Rafael Nadal arrived at the O2 Arena very shortly before the press conference of the team that will represent Europe in the Laver Cup will begin. Accompanied by Carlos Costa, Carlos Moyá (with one of his children), Rafa Maymó and his sister, Maribel, the Balearic gave him just enough time to put on the Team Europe tracksuit and, with the travel bag, enter the meeting room press along with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Matteo Berrettini and Cameron Norrie. And it is that after the appearance he played training open to the public at the O2 Arena in London.
“It’s a different pressure after everything we’ve shared. Being part of this historic moment is going to be unforgettable for me. I’m very excited, I hope I can play at a decent level, create a good moment and win the match. I hope that people support us a lot”, said Nadal, with a smile that brightened the serious face with which he had appeared before the media at first, about the match in which he will play with Federer, which will be the last of the Swiss’s career.
“Being by Roger’s side once again is something I look forward to and it makes me very happy,” he added. “Personal relationships are more important than professional ones. It will be difficult to manage everything, especially for Roger, but also for me, “he added. “One of the most important players in my career and in history is leaving. I’m grateful to be able to play with him, I can’t thank the rest of the team more for waiting for me.” Nadal, who did not confirm if he will play any singles match when asked by AS.
“I think the memories that Roger brings to the sport are not just in matches against me. I saw him play and be successful before he hit the circuit, on TV, and then I was able to have an incredible rivalry together. On the other hand, and of that we are very proud, it has been a friendly rivalry. It’s not easy sometimes, because we play for important things for our career, but at the same time we were able to understand that in the end, personal relationships are more important than professional ones. We were able to handle it, I think in the right way”, explained Rafa.
“I cannot thank the rest of the team enough for waiting for me until today, because I had a difficult personal situation now, so thank you all very much,” he said, referring to the pregnancy of his wife, María Francisca Perelló, who expects to give birth to their son in the coming weeks. “I’m going to try to do the best I can in every way, to help make this moment even more special than it is going to be,” assured the Manacorí.
nerves and emotion
“I’m not sure I can handle it. I’ll try. I’ve had some tougher times in the past, when I was terribly nervous before games. This one definitely feels very differently. It is super special to play with Rafa. Having the opportunity to play with people like him or Novak (Djokovic) also in the past was an incredible experience for me. I will enjoy it, but it will be difficult”, advanced Federer about the last match of his professional career, which began 24 years ago.
“This is probably the most special moment that we will all individually and collectively experience. The Laver Cup is the only competition where we have the opportunity to be teammates and not rivals, and things are made even more unique and special by Roger’s last game. The emotion is incredible.” dijo Djokovic. “There are different generations present in our team. Most of us have seen and admired Roger’s success and achievements before he entered the circuit. Some later, some earlier. We will give our best to the team, but at the same time we will celebrate his career, because he deserves it. I hope we have a great weekend”, said the Serbian.
“I was in the stands watching Rafa’s final against Roger at Wimbledon (2008). In fact, I left when it started to rain, and I missed the ending. I finished watching it at home. It’s probably the most obvious, but yeah, for me, that would be a game that stands out in his career.” Murray countedfourth beatle del Big Four. Djokovic kept his first Grand Slam final, “the 2007 US Open”, in a fun dialogue with Federer which caused laughter at the press conference. D: “I lost that match”; F: “He’s being nice now”; D: “I’m not done.” F: “He is going to talk about the other more than 20 that we played”; D: “That was the first Grand Slam final, a remarkable experience for me at the time. The first game that allowed me to believe that I belonged at that level. But there is also the 2019 Wimbledon final, sorry Roger”; F: “What happened? I’ve blocked it.” Nadal agreed with Murray: “I have to name the 2008 Wimbledon final, which has always been special to me and I think stopping him too,” joked the Spaniard. “Yes a lot. Everything is coming back to me,” Federer replied. And I honestly think the Australian Open 2017 It was another very special one, because a few months before we were together, injured, talking about how things were going to be, if we could return to the circuit at that level, and a few months later we were playing the final in Melbourne, a five-set match”.
