EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE NUMBER ONE RAFA NADAL
Witnessing a match to Rafael Nadal of Spain thousands of miles ends up being a grueling carousel emotions. Win or lose, however, is always pleased to see what this 22-year-old Mallorcan has done for our country to locate on the map as the best ambassadors.
"I do not know very well what we know, these things do not think, but I do know is that the image of the Spanish in the the world is good people. I think it's dear people. I am happy to be Spanish, "says Rafa (for us) or Naddaalll (for rest), the world tennis number one in any case." I think we are normal people and educated, much more than elsewhere. I travel a lot to see it. Amazing things happen to me. You get into an elevator and say 'hello' or 'good night' if there is another person. In many places in the world will not answer or you look at his face. I hate. I always I insist. 'Hello! " This does not happen in Spain. "
This tells Nadal in the Persian Gulf, where the start of the season was not too bright for him. In the Qatar Open was settled in the quarter-finals by Gael Monfils. Days before, in the exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE), also lost to the Briton Andy Murray. On Friday last lifted a trophy, twice in Doha next to Marc Lopez. He takes it in stride, one of his words Favorite and certainly the one that best defines it. His rational explanation: being out of competition since last October 31 due to tendinitis. "I do not think that was the beginning of a difficult year. This is normal, and half took two months without competing, and I take it a little rhythm. The only thing on Thursday. Yes, on Thursday not played well against Monfils," he says in reference andalusia demolisher 6-4 with a double that ended with the Frenchman in less than an hour and a half.
Just a while after the match, before the international press, and now, during this interview, Nadal seemed calm with a mantra, a carved compass in that sense and helps you navigate through life without drama: "I am fully aware that When will I play a tournament can win or I can lose. All matches are difficult, and on Thursday Monfils played better than me. Nothing more. I will try to correct some mistakes and that's it. Furthermore, it is not a tournament that will affect me much to the classification. "
The important thing is to be practical, lifted after the fall. This is your action plan: to fly to Melbourne on Sunday 11 and trained there all week for the Australia Open, the first Grand Slam of the year: "That itself is an important tournament for your confidence. East of Qatar, the final After all, is not decisive. " Adds laughing: "But if the same thing happens in a week and a half in Australia will not be just as happy. That does not mean that Thursday was happy, no. But what is there, you can not always play to win. "
In person, Nadal is much bigger than it appears in the distance. Across the table, in the lobby of this hotel Qatari, he was a mole appears as a muscular legs on two towers. As crown, though, face a shy kid. Again laughing: "Until recently I was a child. So perhaps now, when I was about any more grace which makes me asking if a autograph or a picture is an older person. A child always comes over. Also, if a child is set on you, and you do not either case, beams or rude, you take this guy as a model and you think you've done what is normal. "
In his words shows that legend built around him, that he attaches to the strength of his parents, Sebastian and Ana Maria, and the moral foundation that gave the boy that this is a divo Manacor without airs, a standard rate. He believes well: "I have had a fairly quiet education forever. Mallorca are also very quiet people. I have our feet on the ground. I realize that this is a time of my life. Then everything returns to normal. If no one when it suits up, when you go down less well. We must be clear to you who you are and why this is happening. It lasts for a lifetime. " Shortly talkative, Nadal elaborates on this point, the longest in the interview: "We must take in stride what is happening now to assume what will come later. And is that not everyone will want to see, not everyone will think that anything you do is fine, or going around the world thanks to laugh, as can happen now. Then you have to live like everyone else. "
Nadal welcomed the Princes of Asturias after winning Wimbledon.
But insists that one has to be very difficult to shield the humility after and that people will still want to win, but I'm going to tournaments, and I do what I like now. "
The best of 2008? "Wimbledon, it meant the game and everything," he said in reference to this epic of seven hours last July and that led him to dethrone Roger Federer. The Prince of Asturias Prize, barely four months later? "Maybe I arrived a little early. It's a prize if they get a little later in your career is like, as a coda to your career. Not be happier that I have arrived in active, but I think that 22 years is a short age for receiving an award like that. "
What worst of 2008? "The end of the year was hard, had many pains in the knee. When you start to see the body and do not respond well when dried is wrong. In the morning there hurts, it hurts you there. The sport is not elite health. Above all, we, who played from early January until the end of November. Trip moment is that a dust event ends. But what is there, the longer it is this circuit. We must be there until it can be, they can not be more, otherwise. "
Nadal following day by the Persian Gulf, one has seen, indeed, the requirement. So, what motivates a boy of 22 years in 2008 has won only in prizes, 20 million dollars? Anyone who is number one? "Like everyone else, are low moments and moments high. I think it's an illusion to win and be better. I'm number one now, but maybe within two months I am not. Also the simple inertia, which leads to follow. "Is ambition?" The ambition is something we are born, but also is training. I've played tennis since the four years, and there have been moments of great effort. When one thinks of all he has done, he concludes that we must continue. "Can you imagine the 30 and up?" No one knows the time is never a to play, but eight years at this level is impossible! And when not at this level, people will no longer be so over you. "
Here in the Middle East, one wonders where lies more strongly that inner strength that allows a boy so young to face challenges as great. "You do not have to watch it or read the press or what others say, the pressure you have to put yourself. I'm happy with myself, and I'm happy with what I do. I lucky enough to work in what I like, not something that everybody can say. In addition, stress, and that lucky twice. "
The price to pay for the privilege: "There are times when a lack of back home, being with family on the couch at night watching a movie with your sister, your parents. Spend many nights alone room but I was blessed that in Spain there are many players on the circuit and dined together many Sometimes we talk, we see football matches. That helps a lot. "
As corroborating this idea of family togetherness, the legend 'nadaliana' interview in which he is alone, interrupted several calls from home. He replied, in Majorca, affectionate, not irritated by the courts involved. In the Gulf, no one would have overlooked the change of 'look' of Nadal has abandoned his sleeveless shirt and trousers with a fisherman and a full-pole 'shorts' shorter, more in line with the label's traditional tennis. Is the principle of a more mature Nadal? "A piece of cloth more or less do not make the person. What is important is inside." magnificent 2008: Wimbledon, Roland Garros, Olympic gold, Prince of Asturias, the best European athletes of the year. And also, of course, to hear a scream torn and spontaneous on the track, as happened in Doha, from a girl who was not even Spanish: "! You quierrrro much, Rafaaaa." Obstinately replied: "Honestly, I never or almost never stop thinking about me all this. I have my environment where I do my normal life, and I do not put these things. It's nice to see that