"I enjoy this kind of suffering" - Nadal after thriller against Goffin

Rafael Nadal needed over three hours to take down David Goffin in a match where he wasted two match points in the 2nd set only to save a couple in the final set en route 3-set victory.

Nadal suffered and the crowd suffered with him in this match that saw many twists and turns in the final set tiebreaker that finished with 11-9 for Nadal. He said:

“At the end of the day you're suffering in the match. I always said it many, many times. You have to learn how to live with these kind of moments, and also to enjoy this kind of suffering. It's what we work for, for thrilling moments.”

Nadal was on the verge of a straight-sets victory against the Belgian before the match got complicated. Instead of walking out of Manolo Santana Stadium with a relatively stress-free triumph, the Spaniard needed to battle for three hours and 10 minutes to advance. He said:

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“I didn't have a lot of preparation, and we have to see how I'm able to wake up tomorrow after practically two months without any preparation. We have to be ready tomorrow, being ready to accept that tomorrow things may not be easy. But I am happy with the victory. [It] gives me an opportunity to play another day.”

Asked about the fans, Nadal said:

“10,000, 12,000 people, they have a key impact in the decisive moments, because they always give you that extra punch. In those moments, you try to seek your final goal. In that regard, they are always there. Sometimes I have let them down maybe, but where I'm not going to let them down is I'm trying. I'm always going to try as hard as possible.”