Rafael Nadal

It is unbelievable to me that I can win against the best player in the world, against one of the best in history. It’s very important and very special for me, especially because I was three months off the court.

I appreciate a lot in this life; the things you cannot buy. Life is only once.

Honesty, willingness to exert oneself, friendship – all these things shaped me too.

I will work day after day like I did my whole life … I’m not going to change anything.

I’ll never have a tattoo – I just don’t like them, and when you’re old they can look a disaster. As for piercings, I don’t like them on men.

I am afraid of a lot of things. A dog. I could be afraid of a dog that’s upset, for example. And on the tennis courts, maybe on the outside I look fearless, but on the inside, I’m scared. There’s not one player in the world who isn’t nervous before matches. Especially important matches.

Tennis is beautiful when you can see tactics, when players don’t just react but are able to act and think.

The goal is to win. It’s not about making money. I have many much less risky ways of making money than this (buying Chelsea football club). I don’t want to throw my money away, but it’s really about having fun and that means success and trophies.

I’m realising my dream of owning a top football club. Some will doubt my motives, others will think I’m crazy.

[Roger Federer] We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game in a way I haven’t seen anyone – and I mean anyone – play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated – and the wonderful feel he has stays with him – he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.

I’m not the best player in the history of tennis. I think I’m amongst the best. That’s true. That’s enough for me.

It’s important to have people around you with enough confidence to say if you are not acting in a good way. Normally, when you are at the top, people say everything is fantastic. Probably in that moment it is what you want to hear, but it’s best to be reminded how to act properly.

I just try to win the match by fighting for every point, and running down every ball.

Honesty, willingness to exert oneself, friendship – all these things shaped me too.

I swim almost every day, a thousand meters.

I learned during all my career to enjoy suffering.

Something that works for one person could be a disadvantage to another.

I am not the most courageous guy in the world outside of the court.

I love basketball.

Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is the best job. The thing I had to realize was that I can’t do every dream that I have.

I used to wear sleeveless T-shirts all the time on court, but now I’ve got a brand new look – I’ve moved on to polo shirts. Sleeveless T-shirts give you real freedom of movement and they keep you cooler in matches, but I just thought it was time for a change.