As the end of the year fast approaches, Rafa has seemingly finally begun to open up on how its really been for him. The greatest start to his season ever, the sadness of his parents break up, the injury and pain of losing his French Open title and being unable to defend his treasured Wimbledon.
This is a magnificent interview given to The Guardian ... here are just some stand out comments for me ...
"It was a hard moment for me," Nadal admits. "I can't play Wimbledon and it's my favourite tournament. I also lost at Roland Garros and I have a few personal problems. So everything coming together made it hard."
Nadal's gaze remains steady as he recounts the source of that turmoil. "My parents' divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me. After that, when I can't play Wimbledon, it was tough. For one month I was outside the world."
Nadal looks terribly young amid that quiet admission. "I am OK now," the 23-year-old says of his parents' divorce, "but you need time to accept. And it's more difficult to accept when you are outside home and don't know what's happening. At least the injury gave me time to be with my friends and family."
Severe tendinitis and the collapse of his parent's marriage undermined Nadal's composure at Roland Garros. "I played with less calm. One of the reasons was the pain in the knees. And I was down because of the divorce. Soderling played really well and he beat me. But I wasn't ready, mentally or physically, this year."
He comes out of this interview as he does always ... a fine, upstanding, candid young man. Vamos Rafa!!
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