A bit of mixed feelings, it made it more difficult. But that’s how it was, I tried to do my best on the court, to be as positive as I can and with the right energy. It wasn’t enough, he was better than me and so congratulations to Botic. There’s not much more to say.”

Captain’s call

The decision to play: “What is internal is internal, but of course it has not been an easy decision for the captain. In the end, I really believed that David would choose the player who he felt had the best chance of winning. I have told him from the beginning not to feel any pressure with me, honestly. There have been many conversations this week, I knew that something like today could happen. After yesterday’s training, which was positive, David was confident that I was the player who should play.

Things can go well or badly and of course, putting me on the court, playing the first game, was a risk. But that’s the captain’s job - he has to make decisions and he has made them thinking about what is best for the team, not me, and I respect that. I have tried to make it easy for him by telling him how I felt. He has had the confidence to put me in, I have not had any injuries or anything important to say that I was not ready. He has seen the training sessions and has decided. I thank him for the opportunity.”

Responsibility: “It’s not my decision, that’s why we have a captain, I’m not the captain. He decided today, hopefully we can move forward. And, probably, seeing that the decision to put me on today didn’t work, the easy and perhaps correct move is to change. I think so. If I were the captain, I wouldn’t put me on the next day. But I’m sure he will make the best decision for the team. It was probably my last match. If nothing strange happens, I lost my first Davis match and I’m losing my last one.”

The full range of emotions: “I knew it could be my last match as a professional tennis player, the moments leading up to it were exciting and difficult to manage, lots of emotions. I tried to do my best, being in control, sometimes it is difficult. I can’t thank the people who helped me enough. The public was incredible, as always when I play in Spain. I tried to be in the best attitude, with the right energy, whatever the result, but it wasn’t enough. There was a chance at the end, but it wasn’t. The other guy was better than me.

“The decision was made for me to play, we knew it was a bit of a risk. However, David had seen us training all week and thought it was the right thing to do sportingly. I couldn’t give the point, I’m not going to say I’m sorry for that because this is sport. I tried and I couldn’t. You can’t control the level you have, what you can control is energy and determination, that didn’t let me down. But I didn’t find the level to give Spain the point. I have been more accurate in training than in today’s game.”

The team always comes first

Not looking forward to playing again? “I would live it every day if I could. One thing is what I feel like doing and another is what I think is best for the team. The things that one feels like doing are often not in line with what is best for the team. Today there was an unknown of how I would respond in competition, since I had not played in the last few months. In training I had worked more or less well.

“Of course I am looking forward to it, I am here to live this week, hopefully we will be given the situation where we can continue, and I will continue working to be eligible if I have to play doubles or singles. I think that, given my level in competition compared to how I was training, if I were the captain I would not choose me. That has nothing to do with me not feeling like it. I have no decision-making power, if we win today and on Friday, David tells me that he wants me to play, I go out on court with maximum enthusiasm.”

Feelings: “I’m happy. I did what I could, to have the energy I needed to try to win the match. It’s a very fast and slippery court, everything happened so fast, there was no time to think. When you’re out of competition, it can be hard to find a rhythm. These are quick things that you need to do automatically. I don’t have those automatic instincts that other players do because they’re competing on the circuit. I’ve been very self-critical throughout my career to always improve, but that won’t be the case today.”

One of your most exciting matches?: “No, I don’t think so, but obviously there are a number of circumstances that make everything go very fast, that make it difficult to be in control of the match because I don’t have the automatic instincts that I have when I’m in competition.

“The court is faster than what we’re used to on the circuit. I didn’t have the mental agility to make decisions without thinking, I haven’t been able to manage it well. There have been more stressful matches in my career. It may be my last match.

“I’ve been self-critical enough with myself throughout my career to try to improve, today, in what may be my last match, I’m not going to be hard on myself. I’ve done what I could, I haven’t had any more. I’ll work so that, if the circumstances allow and I’m back on the court, I can do my best.”