PHOTOS/VIDEO: 2019 Rome Masters QF Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco

2019 Rome Masters QF Rafael Nadal bt. Fernando Verdasco  6-4 6-0

Next opponent - Stefanos Tsitsipas

Rafa in press conference: “Well, the beginning of the match have been good. But he was playing great, being honest. I was not playing bad at the beginning at all. But he was playing unbelievable. No mistakes, a lot of winners, taking the ball early. Was a very difficult first set. Was one of the first sets that I am more happy with. I think I had a good feelings during the whole match. Then after winning that first set, in the second I was able to — of course he slows down a little bit, but I was able to play a little bit more aggressive with the forehand. I did a lot of things well this afternoon. I am very happy to be in semifinals again. Is a good victory.”

Q. The beginning the clay season in Monte-Carlo, how much are you satisfied now of the quality of your game? 

Rafa: “I say yesterday, I will not compare every day the previous weeks. What happened in Monte-Carlo happened. What happened in Barcelona happened. What happened in Madrid happened. Here we are. We are in Rome. That’s a different event. The good thing, if you want to talk about the past, is during the last month, my feeling is every week was better than the previous one. That’s always a good thing, not only because being better I have better chances to win, but especially because like a professional player and for my personal feeling, when you advance, when you feel better every week, is something that is a good personal satisfaction because the work after a tough period of time, you try to be there all the time doing the right things, and when you see yourself being better and better every day, that’s important personal satisfaction for me”.

Photos: Getty Images; AFP; REUTERS; EFE; Rome Masters; NurPhoto

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• Post-match interview

• Press conference