Questions for Rafa: sex, Paris and wearing pink

Send Rafa your questions

Hola Rafa, many congratulations for a wonderful season of 8 titles. (and many more to come).  Continued success for the rest of the year! You are asked so many questions and we thank you for sharing your comments and I love reading your blog. You are very funny! As fishing is one of your great passions, my question is do you own your own fishing boat? You are a wonderful champion. Best of luck for the US Open and look forward to seeing you at the Australian Open in 2009! Lots of love and kisses, Sharee, VB Brigade, Brisbane, Australia

RN: Hi, no I don't have a fishing boat. A friend of my father has it and we go with him sometimes.

You must be exhausted from all the tennis you've played this year. Since the U.S. Open is best of 5, how do you think your body will hold up? Kelly Faust

RN: I am sure it will be fine. We are used to play best of 5 at Grand Slams. But thanks anyway

Hola, Rafael, congratulations on your Olympic medal and your fantastic season. What are 3 words you say to yourself to keep yourself motivated? Cedrine,UK

RN: Vamos. Ahora and si! Sometimes I even say Come on!

Hello Rafa! I have been watching your tournaments this season and am awestruck and impressed. You are clearly having a wonderful season and I wish you the best of luck for the rest of it. There is however a rumor going around of your laundry skills needing some work. Another athlete claims to have seen you mixing your colors with your whites in the laundry room in the Olympic Village. Are you now wearing pink, or did you manage to avoid the disaster? Hanne,Norway

RN: I managed to avoid disaster. But you seem to know more than me... :-)

Hi Rafa, I was wondering did you buy yourself anything nice to celebrate becoming number 1 in the world? Christy UK

RN: No, not really.

Hi Rafa, I have been a huge fan of yours since the 2005 Rome Masters final against Coria. I know that as a tennis player on the tour, you get to travel to amazing places like Monte Carlo, Dubai and Shanghai. Which city on the tour do you like the best? And which city or place that you have never visited before would you like to go to? Vin

RN: This is a tough question. I have always said that Paris is one of my favorite cities, but there are many great cities. Monte Carlo has that something special and I also like New York. But believe me in the end the best place is Mallorca.

Hola Rafa, muchas gracias for writing a blog from the US Open and for replying to your fans' questions. For sure, Rafa, we are the luckiest fans del mundo! I am very happy that you are having a really great year ... Muchas Felicidades. My question for you is this, Rafa ... which were you more excited about - winning Wimbledon, winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games or becoming the number 1 player in the world? Niamh Kearney, Ireland

RN: Let's say all three in the same year is amazing for me. Since I won the three of them I will stay with those and the other titles I won. They are all important to me too!

What sporting events did you get the chance to watch at the Olympics? Mary Beth

RN: Basketball. I went to see Spain vs. the USA in the qualifying round.

Hi Rafa, I am 61 and have a wonderful daughter but if I had had a son I would have wanted him to be like you because you are such an example to all young people in your humble manner, your courtesy to everyone, your consideration for your fans but especially your respect for your family. Do you think that it is possible for a top player to remain at the top of the game and be married and have children? It seems to me that many of the top tennis players in the past have not been able to do this and have not performed so well when they married. Perhaps you have to devote all your concentration to tennis to be at the top? Thank you. Anne Dow

RN: I think I am too young to even know this. I would think so but you need to ask someone who is married, with kids, etc. Too early for me :-)

Rafa, one of the biggest reasons I always root for you is because you’re the eternal underdog. No one ever gives you credit, always has excuses, always doubts you’re ability even when you prove them wrong again and again. You are the Rocky of Tennis and no matter how long you’re number 1 or how many titles you win, you’ll be the underdog. How does it make you feel to know you have so many doubters and critics? Does it motivate you more to adapt to other surfaces and win slams? Do you enjoy making so many people eat their words? Thank you, Steve Tampa, FL

RN: Hi, many thanks for your comments. I really don't feel this way. I feel that a lot of people do recognize what I do. But what really motivates me is to win titles. I don't really pay much attention to the negatives. I take more the positives.

