Rafael Nadal from the US Open - Times Online - WBLG

"My dream come true": how Rafa won Wimbledon in his own words

The new Wimbledon champion has flown to Stuttgart after winning a final of such quality that it is already being ranked among the greatest the game has ever seen.

Rafa eventually overcame Roger Federer, the five-time champion, in a match that went deep into Sunday evening and to celebrate his first Wimbledon title, we've compiled this post to look back at the highlights of a memorable fortnight at SW19, including all the best bits from Rafa's Wimbledon diary.

Sunday, June 22
On the eve of the championships Rafa writes his first blog post for Times Online.
Rafa said: "I'm looking forward to the start of the competition, my competition!"

From The Times
Neil Harman: Nadal eager to erase Wimbledon heartbreak
Manuel Santana says 'I see Rafa playing tennis I do not believe'

Tuesday, June 24
Rafa overcomes German qualifier Andreas Beck in the first round.
Rafa said:"I won my first round match at Wimbledon and that, for me, it is great news"

Thursday, June 26
Rafa drops the opening set of his second-round match with Ernests Gulbis, before coming through 5-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3.
Rafa said: "I always watched Wimbledon since I was a kid. I always wanted to play the finals. Actually to win it. "

From The Times
Giles Smith: Nadal rolls up his sleeves to subdue Gulbis

Saturday, June 28
Rafa beats Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 6-2 6-3 in the third-round.
Rafa said: "I just came from defeating Nicolas Kiefer in my 3rd round match at Wimbledon. Lot of questions about a potential final here at Wimbledon, but not from last year... They ask me about this year! Already!"

From the Sunday Times
Andrew Longmore: Nadal barely breaks a sweat to go through to fourth round

Sunday, June 29
Spain win Euro 2008.
Rafa said: "Well I suppose you all guess what I am going to say first... right?... VIVA ESPAÑA!!!"

Monday, June 30
Rafa survives an injury scare to come through his fourth round match with Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.
Rafa said: "Having to retire on the second game of the match in the 2nd week at Wimbledon is not precisely what you dream about"

From The Times
Owen Slot: Nadal finds Youzhny in obliging mood during moments of need

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.

Questions for Rafa: giving up tennis, biting trophies, playing McEnroe

Has there ever been a moment when you wanted to give up tennis, especially during everyday practice sessions which must be boring and tiring at times? How do you get through that?
Harriet, Bedford

Rafa: No, I have always enjoyed tennis. Sure you have bad moments but I never think like that.

Are you a rough sleeper, meaning you usually wake up with your sheets, pillows, and hair all messed up?
Brandy, Memphis

Rafa: Yes.

How does it feel to be doing so well at Wimbledon
Veronica Romm

Rafa: It feels great but there is one more match to go. I am the same as last year but with more experience.

Why do you bite your trophies when you win them?
Jacqueline Gilzene

Rafa: I started when I won the first one and I just keep on doing it. Something like a brand mark?

What is it that your Uncle Toni has done and continues to do that supports and inspires you so?
Claire Packham

Rafa: Lot of things everyday. He is a wise person and I know he will always be there for me.

When you are on the tour, who looks after all your kit? Typically, going to a grand slam, how many tops/shorts/shoes do you take?
Sophie

Rafa: Nike brings me the kit I need and a number of everything, shirts, shorts, shoes, etc. If I am running short they always have some extra stuff. There is a guy called Roy who is a great, great guy that is always there ready. Roy is simply the best.

Is renting a house unique to Wimbledon
Lynn, Surrey

Rafa: Wimbledon is the only time I do this. It is simply convenient.

This is a rather personal question. When you go for a toilet break during a match, how close do the officials have to get? Jenny

Rafa: Very close. Too close?

Do the players get to have a say about the umpires at tournaments, particularly if a player thinks an umpire has made bad calls? Is there a way for players to give feedback to make sure the umpires are professional?
Anna, Brisbane

Rafa: We can always talk to the ATP Tour Manager or Supervisor and complain. I have only done it once. I think they do a good job in general.

Which retired player would you most like to play?
Katie, Kettering

Rafa: I practiced with John McEnroe the other day. I wish it was him tomorrow in the final and not Roger... :-)

I've read that when you're at home in Mallorca you enjoy going to the beach. What do you like to do there? Surfing? Volleyball? Building sand castles?
Katie, UK

Rafa: Just swimming, maybe doing some sports and what I like most is to go on the boat.

