Rafael Nadal from the US Open - Times Online - WBLG

Questions for Rafa

When you have three tennis balls in your hand and are looking at them to choose one to discard, what are you looking for? Sandra Hammel

RN: Hi, I'm looking for the newest one. This allows us to serve better

Feliciano Lopez was so impressive during his match against Roger Federer - following up his big serve with excellent net play and a good solid game plan through much of that match. Did you give him any guidance? Eli, California

RN: No, he doesn't need my guidance. He is a very good friend of mine but he has his coach and his team for that.

I've noticed that you always let the other player call the coin toss at the start of the match. Are you just being polite or is there another reason why you do this? Lucy, England

RN: Yes, I always want them to serve. I feel I am ready to start the match and I try to break in the first game. It is not working that much lately. :-)

I know you are constantly travelling and I was wondering if the jetlag ever affects you? Has an airline has ever lost one of your bags? Sofia, Miami

RN: Yes, sure. The jet lag affects all of us. That's why we try to get earlier to places. And for the second question, unfortunately the answer is yes. The last time? This year some weeks ago in Montreal. I got from Spain without the bags. I had to practice with clothes I borrowed from Moya. We travel with our racquets on the plane in case these things happen.

Since Novak Djokovic beat Roger in the final of Montreal, some of the media now seem to regard him as Roger's main challenger at this tournament. However, Roger has said that he believes the media are underestimating you. Does this motivate you to prove them wrong? Frances

RN: Everything motivates me. This time they were right. Novak is still competing and I am writing this from the plane. Next time. :-)

I think that David Ferrer is one of the most underrated players on the circuit. I enjoy watching him play as much as I enjoy watching you. I know you want to win, but is it difficult to play a tennis match against one of your friends? Anne, Boston, Massachusetts

RN: Yes, you are completely right.

What car do you drive? Carina

RN: KIA Sorrento

How is it that you and Roger Federer keep your relationship good even though you are rivals? Don't you ever feel frustration or resentment towards him at times? Stella Morgan, Sarasota

RN: No, I think that the competition has to stay on court. Off court we are normal people. It should be (and is) this way.

I looked at the US Open's junior boys' singles draw and found no Spaniards.  Who do you think is the next Spanish tennis prodigy who will follow your footsteps? Raven, Manila, Philippines

RN: Good question. There are a few out there. We will find out :-)

I was wondering, since you said you've seen Phantom, have you seen any other musicals, and do you particularly enjoy that genre? (I recommend Wicked if you have time). Katie, North Carolina, US

RN: Yes, I have seen many others and enjoy them, but the Phantom is just the best.

I've just seen your interview for Eurosport in which you said that you owned many football shirts and I'd just like to ask if one is a Liverpool shirt? Eryn, Liverpool

RN: No, I don't have a Liverpool shirt. I collect the ones I get from players and at the moment I have not had the chance to meet any.

In bed, but Rafa will write later

Understandably, after Rafa lost to David Ferrer in the early hours of this morning, he needed to retire to his bed. When he wakes up, he will write the final piece of his US Open blog and answer your questions.

Ready to play my friend

Hi everybody,

One more day here in NYC and already a lot of them away from home. Good to have with me my family since it is 4 weeks already on the road. Today I have a very difficult match against a very good friend of mine (David Ferrer). We call him Ferru and he is a great guy, believe me. Probably one of the nicest guys on Tour. I know it is going to be a very difficult match. We have played several times and it was always difficult. He is playing great and to give one example he beat Roddick in Cincy in a very difficult match. Someone mentioned in the comments of the blog in Spanish that I did not mention anything about his match against Nalbandian and he is right. I should have since it was a great match where he won after having one match point against. It is also true that Moya's match match was really spectacular and I had the chance to watch it in my room. At the same time he was playing against another friend (David Nalbandian). We four are the ones playing playstation often against each other. Funny.

Questions for Rafa

When you have a press conference after the match (which I watch at the US Open site) you look a bit angry. Are you bored by the questions or are you just thinking of how to express yourself? Lotte, The Netherlands
RN: No, I am not angry. I don't know. I'll pay attention tomorrow.

How do you customize your racket? How is it different to the normal retail aeropro drive with cortex? Kyle S
RN: It is not very different. I have some special weight I chose, but you can also do that. It depends how you like it.

