PARIS—Rafael Nadal, who will face world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros, says he's shed some nerves that he experienced during his first few events of the season.
Nadal has won Roland Garros nine times, and has beaten Djokovic there six times, including in last year's final. However, Nadal has struggled this season, winning only one tournament when he took the title at Buenos Aires in February.
Now, he says he is feeling better, having lost one set in his first four matches at Roland Garros. “I have been playing a little bit more up and down talking about overall,” Nadal said. “Playing with nerves for some moments. That's the real thing. But since Monte Carlo, if I am honest saying that—in Miami, for example, I say it after the press conference I was anxious. I was probably not ready to compete well with that nerves that I had there."
"In Rome I didn't play not one match, not one bad match [where he fell in the quarterfinals against Stan Wawrinka]. I lost a match that probably I should win, but I lost. But competing well with no nerves, positive attitude.”
Nadal, who has only lost once at Roland Garros since he began playing the event in 2005, said that he has made mental adjustments to his game.
“I think my dynamic changed a lot, and I am enjoying again on court because I'm able to play more days with calm,” Nadal said. “And enjoy on court and ultimately winning, is feel yourself ready to compete and feel yourself with that calm that gives you the possibility to compete well. I think I am doing better now. “
The Spaniard added that Djokovic is the best player in the world, having won at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Rome this year.
“He's the best player of the world without any doubt today,” Nadal said. “Very dominant. Probably everybody's with me that probably he is the favorite here. But I am here to fight, and I hope to put him a difficult match. I hope to play my best.”