So happy to have got the first round out of the way

Hi everyone,

Once again I am happy and it is nice to be like this everyday. I won my first round match at Wimbledon and that, for me, it is great news. IT is always difficult, believe me, these first rounds. Today's opponent has a great service and as I said yesterday can hit very strongly. But I played well and specially I served very well. I guess you don't want to hear more of me about the match so I tell you other stories.

It is funny how most of my press conference today and some of your questions are about football. I know football is the biggest sport in the World and I also love to talk about it. So it is cool with me. Specially when Spain is playing the semifinals of the Eurocup. So there you go, I had a lot of questions about my thoughts on the match against Russia, etc. I love answering questions about football but I don't really understand why so they ask me? I know that I am quite popular and what I say is always useful but when they ask me for the ideal 11 playing or things like that it is funny. One other thing is that Giorgio di Palermo, a Tour Manager from the ATP, is really upset with me and some of the other Spaniards around since we gave him a hard time the other day after the Italy v Spain match. Well, he has to remember that when Roma eliminated Real Madrid from the Champions League earlier this year he more or less behaved like this. So here it is my revenge. In any case Giorgio is a great guy so, come one man, don't get upset. We deserved to win and Italy, a country that I truly love and enjoy very much, played simply ugly and bad. But they are the World Champions so respect to them.

I did not mention the other day is that I bought a nice painting of Marilyn Rock by the reccomondation of Daniel Muszkat, who is the representative of the artist Daniele Donde. My agent Carlos Costa introduced me to him and I just loved that painting. Not that I am very much into art but I do like these things and specially paintings. My uncle loves it too. I also got a present today from a sculptress called Louise. Really beautiful so I have to thank her. Last year she already made one of me and gave it to me. She actually brought it to Mallorca and it is really nice of her.

I am sort of shy and when people give me these presents I really have a tough time. I hope they all take it right. It is simply that also my English is not the best so I struggle a bit. But I really appreciate all these gestures.

Many thanks to all and until tomorrow.

Rafa

Comments

[u2onair]

Rafa, congratulations on your win yesterday. You share the passion for football along with the better part of the world. So get used to being asked about football, your favorite team, your favorite players, etc. You've always handled any question thrown at you gracefully. Muchas suerte mañana!

[David Lynch]

You my hero! Keep up the good tennis.
Hope you lift the trophy at the end of the fortnight.

Dave
South Africa

[Nicole]

I think you're going to win Wimbledon this year.

Go Rafa!!!
xxxxxx

[Fran]

Hola Rafa,

Good to see you are doing so well. I think the first time I saw you was years ago at Academia Sanchez Casal when I watched the tournaments there. Anyway I thought you have really raised your game. Roland Garros was splendid. So buena suerte!
Fran

[Lisa]

Hola Rafa you are truly my favourite and the most exciting player to watch, amazing tennis, so focused, passionate, mentally strong and yet at the same time modest and a gentleman how do you do it? Wish you a fantastic tournament and hope to see you win Wimbledon final this year, you know you can do it!! Besos, Lisa xx

[daniela]

Firstable I want to thank you that you regulary inform us about wath happens in London.I watched the match yesterday at home on TV,but I could feel the great atmosphere there.Everybody was shouting vamos Rafa or go Rafa,wath shows that we are with you all the time.I wish you the best,to win Wimbledon!!!!!

[Tim May]

Hey Rafa,
I think you play really well. Because of you i have decided to take up tennis and try to compete.
Good luck in Wimbledon!
Tim

[Anne O'Neill]

How wonderful - i just stumbled across your blog today. I really hope you will have your chance with Federer in the final again - it won't be easy and I can't see him messing up like at Roland Garros this year (and every year!), but I will have my fingers crossed for a great and exciting game of tennis, which is what it's all about! perhaps your publicist will be reading this and not you Rafa, but best of look and I'll be watching! :-)

[Glynis Cordery]

Hello Rafael. I see your beautiful spirit and your calm patience. I trust that this year is yours to triumph at wimbledon.With all good wishes.