Playing through the pain

Hi everyone,

I am writing today a very very short blog since I have an appointment for dinner with my parents and some friends of them and I don't have much time before (or after). Sorry. We have the appointment at 9pm and we are going to a Japanese restaurant close to the hotel. We are going to a Tepanyaki style and I really love it. The only problem is that you smell bad when ypu leave :-) But the food is great and very healthy.

But today I played again and I have to say I was a bit scared since I had some pain  my knee, not much, just bothering me. Yesterday I did not practice very hard since I didn't want to force much. In the end I felt good on court and I think I played well. I hope I can continue like this.

I as also happy today seeing Moya win his match. What a thriller !!! I saw most of it in my room with Carlos Costa, my father, and some others. Really good !!! I could not see the end since I left for dinner (I am finalizing this blog after dinner). I am very happy as I say for Carlos. He is playing great and I am very happy for that.

Tomorrow I have a pretty quite day. We are leaving at 11 to the courts since I am hitting at 1 pm. I will have lunch there after practice and then get back to the hotel pretty quickly. This way I will treat my knee well.

Sorry that it is so short this blog today. More tomorrow.

Thanks,

Rafa

Questions for Rafa

I have ordered the same outfit you're wearing at the US Open, and I love it. I was just wondering how much input you had in choosing your outfit, or do you have to make do with whatever Nike choose? Felix Good

RN: I do have some input. As a matter of fact we had a meeting last week to look at next year's collection. It is not entirely my decision but I do have an input, a strong one.

Do you like reading? What's the last book you read? And do you like the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling? Axèle, France

RN: I like reading but I enjoy much more the movies. I only see the first Harry Potter.

How many times can you bounce a ball on a racket without dropping it?  My brother can do 157 - he's 10 years old. Benedict Watson (aged 6)

RN: I dont know. Never tried to break any records like this. I enjoy more playing with my feet.

When you're playing an injured player, how does it affect you psychologically? Do you find yourself going a bit easier on him (you seem like such a nice guy ) or do you play more against the injury?  Doris, New York

RN: I try not to think about it. Sometimes you can find players that run much more when they are injured. I just try to continue with my game plan.

I was just wondering what grip size you used (L1, L2, L3, etc)? Kyle

RN: I use an L2

What is your opinion about on the switch from hard court to clay court at the Madrid Masters in 2009? Zeinab Sairafi

RN: I think it is good for the Madrid event and for Spanish tennis in general. To have a combined event is Spain will be great for the sport. I think it is well deserved with all the respects to other tournaments.

Does your famous service routine help your concentration or is it just habit? Carlota, Brazil

RN: I think it is just a habit that helps my concentration, let's put it this way.

Do you ever get frustrated when you’re speaking English because you can’t find the right words to express yourself? Jemma, Northern Ireland

RN: Not much. I always find the right help. No worries as they say. Maybe more before, at the beginning of my career. But not anymore.

Apparently Ronaldinho used to sleep with a football when he was a boy. Did you used to take a tennis ball and racket everywhere with you? Dominic Watson (aged 10), Cardiff

RN: Not, that's not me.

Do you like Spanish cinema and if yes, what is your favorite Spanish movie? Lisa, Amsterdam

RN: Yes, I like Spanish cinema but cannot point out one. My uncle says "Bienvenido Mr. Marshall". I liked it a lot but not sure it is my favorite.

Earlier this year you've played doubles with Lleyton Hewitt and were scheduled to play with Richard Gasquet, do you have any plans to play with either of these players again? Claire, Ireland

RN: Yeah, maybe.

What do you think Roger Federer has to do to be able to beat you at Roland Garros? Do you think it would help to hire a hitting partner that has a similar style (left-handed, heavy top-spin), say maybe Thomas Muster? Florian Ederer

RN: I am not going to tell you (or him) how to beat me. Maybe if he tells me how to beat him in Wimbledon... :-)

I would like to know why you play with your left hand if you are right-handed? Nancy, New Jersey

RN: I am left-handed for tennis but not for everything. I am also left-footed for a lot of things lie playing football.

