Rafael Nadal

The record of Borg and Vilas? I have thought about it.

I was passionate about soccer. I still am. Odd, though – playing soccer always made me much more anxious than playing tennis. On soccer days, I’d be out of bed by 6 in the morning, all nervous. But I was always calm when it was time for a tennis match. I still don’t know why.

It’s important for the young players to practice other ball games as well, basketball or table tennis. On the tennis court, you can improve your eye through a kind of overexertion.

I only ever run when there’s some point to it – say, if it’s in a game of tennis.

I’d rather lose an argument than get into a long discussion in order to win it.

I play because I have fun, if I don’t have fun on the court, there is something wrong. I am just a 19 year old boy that likes to do what he likes, nothing else.

You know, a lot of things changed. What never changed is the illusion to keep playing tennis, the illusion to keep doing well the things, and the illusion to be in a good position of the ranking and play these kind of matches.

The favorite is always the No. 1. I can win. Blake can win. But the favorite is the No. 1.

I’m only superstitious on the tennis court.

I am a guy who likes to do what I am doing with passion, whether it’s a soccer match with friends or golf.

I always like to do the things that I think are right. I am not trying to be a model, I am trying to be myself and do the right things. If what I am doing is a model, or is an example, is the right example, I am very happy, but I don’t pretend that.

That’s the hard part about sport: as men we haven’t started to be in our prime, but as athletes we are old people. I needed support. I lost trust and did stupid things.

Money plays an important role in football but it is not the dominating factor. When Chelsea play a Carling Cup game in a small city and it could result in a draw – the excitement, the spirit, the atmosphere – that’s the real beauty of football in England.

Where do you go when you’re the best in the world? What’s next?

I cannot win this year but I can play good on grass

I always work with a goal – and the goal is to improve as a player and a person. That, finally, is the most important thing of all.

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.

Winning is a way of expressing yourself.

The boys are so powerful off of the baseline now that they don’t have to come to the net to finish points. That’s the reason we went to the net. To finish the point. Nowadays, even the big guys can hit winners four feet behind the baseline.

It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.

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