[wimbledon watcher]

Hello Rafa,

Your blog makes me chuckle. I saw you from my friend's roof terrace when you played at queens but no such luck for Wimbledon! Have a great tournament - get some good English strawberries & cream, and make sure you're drinking champagne at the end!

[Aurelie]

I just wanted to congratulate you for your second record on aces yesterday. I was very happy about it. It must feel very nice for you, having all those efforts you put into improving pay off. Keep going. :)

By the way - yes, you are a more complete player. Seeing you progress through the years has been amazing. Best of luck for tomorrow.

Oh, and I love this blog! Thank you so much for it.

[VAL]

Rafa (:
man you amaze and make me smile with your comments abt football! :D anyway i've a liverpool fan and a spainish fan cos well there are soo many spanish players in pool! haha plus there's you! poor Giorgio xD

anyway yesterday beck served really well huh, all the body serves but rafa! I'm glad you came through! (: (:

anyway ALLL THE BEST FOR TMR!! against gulbis! cld be tough but RAFA! FIGHT AND RIDE ON YOUR CONFIDENCE:D

those aces were amazing! as well as the volleys! KEEP IT UP (:

VAMOS RAFA & SPAIN!

[Consuelo]

I love this entry! It shows the "human" side of you and I find it really endearing.

All the best, this is your year! :)

[Nicole Phillips]

Hola guapo! I said that Spain are going to win... as I believe you will too. This is the year for the Spanish! Vamos!!!

I will be at Wimbledon tomorrow (26th) and I am so excited to see you.

Muchos besos
xxxxx

[Evelyn]

Rafa, thanks to you I believe in tennis again. Gracias gracias, you make me sit on the edge of my chair and make me shout of happiness when you strike well. you also make me suffer when you start to loose those silly points, and all in all I am a huge fan of yours. I hope the Sunday of this Wimbledon will be yours and us to celebrate. Vivo en Madrid por eso Ole España!! Ole Rafa!

[Lisa Jane Marzaroli]

Hiya Rafa. Congratulations on yesterday's win. And like my fellow part Italians around the country, sorry they played underhanded the other night! It was disgraceful. Hope you get to the final as I am sure u will and beat the number one seed. Love and hugs Lisa Jane Marzaroli (Glasgow, Scotland)

[Claire]

It is great news that you're through the first round for all of your fans too! Good luck through the rest of the tournament, I would love to see you win it. If you play like you did at Queen's I'm sure you'll be lifting another trophy very soon!

[paulie]

Hi Rafa,
Just wanted to say that I think you're the best. I agree with you about the soccer, Italians do play dirty, I can say that cos I'm Italian. Glad you don't fall down like they do! Good luck for your matches, I'll be watching.

Paulie - a fan.

[ayla]

Como estas rafa?
You are a great player and seem like a nice person too, so good luck! Maybe you can beat Federer this year hey?

[Anne Metcalfe]

Congrats, Rafa, your English is fantastically good. I am a student of French and I know how hard it is to learn a language.

[Tosin]

It was great to see the win yesterday. Beck was a tough competitor. I'm looking forward to the next match, against Gulbis, who is also pretty amazing. Win it, OK?
Interesting that you're buying art, hope you enjoy it. Currently, my favourite "art" on the wall is your calendar :)

[Mike Mallorca]

Rafa you´re the best player. This year Wimbledon is for you.
Go Go Go!

[Ying]

Rafa, you are the greatest even though I support Federer. I think the press do not give you enough credit about how good a player you are. But then again, if you are good, you are good. You don't need anyone to tell you that. I hope to see you win Wimbledon this year though I am rooting that Federer will win his 6th too. Have a superb tournament!

[Bilal]

Rafa,

Good luck at Wimbledon. I really hope you win and I can't wait to see you at the U.S. Open.

-Bilal Seyal
CT, USA

[Bilal]

Rafa,

Good luck at Wimbledon. I really hope you win and I can't wait to see you at the U.S. Open.

-Bilal Seyal
CT, USA