Practice makes perfect

Hi everyone,

A waiting day today. Practice, treatment on my knee and waiting and getting ready for tomorrow (today's match). As every day I started with breakfast in front of the hotel where we have discovered a place with nice croissants. We went straight to see the "laser dottore" as I call him now. It is the sixth day of the treatment and feeling much better now. That laser treatment, the physiotherapy and other things that are doing for me, together with time are really working well and I have to be very thankful to all the people helping me.

We had the car booked at 11.30 to take us to from the hotel to the tournament site. We thought there would not be much traffic but instead we found some. I believe that this week, everybody that lives in NYC they leave for holidays but the city fills up with tourists and visitors. What am I? I am not a tourist nor a visitor, well there are also some tennis players in town :-) It took us almost 25 minutes to get to the tournament. I like to get to my practice on-time, well ahead, since I have to tape both ankles and get ready for the practice. I take it very seriously. As much as a match. I tape both ankles every time I play or practice like most of the players, and that takes some time. On another hand there is also the other player that wants to practice so that's another reason to be on-time.

Roger (Federer) was also in the locker room since he was up next to play. We talked a little bit with him, Ives Allegro, Stan Wawrinka and some others. We also watched while taping and getting ready a bit of the Sharapova match as well as the Davydenko against Almagro.

One of the things I talked about today (not with Roger but after) was that at every match there is always a player calling the trainer. I mean, at every single match or almost, the trainer comes to treat a player. This happens more on these hard courts since they are worst for the body. Not as soft to play on as clay or grass. Those are more natural surfaces for the body and the joints suffer less. My uncle Toni has a very strong opinion about this and believes that there should be less tournaments on hard since they are unhealthier. I agree.

After practice I did an interview with Eurosport on court. One of the commentators (the German guy) played a few points with me. Benito, my press manager, had told me that the commentator was a pretty good player and that I would not get bored too much. Obviously he was wrong :-). But it is true that I did not get bored. We played 3 or 4 points and then did a nice and different interview. After that I came back to the locker room, ate something at the player's restaurant upstairs and got back to the locker room to get some treatment with Michael Novotny who's is being great. I had the chance to see parts of the Lopez v Young match. I am happy he won. Some pressure there for him.

At around 6 we came back to Manhattan to see the "dottore" . Tomorrow I play second after 11 am, a decent time also for TV in Europe. The knee is much better and I prefer to play at that time. Much better.

Thanks for everything.

Rafa.

Goodbye Tim - I liked you

Hi everyone,

I suppose that the news today in Britain is the last match that Tim Henman played today at the US Open. This is his last match at a "normal" tennis event and for me it is a strange feeling when some one retires. I didn't have a big personal relationship with Tim since my English is not good enough to talk with him about many things. I did know him and I liked him as a person and a lot of people tells me he is really a nice guy. Carlos Costa and Benito are the ones from my team that know him better and they both agree on how nice he is. I did know him more as a tennis player and there I have to say he is (was soon) very good. He had great results and created great hopes for a country. That's big. He also did well at all four Grand Slams and that's very difficult. He might not have won Wimbledon but he was close, that's not easy (I know it) and in any case remarkable.

Regarding myself, sorry to come back to me, but in the end this is my blog :-), I felt much much better today. My knee was not giving me too many problems and I could run and play almost normal. I would say I played well, specially in the first set and I felt well and comfortable. I got up this morning and has decided yesterday with my uncle to stay in the hotel, just go and get in the morning my laser treatment for the knee and wait till the time to go to the site. I watched the whole match Djokovic v Stepanek on TV in my room, had lunch and waited for 4 pm the time I had the car to pick me up to bring me to the tournament site. There was a lot of traffic today due to the labour day week end as they call it here and it took me way more than usual to get to the courts. I had schedule my warm up from 5.30 till 6.15 pm but in the end I started much later and finished around 6.45 pm. After that I just went to the locker room as usual. I did go up to the ATP office (the locker room is in the main floor) and had a dish of pasta there with some of the Tour Managers there. They are nice people and very helpful always. I like them.

Tomorrow I will have an "easy" day with a practice scheduled at around 1 pm. Got some media work to do and then back to the hotel to continue my treatment and rest for Sunday's match.

Thanks for your support.

Rafa.

Questions for Rafa

Other than Roger Federer, which player gives you the most trouble on each of the four surfaces - clay, grass, hard, carpet?" - Florian Ederer

RN: Hi Florian. Well there are a lot of good players out there. I have never managed to beat Blake so there you have one. I also have had problems defeating Djokovic and BErdych on hard courts.

