Rafael Nadal

I am lucky because my family are comfortably off. My father has his own glass business.

If somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person doesn’t know anything about tennis.

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.

Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to do sports for a living. In the beginning, I played a lot of soccer, but in the end I chose tennis. I love sports in general … But tennis is my passion.

My uncle developed the training philosophy. His idea of good tennis training is basically quite simple: you must try to gain time.

The only way of finding a solution is to fight back, to move, to run, and to control that pressure.

I didn’t play a great match, but once I pass the first two rounds, things get easier. I’m used to the court and the conditions.

Thats the hard part about sport: as men we havent started to be in our prime, but as athletes we are old people. I needed support. I lost trust and did stupid things.

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.

No one is perfect. Everybody does stupid things.

Before, I wouldn’t have sacrificed anything for tennis but when I met Barbara it was different. I would have sacrificed tennis for Barbara.

In Majorca, I can be myself. I go to the supermarket and the cinema, and I am just Rafa. Everyone knows me, and it is no big deal. I can go all day – no photographs.

I admire a lot of people, but in terms of sport I’ve always loved the mentality of Tiger Woods on a golf course. I always love his eyes when he’s setting himself and focusing on his decision; he has a really strong, focused face and believes that he can make the shot.

My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?

I live where I would like to live. I live in Majorca, Spain, and I am not sure there are better places.

It is important to recognize the small successes.

Two weeks ago, I was in a fantastic situation, winning at Roland Garros. Now, losing in the first round, it’s tough. The tour continues. Life continues. This is a sport of victories, not a sport of losses. Nobody remembers the losses. I don’t want to remember the loss.

If somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person doesn’t know anything about tennis.

The worst thing is to play too defensively. I need to play with more intensity and be aggressive. If I do that, I’m going to do well because my touch is good.

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 always wanted to be honest with myself and to those who have had faith in me.