Grilled salmon at 3am, a round of golf and still time for another award!
Hi everyone,
Once again I start apologising for not sending the blog yesterday.
I am sure this time no one can criticise me for not doing it. I got back to the hotel at around 3.15am !!!! Can you believe it?!?!?!
You might know that I started my match at 11.38pm or so. The whole day went slow and since our match was the last one of the night, we started that late. And it could have been even worse since the previous match finished in 2 sets. It was the Williams sisters and Serena managed to win. But it was close, they were going to a 3rd set !!! I could have started already today. Like Lleyton in Australia earlier this year.
But for me the day was great. I woke up with the news I was really hoping for. The jury gave me the Prince of Asturias award and that is just unbelievable. I know I use this word quite often, but really, to receive that award is the maximum.
It is given considering not only what you do on court but also off court and I really feel proud of it. Carlos Costa, my manager, woke me up with the news, or should I say, I called him when I woke up and he told me.
Anyway it is a great award that really makes me happy and that I thought I would never be able to have it. It goes, as I say, beyond the results of the competition.
For that occasion my team convinced me to do a special press conference before I played. This is something I never do since I think it is important for me to just think about a match the day of play.
All these press gigs take time and you have to do them well so I prefer to do those after I play or on a free day. But yesterday was special. I had to do it and I did it with pleasure. It was at noon, at the hotel I am staying and after that I just got some room service and waited for the time to go to the courts.
By the way I have not spoken much about what I have been eating. I had a very good fried rice with Scallops and mushrooms. They do it really good at this hotel so I have been having it every time I have lunch here.
So you might also ask me what do I do at 3 in the morning? Well we got back at that time and had something to eat. I got some grilled salmon and rice. After that massage and stretching with Rafa Maymo my physiotherapist. In the end I went to sleep around 4.30am and the last thing I wanted to do was the blog.
Today it was an easy day and a day extra for resting. I had some practice at 2pm and it was really, really hot out there. Maybe the hottest day since I have been here, but nothing compared to Beijing so it is OK. Then I had something to eat on-site and I had arranged to play some golf with my uncle Toni. Bad day putting...
Tomorrow more and a good one for you since it is the day before the semis against your favourite Andy Murray.
Thanks to all.
Rafa
Rafa,
I know you can do this! whatever happens tomorrow, you are and will always be my number 1!!
Good luck and go for it!!
Posted by: Lotte, Netherlands | 6 Sep 2008 21:10:47
hi Rafa! I'm wishing you all the best for the rest of your matches! I hope you win the U.S.Open Title! You better do everything in your power to get it so history will always remember you for all your achievements this year 2008. This is a very good year for you, and as they say opportunity knocks only once, so, better complete this year with another Win! Coz it might be difficult for you to win so many grand slams in a year like this one, coz there are so many younger and talented and taller guys coming out now, so, grab this very good opportunity now! WIN WIN AND WIN BIG! WE ARE ALWAYS BEHIND YOU, AND WE CERTAINLY DONT WANT DJOKOVIC THE CLOWN TO WIN!
Posted by: maria gilda montilla | 6 Sep 2008 15:24:46
Hi Rafa - goodluck for the semis, I hope both you and Andy have a good match! I am sure whoever wins this semi will win the championship. However I hope it will be a first - you and Roger for the first time at the US Open and I hope you take home the trophy.
Best of luck
Tope
Posted by: Tope Gay | 6 Sep 2008 08:27:22
Congratulations on your award Rafa. It is much deserved. Good luck tomorrow. I wish you well and hope you get some rest.
I will be pulling for you. I have told my Spanish students about you and I'll be pulling for you tomorrow and Sunday...as I always do.
Posted by: Dee | 6 Sep 2008 05:47:20
Congratulations on the Prince of Asturias award, Rafa. Grilled salmon at 3 AM, huh? That's a late dinner, even for a Spaniard! :)
Good luck on Saturday...you've had enough rain delays at Wimbledon, so I hope the weather will be kind to you in New York!Vamos Rafa!
Posted by: Srikandi | 5 Sep 2008 17:08:29
Well done for the prince award thing! And murray isn't our favourite...you are!!!! So VAMOS RAFA!!! X
Posted by: Danielle | 5 Sep 2008 16:03:28
Rafa,
Congrats on your award!! You're truly deserving of it!!
Good luck tomorrow against Andy Murray (he's not my favourite, you are, always have been, and always will be my no.1)
You can do it!!
Love you,
Lily
Posted by: Lily | 5 Sep 2008 15:54:40
Congratulations Rafa,on your Prince of Asturias award.As well as being a great Tennis player, you are a wonderful person and we're glad you have been rewarded for this.
Just keep on being yourself,and don't ever change.
