Rafa's La Marca interview ..

Prior to embarking to Montreal, Rafa gave a very long, detailed interview to La Marca. Its possibly one of the few times that we've actually heard his opinon, how he's speaking from the heart, and how its not simply being limited to perhaps the correct and cautionary tennis-speak.

The article was nobley translated by Rafateers Pearl of Manacor and UncleToniIsaGod.

http://www.marca.com/2009/08/04/tenis/1249379728.html
http://www.marca.com/2009/08/05/tenis/1249483743.html

Q: How are you physically? You said that you would not return to the court until you were 100%.
A: I've been finding training better. If I'm honest I don't know if I'm totally 100%, I hope so, but you don't realize through not being in competition and forcing until the end, until you can (be in competition). I've been training and it is going quite well for me, I've improved a lot and I find the faith to be able to start. If I then go there and things don't go as I hope, it will be a small blow. But I hope that it won't be like this because I would not go.

Q: Have you been having lots of doubts about returning in Montreal or will you do that in the next few days?
R: Yes. In fact I've made the decision today. I would want to be certain of being able to go out and if I can hurt, but I would not want to go there and on the first day be bad. I've been training for four days with little pain, I feel confident running and now this is the moment to try (returning).

Q: Are we in the face of a historic occasion of being able to win the Davis Cup again? With all due respect, Israel are in the semifinals.
R: Yes, you have to be realistic. With Israel at home, we should not lose. You have to be cautious, be aware of yourself, but you have to understand this situation and win.Q: Is Davis Cup entered into your calendar at the moment?R: DC is always entered into my calendar.

Q: Accompanied in this case by:R: Montreal, Cincinnati, US Open, DC, if I'm called up and I don't have setbacks, then Bangkok, China, Shanghai, Paris and London.Q: Have you visited doctors abroad or your regular doctor?
R: Regular (Cortorro) and also one of his colleagues. I've always been in good hands and not only one opinion, but several, that is always better. All of them have been agreeing a lot and also in the newspaper, that is not the theme that is said: "In one month he will be well". It is a process that is better going slowly, but well the swelling is there and it doesn't hurt me anymore.

Q: The doctors say that this is Nadal (back) for a while?
R: That does not depend just on the doctors. It depends on me and lots of things. This has already been shown. I will do everything that is possible for it to be like that. I don't know if this problem in the knee will be the end of my career. In 2005 the situation was a lot more sensitive with the foot than now. I was 19 and had to stop. Now I am 23. still young and with more trophies in my room.

Q: But the obsession of the town is that it comes and arrives in the worst moment, when you are No.1.
R: And when is a good moment? When I was No.2 and could not have been No.1? It comes when it comes and I am grateful for people's support, but if I am honest, my greatest joy was not when I became No.1. My greatest joy was when I won Wimbledon, when I won the Australian, when I won the Games last year, when I won the DC, although I was not there last year, and when I won it in 2004. In the end, the No.1... yes you are No.1. When I got there for the first time I was very excited because after so many years at No.2 and at this level, it was a goal, but being No.1 or No.2 has not changes my life or made me happier getting up the next day. However when I won Wimbledon last year the next two months I was happy because I'd achieved one of my lifelong dreams.

Q: Have you looked back on the match with Soderling? Was it your most painful defeat or your worst match?
R: No I have not looked back on it. I don't know if it was the most painful defeat. In each moment everyone has their most painful defeat. It has been one of the few times where I did not have control of the situation at any time. I didn't have the capability to respond. It was painful of course. For all, for everything that was happening. It was not only the defeat at Roland Garros, which I would not always win but at that moment yes, because I'd had knee problems for quite some time, emotionally I'd had a hard season and when all of these things join together and the blow falls in the tournament that makes you dream the most, then the letdown comes.

Q: It has been recognized that it was wrong to play Madrid. Will you not come back as long as continues in these dates?
R: Clearly I will come back. I have not got rid of any tournament before to start with, much less. Now, if you arrive with the same feeling as this year, learn from the mistakes. This is what I believe. By always wanting to go more and not knowing the limit, one forces to the maximum and as usual I've felt well in limiting situations and overcome the, you don't know as far as you can give. Like I said I was wrong playing Madrid, I also say that I don't know if my result at Roland Garros would be different and if I'd been permitted to arrive at Wimbledon well.

