Rafa's Diario de Mallorca interview ...

Rafa gave an interview to diariodemallorca.es which was published today and the link is here 

I'm going to caveat this in advance as of course, I can't do anything else with it but put it through a Google mangle.  Bear that in mind when you're reading it, try to keep an open mind and take from it what you will.  And as it's the season of good will to all men, there's some meat towards the end to keep the extreme going - I know it's desperate times.  

Reading this, as difficult as it is at times because of the translation, one thing still shines through for me and it's Rafa's indomitable, amazing spirit.  Keep going ... we're desperate to see you back on court again, but hang on in there cos your Springtime will come ...  VAMOS!!

RICARD CABOT "Growing uncertainty or hope?"

Hope. In the last month and a half of evolution has been pretty good. I am very happy.

The goals are the same, come back in Abu Dhabi and then go to Australia.

Timing is this, but we can not deceive, took five months without competing or training at a high level. If I can train at a high level in the remaining weeks, then I will go to Doha with the ambition to compete and play, but it will be without the expectation of a result.

And to think about winning in Australia is a anathema, today.

It's very difficult to get a good result input. I hope to be in good condition at the end of February or early March, well prepared physically, mentally and with my tennis.

"What has been the worst thing in these six months of these since you stopped?

First, not able to play Wimbledon, and then when I had to give up the Games. And then, the uncertainty of knowing when the knee would start to go well again. The doctors said it was not a very complicated injury, but the fact is that the knee was not right. The first three months, without seeing any evolution and to go to the gym with no results, it was tough.

"It was discouraging?"

I'm a pretty positive person, and I had my team and my family to help me through this difficult time. I was happy because I've been with them.  For the first time in a decade I've had  half a year at home. 

"Have you felt any strange re-discovered pleasures that had been forgotten?"

I'm pretty familiar, and when just a tournament, if I can, the first thing I do is go back to Mallorca. Nothing has changed.

"Have you noticed pressure to return to the circuit?

No, on the contrary, I'm grateful to the sponsors who have understood the situation and have not  given me any pressure. I have always been supported by them. And maybe this break allows to lengthen my career a little more.

"There are different injuries, and Del Potro has struggled to return to what he was. Are you afraid that the same thing might happen to you?

Well, I will have to give it a go. It is the beauty of life in general, its a challenge for me. I know it will cost me to get back all that I have achieved in recent years. I will do all the necessary work, always thinking positive.

"An injury of this type should be used to assess everything in the right perspective and re-evaluate the fact of whether or not you are the number 1."

Being number one is not a priority. It is or is not. Depends win many games and injuries to respect you. I spent eight years in a row in the top two in the world. Logically I prefer to be No 2 rather than No 4, but what makes me happy is to have the option to win a tournament, go out there and compete with options, be competitive, be in control of the situation. To me it is a fun and exciting challenge.

"From the first time there are un-sureties about this injury. Why?"

There is always speculation. The tendon regeneration is complicated and takes time. This is reality.

"Have you been reading up about this injury, have you consulted encyclopedias, Google?"

No, I do not obsess about these issues. I trust the doctors who have treated me.

"Was the day you had to withdraw from the London Games the worst day of your career?

It was the worst event that has managed to give me in my life. But it was worse in 2005 when I had a foot injury, which was much more problematic and more serious than this. Moreover, now I'm 26, having achieved more than I could ever have imagined, so I look at things more calmly.

"When you were introduced as the Spanish flag bearer, had you no doubt that you would go?

After Wimbledon I was wrong, but I trusted that things will recover. I was convinced that they would. I informed the Spanish IOC at all times of the risk they ran and I doubted whether it was appropriate to attend the flag presentation. But they asked me, and I loved it.

"When did you first feel the knee?

Indian Wells I was wrong and it got really bad to the semifinals of Miami, where I retired against Murray. Between Miami and Monte Carlo I had two weeks off and clay is good because it was less aggressive than hardcourt. I competed with discomfort, but without limitations. In the semifinals of Roland Garros I had to play with infiltrations to my knee, which is very bad for the tendon, but at the time, I was thinking more about my seventh win Roland Garros rather than the knee.

"Was Wimbledon aware that maybe you should not have gone."

No.

"Being eliminated in the second round against world number 100 was a surprise."

No. The last two weeks I trained only one hour a day, without running, very bad, and playing with my knee numbed. I had no choice to do that to play more rounds. You always think you can, but it was not possible even though I did my best.

"If you could go back, would you have still played play at Wimbledon?"

I cannot go back. These are things that I cannot change. If you ask me now, I would not have played. It is easy to analyse here, but when you're there, on fire, having won Roland Garros, things look differently.

