RAFAEL NADAL: Well, yes. You know, people write all sorts of things, and, you know, things werewritten in the papers here in France. I wouldn't say stupid things, but I wouldlike this sport to be as clean as possible.
There's no doubt about what Isaid. You see, of course there are thosewho cheat, should be punished. This isall. When you practice this type ofsport, what is important is that, you know, they have to find me and know whereI play.
These guys have to know where Iplay. I was on Monday in Madrid. I was with my friends. Then I have a bath. My mother called me. She told me the guys were in my house in Madrid. It was my only free evening. I have to take this antidoping control. It was the same several days ago. Ferrer and Fernando were tested as well, at6:00 a.m. because they had to play from 6:00 to 7:00, or they had just played,or rather they had played a five‑set match. It's crazy.
I don't know if, from the legalpoint of view, this is correct. That is,to know where you are every single moment of your life, and to account forthis. This is what I think.
I don't think this is a right thingto do. It's wrong. It's a high price to pay to practice yoursport, to play tennis. I want tennis to beas clean as possible, of course. This iscrystal clear. But there's room formaneuvering. You see, there's a certaintype of leeway.
Q. In Australia, during a press conference you've talked about this, and Irealize that nothing has changed. Itseems that nothing will change.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I have the impression that all theplayers say the same about this. I don'tknow if there's one player who says something different, but I don't thinkso. The vast majority are against thisrule.
Q. How could players be against this?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, that's not what I meant. And I don't want to keep on talking aboutthis during the whole press conference. You know, we're all players. That's all it is.
I know that drugs is not an easymatter to deal with, but we've paid the price for this. And, in fact, the ITF should takemeasures. I don't have the impressionthat it's good to put so much pressure on us. They harass us, I think.
The ITF should do something aboutit, otherwise we could perhaps come up with another solution, another remedy,another solution for us to play tennis in a more tranquil way.
You know, if I lose tomorrow, I'llgo back to Mallorca, and who will know where Iam if I have no access to Internet, if I don't send e‑mails to my family?
Now, if they knock at my door in Mallorca, they're going to give me a warning. It's happened to Carlos before. They sent him a warning, and this is mostunfair.
Q. I promise it's going to be the very last question on drugs orantidoping. This year it seems thatthere are more tests. In addition to theinternational federation, there are more tests. What do you think about this?
RAFAEL NADAL: More analyses?
Q. Yes. More than what is done bythe ITF. It seems that the French agencyhas decided to carry out more tests. What has happened to Gasquet, for instance.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know anything about this. I think that this is not yet clear. Okay, Gasquet has been tested. Isupport him. I'm certain that he's nottaking anything. He's not takingcocaine. I know him. He's a good friend of mine, and I discussedthis with him last week.
No, no, impossible. He's most certainly not taking cocaine. You know what the world is like today. You know, when you go to a party, anythingcan happen these days. If you kiss agirl who's taken cocaine, anything can happen, and that's the truth. That's reality, and this can destroy yourlife or your career, rather, and this is most unfair.
You know, I wanted totell him again that I support him fully. He's got my total support. I toldhim on the phone, and sometimes I think these measures go too far and they'remost unfair.
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