Q: People feel that you, as a good person, said yes to Madrid as a commitment to Spain.
R: Lets be clear. If the tournament is not in Madrid and is in another country, I don't play. I'm sure of that. The season had gone too well for me playing badly, I'm talking about the three clay tournaments, which strained the problems in the knee, which I had already been playing with (I'm not sure what "infiltractiones" mean. I'd hazard a guess at cortizone shots maybe) and anti-inflammatories. But it was Spain and there are few alternatives to play. And I decided to play and it was a magnificent tournament, I participated against Djokovic and the atmosphere was unforgettable. I don't regret it. I was wrong, I believe I was wrong.

Q: Federer has jumped on the bandwagon in your absence? (Might have that wrong lol!!!)
R: Federer is where he deserves. The figures tell and that is the reality.

Q: Is the Swiss the best in the history of tennis?
R: He is the best in the history I've lived, that is certain. Then Rod Laver is the only one I know who did what he did. A guy who twice won the Grand Slam and this is seven years, which where supposedly the best of his career, without competing in tournaments which at that time were amateurs, this tells me he is the best in history. But you can never tell and moreover you have to wait until Federer finishes his career. But yes it is true that the season was ...

Q: It's speculation, but now you could have been thinking about completing the Grand Slam in three weeks?
R: I don't like it put to me because I did not raise it when it was perfect. I don't think about it. If things had gone well, I would have arrived with more confidence to the end of the year. But things are what they are and you have to look to the future.

Q: And reaching double-digits?R: How many do I have? Six, so I am lacking 40%.Q: At your age, apart from Borg, no-one has achieved more.
R: I'm not saying that it can't be achieved, but I always go step by step. Both in my life and my career. I think in the morning. Train in the morning and train well. I think in coming to Montreal and trying, win or loss, to go with the feeling of returning to compete with guarantees.

Q: Federer has welcomed the two titles and birth of his twin girls?
R: I sent him a message three times and the three times I received a reply.

Q: The USO is coming up at the end of the month: do you think that you can achieve something there?
A: I don't know. It depends on various things. EG: how the previous tournaments have gone; how my knees respond; it depends on whether at the point at which I get to the USO I have enough confidence to say: "look, I'm ready." If I find that I have doubts in Montreal and Cincinatti, it will be more difficult. I can say that I might get there and reach the semis and quarters in those 2 tournaments and feel bad, or reach the 2nd or 3rd round but feel more prepared.

Q: In recent times you have been as solid on clay as on hardcourts.
A: If I had played as badly on the hardcourts as I just did in the clay season I would not have won all that I did. That's the reality. When I am playing well I can reach a similar level on hardcourts as on clay. Now, when I play at an "average" level, it is easier for me to win on clay than on hardcourts.

Q: It's possible that you may arrive at the USO seeded No 3 in the world. Would that change your plans around?
A: Not at all. The goal remains the same. There is a real possibility that I will go down to No 3 rather than remain at No 2 and you have to be realistic about that. Firstly because I am defending more points than Murray and secondly because I will have had less time to prepare than him. I hope that I am wrong about this but it is sporting logic that when you haven't played for along time and you are injured it is to be expected that you will return at a lower rhythm than those who have continued competing. This is a normal occurrence and you have to be ready to accept defeats and to play badly. It is logical that it happens and what I have to do is to approach the 3 tournaments I play in the US with a good expression on my face, with a good attitude and to think about each training session and about improving day by day.

Q: Are you asking the Spanish public to be patient?
A: I have always been very cautious. Everyone is entitled to think what they want. If I am honest, I am not thinking about the USO. I am thinking about training in Montreal. I have not been training in recent weeks with good players who can tell me what level I am at. And then, even though I have trained well, I will arrive at the first match in Montreal with huge doubts. I am going to work as hard as I can in order to get back to my previous level and to try to improve my game.