Good Luck in you match against Andy Murray, and as ever
En Rafa Confiamos
Vamos!!
From your Rafateers on BBC 606 xx
Posted by: Shani H | 5 Sep 2008 15:36:47
Congrats on the award Rafa! And I love fish, so glad to see you like it too :)
Posted by: Mimi | 5 Sep 2008 15:26:34
No way Andy is our favourite. You already are!!
Posted by: Kiko | 5 Sep 2008 15:25:52
Congratulations on your award. You can put it to next the others. You're laudable.
hey! by the way, Murray is not favorite of me, you can serve to andy all out.
i'm waiting for the final which you play with passion..
Posted by: Nese CAGLAYAN | 5 Sep 2008 15:01:40
As much as we love your blog Rafa, it's the tennis that REALLY excite us! You are completely forgiven for not posting yesterday and we understand why you didn't. All the best to you for your semifinal against Andy! A worthy opponent for you. Vamos!
Posted by: Attitudette | 5 Sep 2008 15:00:08
Thanks so much for keeping us posted Rafa, we love your blog. Congratulations on the Prnce of Asturias award, it's a great achievement and you should be proud of it.
Good luck in your match with Andy, and remember, we believe in you!
Posted by: Emma | 5 Sep 2008 14:45:17
Congratulations on all your achievements, especially the Prince of Asturias award! Here in the UK we know that Andy Murray plays good tennis, but that doesn't make him our favourite., you are my favourite and I think the favourite of many people here in England. Good luck for your semi final match.
Posted by: Kathy | 5 Sep 2008 14:27:27
Thanks so much Rafa for all you do off the court! You are starting your career thinking of others and it will benefit you in the long run as well because it will help you build up your inner self as a full, well rounded human being not just a tennis player. keep up the good works!``
Posted by: MomterryOKC | 5 Sep 2008 14:23:58
Rafa, you are just adorable and WE LOVE YOU, not Andy! Rest up and beat his butt so we can keep you here in the US alittle longer! Good luck! We'll be cheering for you!
Posted by: Dotti | 5 Sep 2008 14:23:18
Rafa, we know you can beat Murray, so just do it!! :-)
Then can you take off your shirt? :p
Posted by: Babe | 5 Sep 2008 13:48:44
Noone deserves the Prince of Asturias award more than you do, Rafa!!! Noone comes even close ;) Keep having that scallop dish for lunch. It seems to be working fine. Lots of love /Miss Falk, Sweden
Posted by: Miss Falk | 5 Sep 2008 13:41:20
Tuesday's schedule was CRAZY, but so enjoyable, with the Williams sisters, then Murray-Del Potro and then you're fab match. Well done!
I'm pleased for Murray, as he's worked really hard and his game is coming together well, but let me just say I'm one of the Brits out there who's still routing for you. I feel like I'm watching history and something new everytime you've played this year. I like how you seem to keep your goals and perspective simple- keep improving, work hard, give it all- and it carries you through all surfaces. In fact, that whole question on you improving on grass, hardcourt, yada yada...you're improving, that's what we're seeing! That question is so tired:-(
Anyway, I'll be cheering for you in the semi. A tough one, but you can do it. That US Open trophy...why shouldn't that join Wimbledon and Roland Garros in 08 and have your name on it?
Posted by: gillian salmon | 5 Sep 2008 13:27:21
Andy Murray isn't our favourite - you are! Good luck Rafa!
Posted by: Sam, London | 5 Sep 2008 13:26:54
Well done with your award Rafa! But Andy's not our favourite, you are!!! Good luck, we will all be cheering for you! :-)
Posted by: Jenny | 5 Sep 2008 13:23:40
Hi Rafa,
I would love to read your biography but cannot understand Spanish. Is there any chance of your biography being published in english?
Posted by: Diana Joseph | 5 Sep 2008 13:00:13
Gongratulations Rafa for receving the Prince of Asturias award!
Well deserved!!
love,
Anna
Posted by: Anna | 5 Sep 2008 12:45:58
Grilled salmon? Umm...And to think you just smoked one big FISH before that (and ate it just as I'd predicted). Your appetite amazes me.
Don't lose your appetite for winning. Be hungry all the time. Don't stop craving for glory. I want to see you swallow the biggest prize of them all.
Be ready for another tough match. This seems to be one big meal, tough to cook but it tastes like a victory. Are you hungry?
PS. Another award and another win. Congratulations! Very well earned, well deserved.
Posted by: The Phantom Of 'The Club' | 5 Sep 2008 12:42:04
No, no, no, Rafa! Murray is NOT everyone's favourite in England. Yes he plays well, but it takes a lot more to win the hearts of people rather than just their admiration, and you have both. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Posted by: Christine | 5 Sep 2008 12:40:34