"Which hurt more.  The defeat against Lukas Rosol or to Soderling at Roland Garros 2009?

There is no point in comparing.  Both have something in common in that the knee was bad, but I could still compete in Roland Garros. In Wimbledon I couldn't. The defeat was a Death Foretold Rosol for me.

"What you fear most now are changes in surface?

Surface changes always are aggressive and I have been trying to avoid them. I will play in Acapulco to compete on clay, gain confidence and rhythm.

"Your calendar will now go based on how you feel?

I've prepared my calendar, I have it all planned out. What I cannot predict is whether my knee will be better or worse or if I win more or less matches. This is not the tournaments you play, but you get the parties to dispute.

"It is the same with the Davis Cup."

I cannot deny that the first round I play it very complicated, but it is not known. Live in Davis Cup emotions different from other tournaments and I really enjoyed playing it.

"How do you see the tennis from the sidelines?

I've watched some tennis, but not every day. When you are at home and you can do what you like, you prefer to do other things. I've watched games that I've been excited to see.

"The virtues and defects are best detected rival watching the game on television?

We all know there are no surprises.

"It's as if there is unanimity that tennis has lost some interest without you. Like something is missing."

It's not my place to say. There have been exciting moments. Murray won his first Grand Slam and Olympic gold, David Ferrer his first Masters 1000. And I'm happy for them. I guess David will move up in the rankings in January, and I will be happy for him. Above being an athlete, your opponent is also the person.

"Have you been in contact with Federer, Djokovic or Murray?"

I have sent messages of support and I've congratulated them when they won.

"Can you say that Federer is your friend?"

My friends that I have in Manacor, they are lifelong fiends. Then there's Carlos Moya and Marc Lopez, among others. Federer, Murray or Djokovic I consider them colleagues. Unfortunately, no I have 300 friends. They are what they are.

"What has been to a normal day in recent months?

Recovery hours at the gym and a little that I can do when I'm away.

"You took it as a semi-vacation?"

Holidays are when you want to be on vacation. When your head is somewhere else, it's not a vacation. But I've spent more time at sea.

"Have you missed the bustle of the tournament, with all that entails, such as trips, parties, press conferences, advertising commitments?"

Advertising commitments I have kept. What I've missed is the absence of competition, feeling the adrenaline of the competition. To tell you the truth, this is when I miss the circuit, because now is when I start to find either. When you feel bad, do not you approach playing.

"How have you found social networks?"

"It is a very important communication medium that allows me to keep in touch with my fans. It's the future.

"Do you see yourself playing until ...?"

Until the body and head say so. My goal is to get in a position to Brazil 2016.

"When you retire, I imagine life will very different from the last few months?

I guess so. At first I imagine there will be a little quiet, but I love the sport in general and I will continue with it in one way or another. Fundamentally tennis, but I do not rule out participation in other sports.

"The economic crisis has somehow come to tennis? Do you feel it when faced with a player with the ranking on what's going wrong?"

"The truth, the crisis has reached all sectors directly or indirectly. Anyone who says otherwise is to deceive oneself. But economic level has not affected the circuit, which continues to grow. But is not the time to boast about anything. It's time to work, to accept that we went through a bad time and try to have the attitude necessary to change the situation, since the people in the street to direct us to that.

"In your environment it has been noticed?

I'm from Mallorca, Manacor, I belong to this world. I have colleagues who are suffering, and when you see adverse situations you cannot stay on the sidelines. You suffer with them and do what you can to help.

"Have you gone through doping controls in these past few months?"

Yes, I do not complain about the controls, but the methods. It's easy to look good and not say anything about it, but not me. I say clearly, I want drug testing, but we do go through unpleasant situations that I cannot agree nor support. At six-thirty this morning I did a blood and urine test. Yesterday, at six-twenty, as well. Two days in a row. This is not what you get for being an athlete. Callers at your door at that hour have you scared to death if something bad has happened. Also, I live with my parents.

"Why at six in the morning and two days in a row?"

"You have to be able to be located, 365 days a year, for one hour a day, which I propose, which are the seven. You do not think it is legal, because it goes against your privacy and security. It seems inconsistent and unnecessary. When they come, I invite them to have a coffee. They are workers and I have nothing against them. I want to spend controls. I know I'm clean, never in my life would take anything. I understand the sport with a philosophy, and would rather retire before cheating.

"Being a sports icon tired, bored, weighs?"

It would be arrogant of me to qualify me in this way. On the contrary, what is happening to me is very positive, things that I had not been able to live and dream and I am grateful to life for everything that has happened.