Rafael Nadal from the US Open - Times Online - WBLG

Rafa: I missed my party, but I'm still very, very happy

HI everyone, I am writing this last blog from the Australian Open. I say from the Oz Open and not Melbourne since I am writing it on the plane on my way back home. There are many questions that you can ask me and most of them have been answered at the press conference. I just want to say a few more things... First that I didn't have that much time to celebrate. Let me explain why:

I got to the hotel at around 3.30 am. The work doesn't finish on court with the prize giving ceremony... After that a lot of things are still happening: TV interviews, Anti-Doping Control, press conference, more TV interviews, radio interviews, live interviews with some radios in Spain and finally back to the locker room to celebrate with my team. We had some sparkling wine there and we celebrated a bit. We also brought in the Spanish media reps tha travelled all the way to Melbourne and stayed there these weeks with us.

As I say I got back to hotel at around 3.30am and I know that Benito, my PR guy, had a party ready at a local club. We thought about going but I had something to eat and had to do massage or I would have been really tired. So we decided to stay in the room. It as around 4.30am and anyway the club was closed then. So we stayed and watched some football on TV. There was nothing we could do. It was too late!!! We ate and simply stayed there.

I had to wake up pretty early since had to do more press. The Spanish media came to the hotel and I talked to them. Also to Neil Harman from this newspaper. Then the official photo with the trophy that you have probably seen in the paper. Then more one on ones. After that we went back to the hotel and had lunch at my favorite restaurant. We ate Japanese and then went back to the room to get all the luggage ready. Lots of bags, lots of them. Got to the airport and here I am. I am getting back home after 30 hours traveling...

Anyway, it has been an amazing tournament. I am very, very happy as you can all imagine and I am also happy I have now 2/3 days at home before going to Rotterdam to my next tournament. I didn't play well there last year and I would love to do well.

Thanks all for reading this blog, for all your questions, for all your support and for following this. I also have a great time although I missed a couple of blogs... Apologies for that.

Bye and thanks.
Rafa

Stay tuned - Rafa will post one last thread

Rafael Nadal fans: don't worry, your hero has not forgotten you.

The new Australian Open champion has promised he will pen one more blog post for you about his feelings since winning one of the greatest matches of all time, against Roger Federer in Melbourne.

As soon as he has got off the plane, had a shower and possibly some fresh prawns, Nadal will get typing. So keep coming back to see what he has to say ...

A winning fortnight: the best of Rafa's blog

The Australian Open champion provided a unique insight into his progress to the title with his Times Online blog. Here, we look at back at the best of his entries, culminating in his final thoughts before the stunning victory over Roger Federer yesterday.

Sunday, January 18
Hi everyone or should I say g'day mate? I have been told that this is the way Australians say hello. Once again I ask you to forgive my mistakes, my bad English, my non-professional way of writing and I also hope that the media who traveled all the way to Melbourne doesn't get upset with me for doing this. Why should they? I only say things here that they would never write about right? :-)

Monday, January 19
Tomorrow I finally start. I say finally since when you arrive at a city, at a tournament the first thing you are aiming to is to start, to get the competition going and tomorrow it is the first round.

I always say I have respect for all my opponents. I really mean it. Look at all the "weird" first round loses. My friends Feli Lopez and Carlos Moya, with whom I had dinner tonight, lost their first round matches. That's how difficult things are.

Rafa: how I prepare for the final

Hi everyone,

It's been a couple of days since I didn't write a proper blg. I did answer your questions but no written story of my thoughts, whereabouts and things I did. I'll write a short one today since tomorrow as you can all imagine it was impossible for me to write one.

I got back to the hotel at 3.30 after that incredible match against Fer Verdasco, It was a great match, fantastic for the crowds but I suppose not so good for me. I had to play pretty defensive and I really run a lot yesterday. I played a pretty good tournament so far, not running as much but yesterday I simply had to defend a lot.

So I got back pretty late to the hotel and after having something to eat and the massage and stretching I went to bed around 5.40 am. I woke up at 11 am but stayed in bed and woke up again at 1pm. I needed to rest and recover. I then went to the swimming pool and just relaxed a bit. Had some lunch at the Japanese restaurant I am going often and then went back to the tournament at 5.30.

Questions for Rafa: how do you prepare for big matches?

What do you do to prepare yourself mentally for big matches, like finals? Basem Salfiti, London

RN: I know that the matches are different and I try to do the same things. It is difficult but I do the normal things. For example today I did more or less the same thing as any other day apart from trying to recuperate more physically.

How will you feel playing Roger in another final, and will what happened at Wimbledon make any difference to how you feel? Sam, Yorkshire

RN: Roger is the best player ever and I know it is going to be almost mission impossible. But I will try as always my best and we'll see. I am sure the Wimbledon final will have nothing to do with tomorrow's final. Everything is different.