Hello Rafa, lovely to have you blogging again, and well done on such an amazing season so far. In an interview with the Sunday Times, you said once that in your perfect day, you’d fish and golf but there wouldn’t be time for sex. Do you truly prefer golf and fishing to sex? Claire

RN: It is not exactly like this, but I really enjoy my time back at home. Not much time there.

Hello Rafa, congratulations on your terrific year! Is there any chance that you might appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" if you win the US Open. Anne, Melbourne, FL

RN: I know that my team have had contacts with them. I just don't feel my English is there yet to be doing this show. I have to improve it before. But hey, first I would need to do something really difficult... winning the Open... probably more difficult than me speaking perfect English by the end of the week

Send Rafa your questions

Comments

[sylvanna]

How many times have they ever got a champion in English Premier League??(liverpool)
When were they established?

[siddharth chandrashekher]

Hi rafa
first of all many congratulations on winning your 6th grand slam. i wanted to ask you will you be coming to india any time in the near future?

[lalou]

i am very interested about u and urs matchs i am always following ur news and about paris and the terrible accident hope u are ok.and finally i can just say: u are great.

[Carolina]

Hi I am doing a biography/speech for high school and I think your an amazing tennis player. Is there anything youd like to share for my speech? Thank you so much.

[Tarun Tyagi]

Hi Rafael. I am Tarun, a 15 yr. old boy from Bombay, India. I have written something that i feel from within. Hope u will reply to me I am not a flashy fan of yours but i am a folower of your determination, hardwork, the vanquishing spirit and the want to achieve your target. I feel this to be really worth emulating. Both u and federer are really worth saluting. I always try to emulate your qualities into my life, my tennis. But i want that fire to go wild in me so that i emerge as invincible. Not much scope for my passion i.e. tennis here in india. But yes i can definitely maintain it as a parallel activity apart from academics. I really want to know you in depth. Maybe i will end making u as a secret friend which only u and i will know......... If u want to reply to me secretly, my email id is- tyagitarun.1393@yahoo.com

[Noopur]

Hi. I m a huge fan of urs, not new coz u have a huge fan following. Conrats for ur gr8 yr.i m sad u lost the us but u did a gr8 job. Its been fun to watch u play this way. As u say all d time ur english isn't gr8 but i luv it the way it is really cute. You r very inspiring to all young ppl. keep on the good work.

[pam g]

Hi there, I'm British but I'm gutted you lost to Andy. But you know I don't feel at all down as
I know you'll come back fighting and I'll get to watch the best tennis I have ever seen. My question is what drives you? Is it pure ambition or basic love of the game? I was at Wimbledon when you suffered an injury playing Youzny. You said in your blog that you thought maybe your chance of the title was blown. How do you get thru the pain?

[rhoda]

hi Rafa!I became a huge fan of yours after your win in Wimbledon this year. First of all, congratulations for a good run in the US open. i'm sure you would like a better result but still. you really have an amazing year so congratulations! is it safe to assume that reaching the final and winning the US open next year is now your main goal? btw, i love how you handled yourself after the game with murray, still taking the time to sign up autographs..you're such a class act.more power and good luck XOXO, rhoda from philippines

[onlyyou]

Nadal, I don't care much about tennis but when you play I watch. Boy, you are soooo hot. I can't believe i'm writing this, but it's the truth, there's not a rock or movie start out there right now as sexy as you.
Abyway, the wind is blowing now after all that rain. I hope you are quiet tonight, resting for tomorrow .
I liked Murray during the tournament but I would kick that lancky Scotish man out of my bed anyday if you said you were coming.

Kind Regards.
Isabel C

[stephanie cockerill]

Oh Rafa please beat Murry I carn't bare it when you loose,especially to him! Love you xxxxxxx

[maria gilda montilla]

hi Rafa! Congrats from the Philippines! You have lots of fans from this country, and we wish that you will win the US OPEN, and will forever be immortalized in tennis history! 2008 is your year! And we hope that you will take good care of your health so you will always be on top form to win more grand slams. And don't get bothered by the likes of the clown Djokovic! We dont like him at all! And we wish that you would always obliterate him in court! Vamos Rafa!