Do you think that one reason why fans feel a special connection with you is because many of them have either watched your uncle during his football days?
Leonora Seah, Singapore

Rafa: Maybe but I think most of them don't see the association.

The night eight paparazzi attacked me

First of all I would like to apologize for not sending this blog post last night as usual. I always do it after dinner while I'm at the massage table and my physio works on me. I dictate it and my PR manager writes it. This is how I have been doing it every day. But yesterday we finished late with all the post-match obligations such as TV Interviews and greeting the people that came yesterday from Spain and receiving a media prize. All in all, over two hours of work. That's OK, but then I had told my family that we were going out for dinner. Most part of my family has arrived and therefore we just don't fit in the house for dinner. So we decided to go out. I have only gone out for dinner twice during these 16 days here at Wimbledon. I went out the first time for Albert Costa's birthday surprise dinner and last night. It was late (midnight) when I came back and I was tired. We worked a bit on the table but I really didn't have time for the blog. Sorry.

One thing that did surprise me yesterday was the eight paparazzi waiting for me at a restaurant. I didn't tell anyone I was going out and when I arrived they sort of attacked me. I don't know if this is the right word, but believe me it was strange. Too much. I am a person that always works with media, does interviews with them, works closely with them, but I don't find it fair that when I have a few hours free, with my family, simply going for dinner, they persecute me and get those pictures that they sell. I am a public figure, I understand, but I don't live off publicity. I live off what I do on-court. I work there. But I feel this thing last night was too much. I am not complaining since it is not my style, and I am not going to hide and not go out because there might be paparazzi but I just find it unfair. But as I say this is the way it is and hopefully society will one day go against this kind of people. 

Beaten at foot-tennis and cards - at least I got lunch right

Hi Everyone,

I don't really know what to say today on this blog. It is one of those days that you really feel that nothing that I have done has been different to what I have been telling you. I did wake up at the normal time, I went to practice at a normal time (at noon) for over an hour and not much. Well,yes, we played some foot-tennis after practice that I always have fun with and lot of people watched us doing that. Me and Maymo vs Toni and Carlos Costa. Maymo a complete disaster. We lost because the guy is just a "zero on the left" hahahahahaha. He might be the best physio but as a football player he is just terrible. Still we had a lot of fun. I have to say it was the normal thing to do, to lose, but we were close if you look at the positive side of things like I normally do.

Then I went back to the house and simply cooked lunch. During lunch (we ate pretty late again), I watched most of the Clement v Schuetler match. I am really looking forward to tomorrow's match. This is my third consecutive semifinal here and I really find myself very motivated and fit. Lot of people might think tomorrow it is an easy match but come on, this is a semifinal of Wimbledon and it can only be a difficult match. Tomorrow the forecast is good, sunny skies so normally we will be able to play.

And what else? not much to be honest. We played some cards after lunch, a game called "the one". There I lost, Maymo says that I am a "filete" a steak would be the translation from Spanish to English. I am told it doesn't mean anything in English but it is the way we use to say someone is not good at something. You are a filete hahahahaha. Well, today I was one playing cards. It was again the four of us with Benito filming on a camera some parts of it. I wonder what he does with this footage. He better not use it !

Anyway, thanks all for your support and hope to write some more blogs during the next days. It would mean I am through...

Rafa

Questions for Rafa: being an honorary Brit, playing against friends and smashing racquets

My daughter, Kathleen, is 12 and hits two handed from both forehand and backhand as you once did.  Her coach wants her to play one handed forehand. Why did your uncle decide to have you play with your left rather than right?
Marian, Wilmington, NC

Rafa: My uncle told me that there was no player that played at the top level with two handed forehand. I had to chose and I felt better with my left hand. Now it is my best shot.

Which do you consider a more difficult surface: US Open or Australian Open?
Chris, Texas

Rafa: They are pretty similar both. I have performed better at the Oz Open but it has nothing to do with the surface.

In a match between Real Mallorca and Real Madrid, who do you support?

Rafa: It will depends who needs the win more. I would go for that one.

Do you have any interest in boxing? I'm sure that you have a great right hook!
Mamiko

Rafa: Not at all.

The crowd were fantastic - and I played not bad, too

Hello everyone,

Well this is a funny blog because I am writing it for a British newspaper and I have just played their number 1 player. I hope that those of you fans of Andy are not too upset. I think I played my absolute best tennis on half of the first set and the whole 2nd set. I felt really good today.

