Rafael Nadal

The first match is never easy. To play three sets with some important moments, that’s important for the confidence.

I always think about victory. It was very important for me to stay in this final. If I play my best I have a chance (against Federer). I’m going to play aggressively, with determination.

Being home alone at night makes me a bit nervous. If I’m at home alone, I have to sleep on the sofa – I can’t face going to bed. I’m there with the TV on and all the lights on. I’m not very brave about anything in life. In tennis, yes. In everything else, not very.

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

My goal is to improve my game, stay healthy and be competitive. If I have that, I know I can be able to win tournaments, which in the end is what it counts.

In tennis, because of the way it’s scored, I don’t think that scoring one point out of luck is ever decisive in winning. But, of course, it depends on the moment.

The first match is never easy. To play three sets with some important moments, that’s important for the confidence.

I am thrilled to be the new team captain. I am sure that the pressures I’ve faced on centre court will stand me in good stead to battle it out against Ian and his team.

I was in the tennis bubble. I wasn’t thinking about the big picture. I didn’t notice what they said on television, I wasn’t reading any papers. I had a coach and a manager, and they kept me in the bubble.

My serve can get better, for sure. It’s not just about serving bombs, but positioning, variation in speed, in spin.

Hard courts are very negative for the body. I know the sport is a business and creating these courts is easier than clay or grass, but I am 100 per cent sure it is wrong.

The fifth set is not about tennis, it’s about nerves.

Some people may learn something from the way I play tennis. But there are also players who are better than me in certain techniques.

I like fishing. Not actual fishing – I like the peace and quiet of being at sea. It’s different.

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

I’m only superstitious on the tennis court.

I love this game, I love this sport, I love this league. Why don’t I get my own team?

I take pleasure in tennis and the hope that it requires.

With Almagro, boy, that’ll be a tough match. He’s playing at a very high level right now and he hits the ball hard.

I swim almost every day, a thousand meters.

Confidence is the most important thing in this sport, and the confidence from winning Wimbledon would make it easier to win the Olympics, too. Either would be very difficult, both even more-but the player who wins Wimbledon will be the favorite for the Olympics. It can happen.