Rafael Nadal

It is important to recognize the small successes.

Is more for precaution. You don’t know tomorrow what’s happen, no? But now I am happy because I don’t feel too much pain. But I can finish the match, so that’s a good sign.

I don’t have any idols, any heroes, nothing, no.

I am not the most courageous guy in the world outside of the court. Being alone in the dark is something I don’t like.

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 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.

How does one control weight? By not overeating. How does one stay in shape? One plays sports. There are no magic pills here.

You can swim any way you like in the Dead Sea, actually.

I am not the most courageous guy in the world outside of the court. Being alone in the dark is something I don’t like.

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.

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

Because, to give a goal, the ball must be 100% in and he must be 100% sure that the ball is in.

Above all, such sports as judo, in my view, teach people to relate to each other. They teach us to respect a partner, teach us to understand that an externally weak partner can not only put up worthy resistance, but, if you relax and take too much for granted, may even win.

I normally listen to Spanish music – well, Latin music. I like a lot of singers.

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.

The guy comes up to the plate, there’s always a chance where he can get a grand slam and everybody forgets about all the times he missed.

I started to travel like this at the age of 15 so for me, it’s normal. Some days you get tired and you feel, ‘I want to stay at home a little bit more,’ but it’s only the moment.

I’m ambidextrous when I eat. But playing tennis right-handed – I can’t do it. I’m clueless.

Certainly I would like to have some of the qualities of other players and obviously from Roger Federer. But believe me, there are plenty of other abilities that are important, particularly mindset and strength.

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

I doubt about myself. I think doubts are good in life. The people who don’t have doubts I think only two things-arrogance or not intelligence.