2016 Barcelona Open QF Rafael Nadal def. Fabio Fognini 6/2 7/6(1)
Translated by Genny SS:
Alex asks Rafa how difficult is to play a player like Fabio who has BH, FH, DS, change of rhythm... Rafa says that Fabio has all that & in addition is super fast. He looks like he's stopped/walking & all of a sudden he can reach any position on court. Besides all this, what happens w/him is that you're dominating the point but, as he's so fast & w/fast hands, you're under pressure all the time 'cause you feel he can change the dynamics of the point at any time. Anyway, Rafa says he was playing very, very well & it's been a pity not being able to consolidate for 3-0. He's played a very bad game. He'd played very well till 40-15, but then till being broken he's played badly. After that, Fabio's started to play well & on top of that, he acknowledges to have wasted a few chances in next to games (at 40-15 & then 15-40).
Fortunately, he's been able to break back at *5-4, although again *5-6, 0-40 he couldn't convert any of MP. Rafa's asked how do you recover from being up 6-2, *2-0, playing really well & then after failing a couple of FHs, you see that the opponent starts to play a perfect tennis to the point of complicating the set & almost having to go to a 3rd set. Rafa says that, honestly, if that had happened last year, it'd have been, not a drama, but surely an attack of nerves. This year things are different. He's accepting all the situations better, w/o feeling those continuing nerves. He knows Fabio can change the dynamics at any time & that's why he was annoyed for not having consolidated for 3-0 & set a distance. He's aware Fabio's a player who plays by "feelings" & the match can change at any moment, as it indeed happened. So, he accepted the situation & kept fighting 'cause in the same way Fabio's able to play unbelievable at times, there are also other moments where he makes errors & thus he had to be there to try to take advantage of the opportunity if it came. Finally, Alex asks Rafa if he finally went to the cinema yesterday. Rafa says he did. He went to watch "London has fallen". Alex asks him if he liked it & Rafa says it was OK. He spent one hour & half quiet & calm, as it was the kind of movies that don't make you think too much [smiles]
