Rafael Nadal: ‘Serve and Volley is Not my Game’

Rafael Nadal has tremendous success on all the surfaces. However, his success on grass and hard courts is easily overshadowed by his superb records on clay. Rafael Nadal is undoubtedly the best movers on clay. However, he agrees that movement is the key on grass surfaces.

“I improved my serve to play better on grass, that’s true that I am able to play more aggressive, to slice better, to go to the net better than before”, said Rafael Nadal. “But one of the most important things on grass is the movement, and probably in 2003 I had fantastic movements, too”, added the Spaniard.

“Sure, I am happy that I improved my game on grass, but don’t forget that the people who always said that I will be in trouble on grass probably are you”, jokes the Spaniard. “So I understand how to play the grass, and most important thing is believe that you can do it well there and enjoy the surface and understand the surface”,said Nadal. “Don’t go against the surface. If the surface says that you have to play aggressive, you have to play aggressive.”

The Spaniard also said that one must have confidence in his game and must believe in himself to get through to the finish line. “But nothing crazy, because at the end of the day you have your game so you can do something. I don’t gonna go to grass and play serve and volley because it’s not my game. I will do it, yeah, five more times than in the rest of the surfaces, yes”, said Nadal.

He also added, “But not every time. And that’s something that in the past probably or today some players forget. You have to do your game understanding how to play that surface.But most important thing is believe that you gonna do it well there, and enjoy the feeling.”

Despite all this Rafael Nadal is proud of his achievements on the grass. The Spaniard has won the Wimbledon championships twice- in 2008 and in 2010. “I played in grass in 2002 probably, the juniors, having two years less with 16 years old, and I did the semifinals with good chance to be in the finals. Was Wimbledon was 2003, and I won against grass court specialist like Mario Ancic the first round”, said Nadal.

“I win against Lee second round from England, so they know how to play on grass. So I did the third round with 17 years old, so wasn’t bad result. So that means that my level on grass and my ability to play on grass wasn’t a disaster when I started on the this tour”, he added.