Rafa interview in l'Équipe ...

If you follow l'Équipe's @carole_bouchard on Twitter, she tweeted recommended reading on Rafa which was an interview he gave before the semi-final at last week's Indian Wells.

The full interview has only been published so far in the printed paper version of the paper, but there are a number of extracts floating around and here is one of them. Unfortunately, you'll have to put it through some sort of mangle (which I've done and quoted below), but it does cover some of the "topics du jour" that have been floating around these past couple of months. Here goes ...

The controversy

The accusation of tax evasion: "When the press began to get these stories of alleged fraud, it was anything but pleasant. And, above all, it was wrong. Everything was done legally, I pay all my taxes in Spain. I did what I had to do, I said what I had to say. Especially for people in Spain, living a difficult period economically. To me, it hurt me. "

The Horns

"I do not usually read for me in the press (...). But I talked a lot and I ended up watching. It does not make me laugh, but each his humor. Each country also has a different humor. (...) There were too many reactions (...). It has increased day by day. Anyway, luckily, it stopped. (...) I am loving the first to laugh, but I think there is a problem (...): a portion of the population has no idea what any professional sport. Who does not know how the drug testing, nor has there almost every day. That should be detectable 365 days a year. (...) This sketch could create a negative opinion (...) for people who are less familiar with all that. I find it unfair. (...) I do not accept that I label'' doped'' while, since I was seven years I have worked thousands of hours every fucking day! After a moment, it tires me. "

The grumbling on the calendar

Distracted by his pronouncements off the court? "When I get involved in something, I do it a hundred percent. (...) I think ninety percent of the players agree on the subject. It is too loaded, too many injuries. (...) And to stay on top of the ranking you must play the first of January through November. I said forcefully because I'm like that in life. (...) If ninety percent of the players want one thing and it does not happen is that our representatives do not represent us well. And I admit that I got more tired that all stories of February. Besides, it will not happen again. "

Obsessed with Djokovic?

Nadal, competition and the evolution of his game: "I must improve my tennis in aggregate have more options against Djokovic, but I'm not obsessed with anyone. I think to myself well before you think about Novak, Federer, Murray or Ferrer. In the morning I get up to try to be better than yesterday. (...) We'll see if that will be enough to beat those I would fight. (...) The solutions are there (note: he means his heart), not here (note: he points his index finger to the outside). (...) All the changes I'm trying to make are not obvious. This must be done, try, put the courage and enthusiasm. Everyone is afraid, everyone has doubts, I am not arrogant enough to not having one!"

Sofie on Rafaholics has done some more work on the full article which you may like to read here.