Nadal Happy On Hardcourts, Except Indoors

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 11th September 2013

Rafael Nadal poses in Central Park after winning the US Open

Nadal Happy On Hardcourts, Except Indoors

epa03861179 Tennis player Rafael Nadal, of Spain, holds up the US Open championship trophy while posing for photographers in Central Park the day after winning the US Open in New York, New York, USA, 10 September 2013. Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, dropping to his knees and weeping on court after winning a second US Open title on 09 September 2013. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Novak Djokovic had a large contingent of fans in attendance during his four set loss to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final, but the majority of the crowd belonged to the Spaniard, who keeps growing in popularity. Nadal is so big that even Queen Sofia of Spain made a special trip to watch him play. He’s not sure why people are attracted to him, but they are, whether it’s to his never-ending fight or his humble personality.

“The only thing I can say is I try to be fair,” he said after winning his second US Open. “I try to be correct with everybody. I try to be friendly with everybody. I think on court I am a positive player. I am not a negative player. I try my best in every moment. Even the things are not going well or are going well, I am not never very sad or, you know, doing a negative attitude on court. Outside of the court I try to sign everybody. I try to make the photos. I act like a normal person.”

What that very normal person wants the world to know is that as much as he loves clay, he has never been a clay court specialist. Nadal has now won eight Roland Garros crowns, two Wimbledons, two US Opens and one Australian Open. He could very well become the first player since Rod Laver to win multiple majors at every Slam event.

“I know I was a good player on hard,” he said. “That don’t make a big difference on my career being better player or worse player. I understand most of the people say I am a clay court specialist, and is true because I won a lot of tournaments on clay. And because I won that much on clay seems like other things are less, but I was able to play five finals in Wimbledon, I think. Five? Yeah. I was able to play three finals in the US Open. I was able to play two finals in Australian Open to win. I don’t know, three Indian Wells, something like this, three Canadian Opens.”

Nadal, who is undefeated on hard courts in 2013, having won Indian Wells, Montreal, Cincinnati and the US Open, cautioned his fans not to overstate his level, even if he admits it’s currently very high.

“Don’t worry. I will lose . Everybody lose.”

The 27 year old has won just about every major title on the planet save for the Shanghai Masters and the ATP World Finals, which is played indoors at London’s O2 arena. Nadal does not object to holding the event indoors, but he is less than pleased that the surface doesn’t change.

“I feel that I am very unlucky, that all the Masters Cup that I played was in indoor hard,” he said. “Is a tougher surface for me to play well.

It’s something that I feel that is not fair. Because at the end, you qualify for the last tournament of the season when the best eight players are playing on outdoor, playing in indoor, hard, outdoor hard, playing on grass, playing on clay, so why the last tournament of the season should be every, every year on indoor hard?

Even if I understand that you play in a city that in that moment have to be indoor. Why we cannot play every year in a different surface? Not every year in the same surface that gives probably equal opportunities to all the players who gets qualified in all surfaces.”

Topics: 10sballs, ATP World Finals, Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis, US Open, Wimbledon