[Sara Osborne Cohen]

Hi Rafa,
I am a professional violinist who loves tennis. I hold my violin with my left hand(I am a rightie)and my left fingers move across the neck of my instrument at a pretty high rate of speed at times. How old were you when you made the transition to hitting lefty? My playing is second nature and as someone who knows something about left hand technique it must have been quite a challenge if it wasn't done at a very young age. I am a big fan of your intensity and focus. Not only is it inspirational to your contemporaries it resonates with those of us who have made a lifelong committment to something. Thank-you and keep up the good work.

[YELİZ]

I wish you the best in the US Open. Good Luck! I am looking forward to see you play the US Open Final.And also thankyou for writing your blog each day it is really interesting to read..

[Eileen Alava]

Hi, rafa! Thank you for writing in your blog again. I enjoy reading it so never think you are boring. Reading your blog brings me into your world and I enjoy it because you are number 1 in my book. I hope you get to read this before the end of the US open. Wishing you all the best and I sincerely hope and pray you will win the title! I' from the Philippines and I hope you have plans of visiting our country. I look forward to seeing you in person someday. Take care and wishing you all the happines in and out of the "court." God bless!

[Catherine]

Rafa, so glad to watch you win the Querry match and go further in the U.S. Open than previous years. Q: Have you read any biographies from other players like Sampras & Federer? I enjoyed reading both of them very much and hope that you will also have one written on your tennis career. Q: Would you ever consider having a contest at tournaments to reward fans with "A Day With Rafa" where a lucky fan or two could be a part of your day?

[Helen]

I am a Chinese from HK and is happy to see you winning the gold medal in my country, China. Congratulations to you !! I first attracted by you is not your tennis talent but your outfit. You are always the most colourful one on the court that lights up the match and the court. It may be related to your horocope. I always have a question in mind. Do you top pros put on sunscreen when playing under the strong sun ? However, players like you who sweats a lot that sunscreen could be washed away easily by your sweat or wipped away by the towel when you dry your face.

[Yordany]

Rafa, why dont you get a Mac computer, they do not crash? and how do you feel about the controversial basketball picture from the olympics?

[Jaroslava]

Hi, Rafa,first of all I would like to thank you for your notes from tournaments.Really appreciate that because I can imagine how hard days full of training and matches you have and then you have time to write something interesting for fans. I can see you really care for your fans:)My mum and me have been playing tennis for a long time and we are your big fans. I am trying not to miss any of your matches.I can also see how many small boys learning to play tennis you have influenced. You must be a big idol of theirs. Did you have anybody from the tennis world you looked up to in your childhood? And one more question. Where can I get you autographed photo? Thank you and wish you lot of luck in you next match and tournaments.

[NO.1 FAN]

HI
RAFA
Did u take up tennis because you knew it?
or ur uncle made u take up ?
my mom & i always have a fight over u &roger federer ,on whom to support.
she plays for roger &i support U
All the Best for all the tournaments!!!!
BYE

[Melanie]

You always concentrate so hard when you are playing. Do you get any headaches from doing that?

[Thobekile]

Hi!
I just discovered my for love tennis, my game is still very bad. Do you have any advice for a beginer.

[Ms. Coyote]

Dear Rafa, Thank you so much for the blog, I love keeping up with what you are up to! I've always wondered what is in the little envelope that you squeeze and eat during your matches?

Hi Rafa!
I stay up every night when you play , because we are 6 hours further!
I saw you in Rotterdam, Holland this year on the tournament of Richard Kraijcek. Is there any chance you will be coming back next year? It would be awesome.
Good luck and I know you can do it!

[Janna from Philippines]

Hi Rafa!

I love to watch your games all the time. Your muscular moves are simply the best among them. Hope you will win in the US open. Would it be ok to ask some personal questions? Do you still have time for your pesonal relationships specially to your girlfriend? As we all know playing pro tennis requires travel all the time.

[Catherine H]

Not to sound like a creeper, but why are you so amazing at tennis and ridiculously good looking?