My final post: good bye, everyone

Hi everyone,

This is my last blog post from Wimbledon. I have to be realistic and I don't think I will be able to do it tomorrow. On Monday I am flying early in the morning to Stuttgart and tomorrow win or lose it will be impossible to do it. If I win (please, please) I will be going to the winners party/dinner that the club organizes and logically I won't have time. If I lose then I will be packing everything (got a lot of luggage, as always) and I will be together with my family. In any case I have an early flight on Monday morning.
Coming to today, it has been quite a busy morning. I practiced for 2 hours. Initially it was going to be a smoother practice but I wasn't feeling that great hitting the ball and decided to practice a bit more with my uncle Toni and a player from Menorca called Nacho Coll. I know him for some time, he is in the Balearic Tennis Centre and he is around to pay some future events. I use to hit with him sometimes when we are in Mallorca. After that I had a lot of media obligations with Press Conference, TV interviews and a get together with the Spanish media that follow me around the different tournaments.
In the afternoon I just stayed at the house with my family, my team, playing cards, playing darts and some play station. Quite and relaxed day just not thinking about tomorrow. Over dinner my uncle Toni and I talked a bit about tomorrow's match and on how to play. What you call a tactics chat. This is the way we do it. Sometimes Toni gives me some advices, some things to think about. He preferred to share those things tonight so I can think about them instead of tomorrow morning when the match is closer. We don't have a fixed procedure and today it as like this.

My parents went out for dinner with their friends and we stayed at home. Apart from Toni, also Rafa Maymo, Tuts, my sister, my uncle Rafael,  and Benito. We cooked one of those dishes of pasta with shrimps and mushrooms and stayed calm.

To finish with this, I wanted now to thank this paper for having me doing this blog and you specially for following it, reading it and hopefully enjoy some of the things I say. My job is not to write but to play tennis and that's what I do better. Definitely writing is not my best thing. I suppose you noticed it.

Many thanks again and hope to do this again soon

Comments

[Jennifer Graham]

Congrats Rafa on all your accomplishments to date. I have been following you since your first French open and I'm in love ever since even though since your Wimbledon win there is a separation between my sister and I as she is a Feds girl and is upset by his lost and I constantly remind her who the #1 player is at least in my book. Congrats on winning gold in Beijing and tomorrow you will officially be the No.1 player in the world, a title that you deserved and worked hard to achieve, step aside Federer, you are finally de-throned & let king Rafa reign. I cant wait to see you in New York at the US Open when you will finally sink your teeth into that trophy. God's blessings be with you, uncle Tony and the rest of your family. I'll be watching you, and counting as the trophies add up and of course shouting,Va mus!!!!! :)

[Joe, Torremolinos]

Not since McEnroe has tennis had such an exciting champion. Borg,Lendl, Sampras,and Federer did nothing to me. Viva l´ízquierda!!Since I moved to Spain the Euros and you. Fantastico!!Viva LÉspaña

[Bushra]

Hola Rafa!

Good idea to pull out from Stuttgart to restore your knees Rafa!! Knees always need special attention, tell me about it! Please take care of them so they serve you for years to come! We want our hottest hero around for very long time! Buena suerte.

Bushra XX

[Christine]

Hello Rafa from Douala, Cameroon!!
CONGRATULATIONS Rafa!!! I'm a former local tennis champ, now airline pilot (the only female pilot) from Cameroon. You ARE such a champion. Your hunger and determination to win are simply amazing. You wanted that Wimbledon win, man, and you got it. You deserve it. You are such an inspiration. My new inspiration line is: "Want it and go for it like Rafa went for that wimbledon victory". Phew... I am still rejoicing. I have been in high spirits ever since sunday...coupled with the adrenaline of flying, I am in heaven. Thanks, Rafa!!!! Mi campeon para siempre...Hope to fly you someday!!!

[Kaia]

Congratulations!!!
You were awesome, I am so proud for being your fan!!! I was screaming and i was teary-eyed when u fell on the grass!!!! U made me the happiest girl in the world!!! thank you Rafa!!!

besito

[zenobia]

What an inspiration, Tennis has never been so exciting. I knew you would do it, just a question of when. Although the 7 hours of toture were hard on us, it made it so much sweeter when you did finally break through and win Wimbledon. We danced a cat-scaring jig of delight! A full challenge of your skill and will.
I loved that you stayed optimistic right through the last 2 sets to arrive at the final point. I have been smiling for days since. Enjoy some long summer days, and enjoy your moment in history.
Bravo bella Rafael.
Zenobia xx

[Hugh Corston]

Hello, Raphael.

Yet another congratulations on your hard-fought, well-deserved victory at Wimbledon. I can't wait to see you play again and again.

I, like so many others, KNEW that it was your time. Mind you, you had us all holding our breaths until the last set!!

I'm left handed but play (squash) right. I'm no good at all, but have a good back-hand smash. I watch yours in the slow-motion replays and try to pick up any little hints that I can. Thanks, coach! Squash is a different game but same strategy. Racquets rule!

Please look after your knee! Please! I have seen a couple of my chums "sidelined" permanently due to knee problems. It's a good idea, I think, to bow out of Stutggart and focus on the other tourneys coming up later this summer. All the best, champion.

