Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal
Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parerais a Spanish professional tennis player currently ranked world No. 4. He is widely regarded as the greatest clay-court player in history, and owing to his dominance and success on the surface, he has been titled "The King of Clay". His evolution into an all-court threat has established him as one of the greatest players in tennis history, with some considering Nadal to be the greatest player of all time...
NationalitySpanish
ProfessionTennis Player
Date of Birth3 June 1986
CityManacor, Spain
CountrySpain
It is unbelievable to me that I can win against the best player in the world, against one of the best in history. It's very important and very special for me, especially because I was three months off the court.
It?s already a great feeling to be third on the list. To get past Borg, I will have to reach the final in Barcelona next week. It won?t be easy. I could lose any day. But if I am 100 per cent I know I have a great chance of winning.
It was bad for me because I was leading 4-0 and 0-30 and then I lost that game. But I don't like this - I don't think it is very good for the whole tournament.
It was a very unbelievable day for me. It's special to begin the clay season like this. Beating Roger in the final is even more special, it's great.
It was a very unbelievable day for me.
In the second, I told myself just to hold my serve and try and be aggressive on his serve, and hopefully get a break. I also applied more topspin on my forehand. Once I won the second game after being 0-30 down, my confidence also went up.
I didn't play a great match, but once I pass the first two rounds, things get easier. I'm used to the court and the conditions.
Gaudio is playing very well. Today he played at an incredible level, especially on his backhand. But I am only thinking of my own game, and of playing well.
With Almagro, boy, that'll be a tough match. He's playing at a very high level right now and he hits the ball hard.
I just was in the second round. That's painful, because always is tough to lose, but well, that's sport. You win, you lose.
I started to travel like this at the age of 15 so for me, it's normal. Some days you get tired and you feel, 'I want to stay at home a little bit more,' but it's only the moment.
I'm ambidextrous when I eat. But playing tennis right-handed - I can't do it. I'm clueless.
Being home alone at night makes me a bit nervous. If I'm at home alone, I have to sleep on the sofa - I can't face going to bed. I'm there with the TV on and all the lights on. I'm not very brave about anything in life. In tennis, yes. In everything else, not very.
You fight, you try your best, but if you lose, you don't have to break five racquets and smash up the locker room. You can do those things, but when you've finished, nothing's changed. You've still lost. If something positive came from that, I probably would do it. But I see only negativity.