I read that you have seen The Phantom of the Opera many times.  Do you have a favorite scene or song from it? - Jennifer, New Orleans, Louisiana

RN: I love the part when the Phantom sort of kidnapped the girl.

As you like Formula One, I would like to know which team and driver do you support? - Magni, UAE

RN: I love Formula One and I think that McLaren and Ferrari are the best at the moment. The driver is obvious.

It's common for players to give the ball boys/girls their towel during play for drying off between points.  Would you be upset if this practice were banned and only permitted between games? - Hersh Tegala, Luxembourg

RN: I would definitely not be upset. IT is only some help they give us and we all appreciate very much the work of these kids.

When you are playing a match do you give the same effort for each individual point depending on your position in the game/set? How does your mindset change on break points, set points or match points? - Yulia Dmyterko

RN: IT is all part of the game. Each point is important but we all know that there are more important points than others. I try to be very, very focussed on those very important moments.

You have been the world No 2 for a while now. Are you surprised that you have held that poisiton for so long or are disappointed you are not yet No 1? - Chloë

RN: I am a bit surprised for the results I have been getting and therefore allowing me to be at #2. But I am not disappointed with that since I am trying my best and I know Roger is the best player.

We all know how much you love the sea, but do you know how to surf? I think it would be really cool to see you sailing the waves. - Yanna, China

RN: No, I don't know how to surf. Too difficult. Not enough waves in Mallorca... :-)

Would you consider cutting your hair short like Andy Roddick or even shaven-headed like James Blake? - Pinthip, Bangkok

RN: Not my style ! Not for the moment !

Do you have any pets at home?  I just bought a yellow labrador and named him Rafa after you because you are my favorite player in all of sports. - Maria, USA

RN: Hi Maria, thanks a lot for naming a dog like me :-). We don't have any pets at home.

When you have a day off between your matches do you watch any other tennis matches or do you have a total break from tennis? - Christina, North Carolina, USA 

RN: Yes, I did watch in fact today the Djokovic v Stepanek match. IT was almost 5 hours...

My sister promised my 7-year-old son that if you won the US Open she would jump into the swimming pool with all her clothes on. He thinks that would be the funniest thing ever, so now you have another young fan cheering you on. Are you feeling any extra pressure to win now? - Mary, Los Angeles

RN: Thanks a lot. You'll have to post some pictures of that so that we all have fun.

How do you feel about being a sex symbol to hundreds of women around the world? - Ayesha 

RN: I don't consider my self a sex symbol. I am just a tennis player. But thanks for the comment ! :-)

I missed out on Disney World

Hello everyone,

One more day and one less to play... I will do so tomorrow night late, very late in Europe. I am playing 2nd after 7pm so that means I might start playing at 9pm or so. Normally, under normal circumstances on a normal tournament, this is not that good since I will finish very late. As a matter of fact I have just seen the end of the match between Blake and Santoro and it is almost 12.30 am !!!. That means that with the time post match in the locker room icing, taking off the tapes from ankle and knees and after Press Conference we get to the hotel around 1 or 2 am. This is tough. But in my case tomorrow I think this benefits me since it gives me more time since yesterday's match to recover better my knee. I need time and this is a matter of time. Time is in my favour and my knee gets better. I have been treated again by the Italian doctor Parra and his laser machine and by the ATP physio Michael Novotny. I feel better today and tomorrow I will try to go out there and try my best. I will try to force more and run  more than the other day. The rival is more complicated and it is not going to be easy. Tipsarevic played great at this year's Wimbledon.

But one more support I have is that my parents and my sister are here to support me. They arrived from Disney World in Florida last night and will come tomorrow to the site. I would have loved to be with them in Disney World but... They are here with a group of friends, I think they are 16 or something so I will have more support..

On the other hand I had not mentioned anything yet but the play station matches are back, football I mean. We restarted them. I had not played since Wimbledon. Maymo and me against Albert Molina, an agent that works for IMG, and Benito my PR Manager. Close matches so far. Sometimes we win, and sometimes they win. But the big match me and Benito against Moya and Nalbandian will be played shortly. If we all win tomorrow we will play that one. Will let you now how it goes. The loser might have to do something funny...

Thanks and till tomorrow.

Rafa