[Bushra]

Congratulations Rafa!!
I have been waiting for this win since Wimbledon 2006, and this time you did it! Your tennis style is exceptional, unique and superior. You came through despite Federer's relentless defence! Outside tennis, you set an example of determination, hard work and belief against all odds. You truly personified the words of Rudyard Kipling's poem that you and Fererer read together! well done, keep advancing, and i truly hope to meet you in person one day.

I am a humble tennis player, and you will always remain my idol.

Much love, Bushra

[mary joy plasencia]

congratulations rafa, you're simply the best! I'm always teary-eyed every time I recall your Wimbo championship. You are one-of-a-kind rafa. Loveyou lots!

[mary joy plasencia]

congratulations rafa, you're simply the best! I'm always teary-eyed every time I recall your Wimbo championship. You are one-of-a-kind rafa. Loveyou lots!

[Megan]

Congratulations Rafa!
You are a true Champion, you fought until the very end.It was an phenomenal match that will live in my memory for ever and it was is a true classic. It is amazing how you came from Roland Garros to win this Wimbledon Championship, I am in total awe when I watch you play throughout the year. I can't wait until you become the official number one as you already are in my eyes. I wish you so much luck in your future, I hope many more titles will come your way! You are a total inspriation!

[Sue]

Hola Rafa, A magnificent match and achievement. This was the best match I have ever seen. And you are an amazing champion. You do yourself, your sport, your family and your country proud. Don't ever change. Felicitaciones a todos. Sue

[Marilyn]

Congratulations Rafa! I am so proud of the way you played. I only hope that you can win more tournaments. I hope my baby gets at least some of your talent in tennis.

[Bonny]

Great final! Congrats on your win!! The match was so great I stayed up all night (and morning) to watch it lol, though I was on the edge of my seat practically the whole time! Well, anyway glad u won & hope u do well in the rest of the season :)

Lots of luv all the way from Sydney,AUS =]]

[Julie Fisher]

THought the match was absolutely fantastic. Not normally such a tennis fan you had me glued to the television for 5 hours. I was routing for you last year and this year I was as so wound up cheering you on. You played a superb game though the 3 missed match points nearly killed me. You won with dignity and grace unlike the darker comments of Federer. Congratulations Julie Wales

[Bridget, La La Land]

CONGRATS, Rafa!! Your game stepped up a level during the clay season (& the hoagie) & we knew Wimby could be yours!! I'm so proud of you! I'm still flying... 2 days later! And you made SI's cover--! :-) What an amazing accomplishment and now tennis is hot again--this time for something GOOD! xoxo

[GEM]

What a final!!

A thoroughly deserved win for Nadal! He positively radiates passion for what he does, whereas the only time I seem to feel emotion from Federer is after a match has been won or lost. Federer is of course a champion, but I can't relate to him at all. I can also deeply empathise with Nadal's knee issues - I have bad knees myself.

[Amman, Jordan]

What a game! Truely the best sporting event I have ever seen. The match was so evenly balanced, intense and just brilliant. Your determination and focus Rafa is legendary. Unbelievable! Good luck for the rest of the year and becoming world No 1.Vamos

[ds]

Felicitations! Rafa you were great and it's so nice to know that you are such a good person off the court as well as on. The sw19 final was the best match i hace ever seen and I think that both you and Roger were amazing. I hope you rest well and enjoy relaxing for a while because you deserve it! ......ds

[Helmut]

Congratulations! - I'm about 4 times your age, and my tennis was never very good. But I enjoy watching and following it. You are the best, and I trust, will be for many years to come.
SALUD RAFA !

[gorkaburuaga]

I agree w/ all the comments about the match... so great, so intense, each one of the players showing their awesome strenths; both physically and mentally. That game is a marvelous example of what purity in sports and competition must be called.

But the greatest of all is far beyond from a sportive score: is the sportmanship betwen rivals carried to it´s highest level. The way they both think of and talk about each other anytime they have the opportunity to do so is a trully pure example that it is possible to be at the top of a sport and, however, keep the humble and the admiration for the rival.

And for Rafa; seing you on TV collapsing on the grass w/ your eyes teary, and a few moments later climbing towards your family to hug them first, forgetting any traditional "protocol" says it all about you.

Your achievements in tennis are making you Great... but, as a person, you exceed any milestone.

Congrats for Basque Country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Harriet]

Hey Rafa,

Your victory at Wimbledon was phenomenal.
The way you and Federer played -and spoke after the match- should be a lesson not just to other sports players but also to all of us out here.
Thank you for your blog too ... it put a smile on my face. (Thank you too for learning English).
You are an inspiration.
Congratulations to you, your family and team.

[Manish Jain]

Hello Nadal;
Congrats on your grand success.By the way i am not a very big fan of tennis :) but that match has made me a big fan. I have not seen a match like this before.Thanks for this great tennis.
And all the best for your future..

[Lisa]

Dear Rafael, absolutely out of this world!!!! Been following your progress since the first Wimbledon finals... you are totally amazing there are no real words to describe all your strengths on and off the court....am so happy that you won, I feel like I won Wimbledon too!!!!!!! Felicidad campeon para siempre, xxxx

[Ron]

Rafa and Roger---Congratulations. You are both "winners", Thanks for this match