When the 'real' Rafa stood tall

King of clay

“Rafael was nervous,” his uncle and coach Toni Nadal  said. Nadal arrived in Paris with two titles on clay, in Barcelona and Monte Carlo, under his belt, but having also lost to Novak Djokovic in Madrid and Rome finals.

“The real Rafa is both the Rafa who wins and the Rafa who plays well, and the Rafa who suffers and doesn't play that well," Rafa Nadal said.

“You have to face this situation. You also have a Rafa that plays very well and wins. These two Rafas are real Rafas. The most positive thing is that I was capable of reversing situations and keeping a good attitude in order to reverse the situation.”

The joy of victory obviously took more time to sink in than three years ago, when he dropped only 41 games throughout the fortnight.

“It’s difficult to say I am not satisfied with this one, because to win a tournament like this you have to be playing really well,” said Nadal. “But sometimes when you fight a lot to win, when you try your best in every moment to change the situation, it makes the title more special. For example, in 2008 I think I played better than ever, but I finished the tournament and I didn’t feel that I won Roland Garros because I won in three sets.
“When you come back after a tough situation, it makes the tournaments and the victories more special for sure.”