Questions for Rafa: I don't feel like dancing

What did you say to Fernando at the end of your match, and does it rank as one of your toughest wins? Jim, Suffolk

RN: We just spoke about the match and about how great a tournament he had, how difficult the match was and how we both deserved to win. This was definitely one of the toughest wins of my career.

Who is your favourite female tennis player?

RN: Carla Suarez is playing great and she is young and with a huge potential.

What is your favourite dessert, ice cream or lolly? Camilla, Sydney

RN: Ice cream. Vanilla ice cream with cookies.

I really love how you move on the court, almost as if you are dancing. Have you ever tried dancing? Reyes, Alicante.

RN: No, never. I mean, yes, I dance when I go out with my friends but that's it.

Questions for Rafa: do you have any fillings?

Do you ever get road rage when driving your car or are you a relaxed driver? Sahara
RN: No, I am a very calm driver.

Do you ever get nervous when flying? Sangyuri
RN: Sometimes I do, but I have had the chance to know well how it works and I am very confident.

Have you ever played squash? Carol and family, London
RN: A few times, not much.

Why you always lay aside your bottles so carefully? A Rafa fan in China.
RN: It's a routine, like the other things I do.

Have you read any of the Harry Potter books or seen any of them films? Christine, UK.
RN: No, I haven't. But I watched the movies.

Rafa: It's too darn hot!

Hi everyone,

It is late today so a short blog. Yesterday I made a mistake with my English (actually Benito who translates for me) so apologies for that.

Today I want to explain to you the extreme heat we had. It was great to play with the roof closed. I know some people are against that but I can tell you that to play out there today with that heat would have been almost criminal. I went to practice at 4.30 pm and believe me when I say my feet were literally burning. IT was very, very hot. I was only warming up, oh well, just to be out there was warm, but you know what I mean. I was hitting and my feet were really hurting because of the heat. I could not imagine going out there today and play.

I understand the roof makes a different game but the health of the players is also important.

Regarding the match, I knew it would be as it was, very difficult and had very clear the tactic I had to play. IT worked well and managed to win. Gilles already beat me in Madrid at the end of last year and remember that's home for me to play. In front of my fans, my crowds and playing good tennis. As I say it worked well so I am happy.

Tomorrow I will practice in the morning (I have a car to pick me up at 10.15 am) and then hope to spend the afternoon relaxed in my room watching a movie or something.

Hasta mañana.

Rafa

Match report: Nadal eases into the semi-finals

Times Online

Your favourite blogger is through to the Australian Open semi-finals after defeating Gilles Simon in straight sets. The No 1 seed beat the French sixth seed 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 to set up a match against Fernando Verdasco, his fellow Spaniard, on Friday.

Click here to read the report.

Click here to read Rafa's latest blog post.

The world No 1 is answering your queries throughout the tournament. Send questions to rafa@timesonline.co.uk

Questions for Rafa: I feel sorry for Djokovic

What do you think of Djokovic's retirement? How do you train yourself to play in the extreme heat of Australia? Miho, San Francisco

RN: I don't know well what happened. I didn't see all the match and haven't been able to speak to him so I prefer not to comment. It is tough though to see a player retire and it is obvious it was very hot today. Too bad but I am sure he had good reasons.

When you are playing a tournament, do you get your rackets re-strung after every match? Avy
RN: Yes

Tommy Haas seemed to have some success at the net against you, do you think the serve and volley game could ever make a return? Michelle Slater, UK
RN: I don't know. It is tough since the players are fast and good returners.

Are you looking forward to playing under the new roof at Wimbledon? Val UK
RN: Yes sure. I hope it helps avoid situations like 2 years ago. It is definitely a step forward.

What sort of music do you listen to when you want to get pumped up before a match? And does it work? Shaikha
RN: I listen to Spanish music and I always do. It does work for me.

I read somewhere that you like to cook. What is your favourite food? Nicole, Singapore
RN: I love fish and seafood. I actually only cook during the weeks at Wimbledon.

Is there anything you have to do before the match that will bring you luck? Katharine
RN: Not for luck. I just do my usual routine.

Can you give us a name of an up and coming Spanish player who is going to be the next big thing? Hitul, Bristol UK
RN: I don't know. Not easy.

Who would you prefer Real Madrid to buy in the summer - Ronaldo or Kaka? Vamos!
RN: Both?

Other than Carlos Moya, who were your heroes growing up? Zoe
RN: I really didn't have any. Believe me.

If you were to make a movie about your life, which actors would you pick to play you and Federer respectively? Kitty, Norway
RN: No idea. I leave that to the film industry makers. Sorry.