Toni Nadal: "Like Rafa, I'm not worried." Quoted in l'Équipe by Vincent Cognet. "Right now, Rafa isn't 'uncalm' like he was in Miami or Barcelona. He's played twice at a very good level: in Monte-Carlo, then in Madrid.

"Like Rafa, I'm not worried. His level is good. I'm satisfied with that he did in Madrid. Except for the final, which was a catastrophe for us. For me, the final was a bizarre accident. I don't have any explanations ... The problem against Murray was that he started the match making a lot of backhand errors. He started to get tense. But that's a normal reaction, no?

"How could he go from Saturday's level to the level he had Sunday? Simply because he's not super good in each facet of his game. Even if it's getting better day to day, his confidence isn't stabilised. Sure, the beginnings of matches are important, but not the most essential either: to beat the best players in the world, you have to be good for an entire match. He's lacking this consistency from the first point to the last.

"It's true, we're practising a bit more than usual to regain that level of confidence. If you want to improve the way you feel, you have to spend the time on the court. It's the only solution to regain a very high level.

"Rome isn't more important than in other years. We're still hoping for a big tournament in Paris.

"Rafa's real level today is more his level of the semi against Berdych than the final against Murray. Because it's not an isolated case: this year he's played very well against Ferrer, Isner (Monte Carlo), Dimitrov, Bolelli (Madrid) ... What's more, he's proved through the years that he has this level in him. If you want my profound feeling, I think will be perfectly fine arriving in Paris."

His three favourites for Roland?

"Djokovic, Murray and ... (big pause) Rafael. "

In that order?

A smiling, but firm, reply:

"No, not in that order."

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