But I wanted to mention specially the crowd. They were just fantastic. I have said in the press conference that they were extremely fair but I would add now that they were simply the best crowd.
I felt really appreciated when I stepped on court. The round of applause was extraordinary considering I was playing against their player. I only have thank you words for them and repeat that I have always felt really good here at Wimbledon with the crowd.

I would also like to say that Andy Murray is a great player and I have no doubts that he will be very soon in the Top 5. Not Top 10, but Top 5. He has the talent to be there and he will be there soon.

After having said this I really don't have much more words. And I am supposed to write a bit more (I guess...). So let me say to you that today when I was going to the courts at 11.30am saw those clouds and thought it would be a long day... I managed to get early to warm up at noon and after 25 minutes practicing it started to rain. Not much , but enough to have the courts covered and delay some play. That's when I felt I was really at Wimbledon.

Lot of thoughts from last year came to my mind and believe me I felt good. It is funny how you (I do at least) always remember the good things from past situations. It is true that I also remember the bad ones but when something was in the end positive I tend to retain in my head the good memories. Well that's what happened to me today thinking about the rain and Wimbledon. True that I didn't win last year, I was close, but I still remember the good things.

Tomorrow more practice and wait to see who will be my rival in semis. They are one set all and for them it is unlucky they  have to play 3 days in a row (the winner obviously).

Thanks,
Rafa

Questions for Rafa: pumping iron, braids and body moisturiser

After a major win how do you celebrate and with who?
Alex Sykes

Rafa: I celebrate with my family, my team, sponsors and friends. That's what I've been doing but it also depends who is around.

What worries you more: catching Federer to be No 1 or being caught by Djokovic and becoming No 3?
Yasmin Nabuco

Rafa: None. I am thinking more on me and how I play. If Novak plays better and catches me I would have to accept it. So far I am in good shape.

How will I do playing against Andy and the crowd?

Follow Nadal v Murray with our live commentary

Hi everyone,

Well tomorrow (today when you read this), I have that big match here at Wimbledon. I play against the local player Andy Murray. It is funny in one way since I have always gotten a lot of support here at Wimbledon. The crowds really support me and I really feel it. So tomorrow I suppose they will support mostly Andy. I have been asked a lot about that today. It is normal and I find it normal that the support will go to his side, but at the same time I am sure that they will be very respectful with me and I am also sure they will applaud the good points of both players. I expect this kind of atmosphere and I am sure that if the match is close and good the crowds will get very much into it.

Today I woke up at around 10 and immediately after breakfast i changed plans. I had scheduled a practice at 1 pm but since my mother and sister arrived yesterday I decided to spend some time with them. I saw the sky all cleared and sunny and the forecast was great for the day so I decided to change the practice to 6pm. At the same time I had more time to rest the back of the knee just to be on the safe side. I had a lot of questions today about the knee but as I said yesterday, everything should be fine for tomorrow.

Apparently for the next days the weather forecast is bad. The tournament has been great so far on that regard and you know what, the gentleman in the locker room said to us today that it is not going to rain... Normally the locals know well these things... but I tell them the forecast is not too good.   Let's see.

So, the Euro 08 is over and now it is like if I miss a bit of football. So to kill that, we watched a DVD that an Italian newspaper published a couple of years ago of goals. It is called the best 200 goals, so while we ate, we watched that on the TV. Glad that it is over because we won but on the other hand I miss those matches every afternoon/evening...

See you tomorrow !

Rafa

Questions for Rafa

How is it to play against Andy Murray when you know the crowd won't cheer for you?
Renetta

Rafa: The crowd has always been very god with me here and I always felt a lot of support. Tomorrow it would be normal they give a bigger support to Andy. But here it is always a very polite crowd.

How many times have you watched last year's Wimbledon final? It was such a heartbreaking finish. What have you learned from it?
LC, Canada

Rafa: Never to be honest. I remember it and hopefully I have learned from it.

How come Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova get custom-made outfits from Nike but not you?
Michelle

Rafa: Not a problem, believe me.

When you're in a bad mood, nervous or sad, what do you do?
Axèle, France

Rafa: It is different to be in a bad mood, nervous or sad. When I am in a bad mood I simply don't talk. When I am sad I am in a way that I don't see anyone. When I am nervous I simply behave strange and try to think on different things.

My question is a little bit indiscreet. For sleeping, do you wear pyjamas, underpants or nothing?
Céline, Paris

Rafa: Underpants