Q: Might you have the same experience as Federer, who had mono and then returned to his former level?
A: Everyone has a different experience of these things. I would really like to have the same outcome as him! I am fine where I am, happy with everything that has happened to me, in spite of my injuries; I am aware that as a 23-year-old I have been very lucky in life and also in sport and I am going to work for that again. Well, in order to become.....I am only one number below at the moment. I am going to work in order to keep at these numbers. My objective is not to think about being No. 1 or No 2. My objective is to be happy playing and to be competitive in order that I can continue to participate in the big competitions.

Q: Are you aware that your duels with the Swiss one are already regarded in the same league as those epic duels between McEnroe and Borg?
A: Well, yes, that might be so. I was fascinated when someone told me the other day that those 2 had only contested 4 finals in Slam events. Only 4!

Q: But probably the great duels go down in history because they transcend the match itself?
A: It is clear that the matches with Federer have been great for some time, very even, with a great intensity. When I go out to play a final against him I feel something special; I suppose that people feel the same thing.

Q: Is Federer a gentleman?
A: I have always liked Federer. I think that what is good about both of us is that we knwo how to lose as well as how to win. We look out for each other(not sure about this!). Perhaps he is more serious than I am and he is less sociable than I am (again: not sure about this bit), but he is a gentleman.

Q: On the day of a final do you see each other in the morning or do you prefer to keep your distance?
A: (Exclaims)- of course there are times when we see each other and we speak calmly with each other - but not about the final of course.

Q: What wish did you make at the Trevi Fountain when you threw your coin in this year?
A: In truth, I cannot remember. Something like I hoped to win in Rome that week, but I don't know.

Q: This accumulation of doubts you have now, is it like 2005 when you had problems with your foot and had to stop for 4 months?
A: I believe that that was a much more serious problem. In 2005 it was an issue which actually became dangerous. This injury now takes time, I know, but it is not dangerous.

Q: Were you frightened for your career?
A: More for my career than for being able to continue at the same level. It was the first year when I had done well, the first year when I reached No 2; no I have been doing this for a few more years and having won what I have won makes me calm. I have more peace of mind because whatever happens I have accomplished quite a lot.

Q: Does the pain ever go away?
A: The pain is always there and when you haven't played for a month and a bit, when you resume it hurts you even more, but things have been getting quite a bit better. On Saturday and Friday I trained well and you don't know if it's OK until you force it. And here I could not force.

Q: Isn't there a risk that it will "be strained" again?
A: It's not a tear. There are always risks when you compete with maximum intensity. My problem has been 2 oedemas in the knee insertion (joint?), a problem over a period of time, which is not like a fibular strain which lasts for 3 weeks and then you are better.

Q: Has this break brought you something positive? More free time, for example?
A: Well, not much. I have been able to go out with friends, but day to day it has been hard because I am a very active person, I love to play football and everything I do is focused on sport. And to go to the beach to lie in a hammock, well the truth is it's not much fun. I was advised to be fairly immobile and I have spent a lot of time lying on the sofa. Fortunately I have been able to watch quite a few Spanish sportsmen and women winning, eg: Pau Gasol who won the ring (basketball in USA), Contador in the Tour de France and the World Swimming Championships which went well for us. It has been a way of life which has been calmer than I would have liked and there hasn't been much positive about it.

Q: On a psychological level hasn't it been good for you? Weren't you feeling "saturated"?
A: No. Saturated, no. I had been having the best year of my career until the problems started. I had won Australia, I had won Indian Wells, quarters in Miami, I had won Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, got to the final in Madrid...Well, from Monte Carlo on I was not performing well in my own mind, although I continued to win...But up to that point I had hadn't had such a year.

Q: Did you recognise that you weren't playing well?
A: Yes, it all came along together in a way. I was playing with less confidence in my movements and you go on winning because you have that winning impetus from how things have been going in the previous months and you put up with it. But with the problem I have in the knee I could not even train properly, not with the intensity which I am used to and little by little this brings your level down. There came a moment when I could not put up with the pain every day because it was limiting me so much, even though I was used to playing with it. If it's not restricting you, well OK, but if it is then everyday you become more and more careful. In other sports you might be able to compensate for it, but not in tennis..and I could not maintain the level I needed to in order to be where I wanted to be.

