PHOTOS/VIDEO: 2021 Roland Garros R1 Rafael Nadal vs. Alexei Popyrin

2021 Roland Garros R1 Rafael Nadal bt. Alexei Popyrin  6-3 6-2 7-6(3)

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Rafael Nadal: “Here, especially on clay, the matches are best-of-five, the matches are long and it's difficult to hold that kind of level for such a long time, playing with this kind of risk.

Of course I don't want to lose the set at all, but that's part of the game.

You face a player that he's decided to go for every shot, so you are in trouble. If he's having success like he did with his serve, then it's difficult to have breaks, and then you are in a tricky position.”

On Popyrin:

“With this serve, with this kind of shots from the baseline, you have everything to become a top player. If he wants to do it, of course he is going to have his chances, because he has a lot of very difficult things in his game... He has everything to become a fantastic player.”

Photos: Getty Images; EFE; AFP; AP; REUTERS; Icon Sport; IP3press; FFT

• Tie-Break & On-court interview

• Highlights

• Post-match interview for FranceTV

• Press conference