Q: Do your victories act as a balm (consolation)?
A: A lot of times in my career I have played in pain and I have overcome them and you never know where the limit of your tolerance lies. I was playing with pain but the season was very important; I had reached the clay season and there were tournaments that I really like and which are important for my year, like Monte Carlo which I love, Rome as well, Barcelona, Madrid, which was the first year when it was played on clay and because it was in Spain I was particularly excited. For these reasons I put up with the pain and lived with it and hoped that it would sort itself out. Even in Madrid, in the middle of the week, I had to go and do a scan and ultrasound because I could see that things weren't getting better.

Q: It is surprising that you did not watch the finals of RG and Wimbledon. Is that usual or were there other reasons why not?
A: I did not watch the final of RG; I only saw the last 3 points as I was playing golf. I stopped to watch the last game and the truth is that I was happy for Federer because I think that he deserved it. I did watch Wimbledon.

Q: When you lost against Del Potro in Miami you said: "I know why I lost but I am not going to say". Was it at this point that you knee really began to cause problems?A: My real problems with the knee began after Miami. I had been a long time away from home and I am not going to talk about my personal life because I have never talked about it, but in Miami I had some family problems which when you have been away for a long time end up affecting you. Mentally, at the level which I needed to be at, I was not there.

Q: What do you say to those uninformed people who attribute your downturn to your parents' separation, and mixing the issues up without knowing for sure?
A: The problems in my family happened just after Australia. I went to Rotterdam a few days afterwards and I got to the final there; I played Indian Wells and I won; I reached the quarters in Miami and I won 3 tournaments on clay. That's the end of the subject. Emotionally, everything affects you and if your level declines this does not help either. At the end of the day in sport winning is like a madness and when there are outside problems which really affect you and you are far from home, you lose the extra "plus". But even without it, I was still winning.

Q: As a discreet person how have you put up with the press reporting on your family's issues?
A: I have never liked to listen to them or to read them (the press). I don't know what they have published, but ultimately it is a free press and they can write what they want.

Q: Have the paparazzi ever stopped you from doing something you wanted to do?
A: They have never stopped me. I have never not done something because they were going to take a photo or not. And if they do take a photo - well, bad luck.

Q: Have you had a lot of help from your friends in recent months?
A: From my friends, from my family and, also from a lot of people - many of whom I do not know. A lot of messages on my web page and on my mobile which I still haven't replied to. I apologise for that.

Q: How many texts did you get?
A: A lot - I can't say how many, a lot.

Q: When Albert Costa called you around the time of the Davis Cup tie, there was a 4-day deadline. Were you expecting a miracle?
A: It was not just asking him for 4 days, it was more complicated, almost impossible really. I was 90% certain I would not play but I was not prepared for that. But he insisted and said to me that he would give me 4 days and then you can tell me what you are doing. I had to decide on the Tuesday and I said to him that it was fine and that we would speak in 4 days time.

Q: Why do you invest so much in the Davis Cup when it costs you so much?
A: It is a special feeling and even more so when you are playing at home. It is an incredible feeling to play in front of your public because you don't get a lot of chances to do so and whenever they come along you have to take them. It is always hard but in this case it was not so hard because I had already lost out on other very important things (eg: Wimbledon) and it was just one more thing.

Q: Watching on TV I suppose that you saw the placards on display supporting you? What is it about you/your magnetism that other players do not have?
A: I have never liked talking about myself. I don't know, in recent years my results have been good; people like people who are "correct" and who win. I don't know if I am "correct" or not, at least I have always tried to be so and I will continue to try to be so, and to have the same results. But it is not just me. There are many of us Spaniards and we are living through an exceptional time. I am very happy to belong to this generation.

One of Rafael Nadal's great passions is football: he is a self-confessed Real Madrid fan. He acknowledges that he follows it avidly, inspite of his own sporting commitments. In the 2bd part of La Marca's exclusive interview, the Majorcan tennis player talks about his other interests: football, golf, fishing... in short, Nadal away from the tennis courts.

Q: Which player would you sign for Madrid?
A: Xabi Alonso is a very important player but in my humble opinion I would have gone for Ribery.

Q: Well, no idea, no idea...You have had a good tutor in in your uncle Miguel Angel.
A: The truth is I like football very much and I follow it really closely. I don't think many people follow football as closely as I do. Madrid needs a player - and this is only my opinion - who marks time in the game and who is a playmaker for the forwards - who are already pretty good.

Q: And is Xabi Alonso that player?
A: He is one such player, although I am still besotted with Ribery, but not for that position. Madrid has mad some great signings. There are some great counter-attacking players, playing in small spaces, for example Cristiano is very good. And as all 3 are very young (Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema) they will get even better. Ribery also has great potential to play in small spaces: very complementary to the existing players (my gloss).

Q: Have congratulated Ronaldo on his signing?
A: We met a few years ago and we have always remained in contact. He has always been nice to me; he has written to me on many occasions and I received a great gesture from him when Federer won Wimbledon: he sent me a message in which he said that I was still No 1 in his eyes. It was the first message I received. It is nice to know that such important people remember you. When he signed for Madrid I congratulated him.

Q: Is it the end of Barcelona's domination?
A: You never know. Sport is a "clic" (cannot find this word) that's the reality. What you are not going to get is a "clic" like me playing tennis, and hitting 3rd division shots. I could make a "clic" if I hit quality shots, which could go outside or inside, creating this or that chance - it changes everything for you. Barcelona has a great team and what's more it has been built over a lot of time. They have been playing the same way for a number of years, better or worse, but always the same way. I have watched squad matches all the teams use the same system. And when the players reach the first team squad they are not out of their depth. They will have played a lower level but they still play the same way. And this is what helps them. You have to praise the club for this, not only for their 3 titles - which is a spectacular achievement and has never been done in Spain before - but also for their sophisticated game and the dedication they have always had.

Q: And what about Madrid?
A: Madrid has never had such a defined style of play. I am not saying that is should be like Barcelona's game, it could be another style. In my opinion, in football there isn't only one style of play, but Barcelona has managed to win, probably, using the most difficult system. It is easier to play from the back and then go on the counter-attack, but to play like they have done...Barcelona has the advantage of having its team already set up; Madrid have the hope, the expectation that they have created and this is a point in their favour, but it needs time to come together. In this respect Guardiolas' team (Pep Guardiola is the manager of Barcelona) has an advantage over them."Although it sounds like a joke, I have not had time to fish"

Q: Do you think Madrid is capable of winning the treble?
A: It depends on a lot of things. Are they capable? Of course they are after the fantastic signings they have made. Now we have to see if it comes together. I think they have a complete enough squad to try for everything.

Q: The start of the Spanish league coincides with the USO. Have you already reserved your seat in the ESPN site at Times Square in order to watch the matches?
A: I have nothing reserved - it's not necessary to reserve anything so early. There is a fantastic screen (there). That's where I watched the final of the Spanish Super Cup - it was that crazy match between Real Madrid and Valencia in which Robben (Arjen - Dutch player formerly of Chelsea fame) had his shirt ripped off.Q: How is your gold coming along?A: Terrible, now. Since I have returned to tennis training, my swing has speed up and when I have gone to play at Pula in recent days it has been in truth disastrous.

Q: And why is that?
A: I don't know - these things happen. When I had to stop and not pick up a tennis racket, my game was pretty good. Although I was still playing off a handicap I had managed to get it down from 8 to 7 and 5 in tournaments. I came 2nd at 3 tournaments, but now I'm not even close.

Q: Seve (Ballesteros) told La Marca, in his first interview after his operation, that you owed him a dinner.
A: (interrupts) True.

Q: Can you tell us what that is about?
A: I was in Madrid. I don't recall exactly because it was a day when (not sure). I am not used to making excuses, but that day he took advantage of my form. The first 9holes had been OK but he took advantage of my form to make a bet in the final 9(holes). Over the last 7 holes I was seeing the ball as a square. I owe him dinner because I lost, what's more, on the fairway. But I am preparing my revenge - it will come.

Q: Do you still go out fishing at dawn and eating whatever falls into your net, or is that now in the past?
A: No, now no. Although it sounds like a joke I have not had time to fish. When I have this month off in the summer I always have time to go because I have come back from long trips away and I always have my 2 weeks of rest. But this year things have been different and I have not had time to go.