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Mise à jour : Toni !

HIS PUPIL'S SECRETS REVEALED

Toni Nadal: "The keys to Rafa's success are humility, effort and enthusiasm"

Antoni Nadal, Rafael Nadal's personal trainer and uncle, points to "humility, effort and enthusiasm" as being the keys to the success of the present number two in the world, but says that what is outstanding about him is his great worth as a human being.

"The formation of a sportsperson as a human being is very important, because you are better if you are well brought up and educated. People have come to value the fact that Rafa puts so much enthusiasm into his game and that he is an appreciative courteous person. That is the success that is most important, the rest is fleeting," explained Nadal at the Barcelona Real Club de Tenis.

The reigning Roland Garros champion's trainer, under the attentive gaze of the Honorary President of the Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch, analyzed the human angle of his work on which "the good success management" which his nephew seems to enjoy is based. "I tried to carry out his formation as a tennis player together with that of him as a human being, because it is easier to assimilate success if you are well formed as a person," stated Nadal, who declared that "on seeing that Rafa was already a good player as a child" he did not want to risk discovering in him "the dreadful attitudes that you see in some sports stars".

The pillars on which a star is educated

Antoni Nadal affirmed that one of the pillars of this education is to have "clear objectives". "Rafa has always known what he wants to achieve and he has set himself objectives in harmony with his effort, which is essential so as not to leave everything to chance. He has always had this quite clear and he is a real professional who has buckled down to hard work since he was very young," he asserted.

"It is important to demand a lot of oneself. Things do not depend on others: one has to make the maximum effort oneself and profit from everything one does," declared Rafa Nadal's uncle, who first saw his nephew play tennis when he was three and then start doing so on a regular basis at the age of four, when his "great talent" became obvious.

"Like most unaffected people, Rafa has had the right environment to grow up in. In the family we didn't make a big deal of his success because he was just a child who played at hitting a ball over a net," explained Antoni Nadal, who affirmed that he had always behaved "very simply".

A professional from the age of eight

According to Antoni Nadal, his nephew has worked "like a professional" from the age of eight, although he did not give up his studies to devote himself exclusively to tennis until he was sixteen, and his only 'misfortune', "together with the fame, which overpampers whoever enjoys it", has perhaps been the incompatibility between going far in the sport and really fully enjoying himself playing.

**************

'It's a miracle where Rafa is'

Toni Nadal praises his nephew for playing with constant discomfort in his foot

SEBASTIÀ ADROVER. PALMA.

"It's a miracle Rafel is where he is with the problem he has in his foot." That is how frank the uncle and trainer of the world No.2, Toni Nadal, was about the physical problems his pupil has to overcome to be at the top. "He always has to be careful because he wears insoles that destabilize his whole body when he puts his foot down and cause him not to have the foot placement he should," he added.

Nadal made these declarations during a press conference before the conference entitled 'Formation and Sport' he gave at the Chamber of Commerce. He was accompanied by the Baleares Government director general of Sports and the president of the host organization, Juan Gual de Torrella.

The trainer stated that although he is the holder of two Roland Garros trophies and the Davis Cup among other titles, Rafael's game can improve even more: "It's clear that he has room for improvement for, if not, I wouldn't have the motivation to train him nor he to play. His serve, his backhand, drive and volley can always improve, the difficult thing is to actually do it."

Toni made special mention of one of the major characteristics that have taken his nephew to the very top: "His mental capacity to overcome the adversities that have presented themselves over the years." He added: "His game is marked by the type of surface he has played on - clay - and by his early debute on the ATP tour. That has conditioned him a little."

'Número uno'

With respect to his assault on the number one spot, Nadal was frank: "If I were Federer, I wouldn't be worried because, to tell the truth, I still don't understand how Rafel has beaten him so many times," he exclaimed. "He is the best sportsman in the world, and I'm not just talking about tennis here, because neither Ronaldhino nor Tiger Woods achieves what he does.

The Manacorian admitted that the only formula for overtaking the Swiss in the ranking is: "He has to drop the level of his game and results and Rafel raise his so that we have them on equal terms." "But I tell you, I'd certainly settle right now for him being ATP No.2 again next year," he added.

About whether the 20-year-old player was put under too much pressure to tumble Federer, he stated: "It doesn't do him any harm at all because he is the most interested in being number one in the world. Rafel plays for that, knowing that there are others there to support him. But, if you have the bad luck to have a monster like the Swiss there, you just have to bide your time." Toni is satisfied with the way Rafael played in the Davis Cup play off against Italy, where he won two singles matches and the doubles. "It has helped us gain confidence for the next tournamets," he said. Nadal's short time objectives are clear: "The Madrid Masters, Shanghai and the Australian Open in January."

Teaching to be a champion on and of court

The fifty people who were at the Chamber of Commerce were able to hear the guide lines for the formation of his nephew/pupil that Toni Nadal revealed: "There have to be short and long term objectives set and a great effort made to learn in the widest sense, not just as regards to sport." According to his trainer, Rafael's career has had three stages: "The first, that of an enormous enthusiasm for playing tennis; the second, the hardest, the formation and training; and the last, the current one of being a professional tennis player."

*********************

Confidential conversation with an uncle

The best way to take the measure of a young 20-year old is to approach those close to him. We are still in the process of getting to know Rafael Nadal even if he has already won Roland Garros twice. On the court, he sometimes comes across as aggressive, doesn’t he? His fist held up, his black hair in the wind, his inflated muscles. But ask yourself this question: have you ever seen him throw a racquet or insult an umpire? You will probably give a negative reply.

Why?

“Because he has been raised that way”, declares Toni Nadal, his uncle who is also his trainer. I didn’t know Toni very well until a recent conversation which gave me a clear picture. He told me that Rafael held his first racquet in his hands at the age of three years and he hit the ball in a very natural way right away. That happened a few years after Toni decided to take lessons in Barcelona to become a coach when he realised that he would never become a top player.

Very quickly, he understood that he was going to have take care of his nephew with the full approval of the rest of the clan in Manacor, a Balearic town. Head of the clan is the grandfather of the Roland Garros champion with the same first name Rafael, aged 80 and for whom respect for the law is very important. Toni is one of four sons of the other Rafa. Another one is Miguel Angel who played in three world cups in the Spanish jersey. It’s in this hot sports mixture that Rafael has learned to play the game on the court and off it.

Has he encountered a few problems on the way to glory?

“Only recently”, Toni admits to me. “Now that he’s famous, it’s difficult with the press. Journalists exaggerate certain things and it’s a delicate operation for such a young man to keep a good sense of proportion of what is accurate and what is not.”

Sitting on the other side of the table during our conversation, the world number two keeps his eyes zoomed in on his mobile phone and he tries to give the impression that he’s not listening to us. But he certainly heard what his uncle told me later on:

“The other day, Rafael told me that a respectable person will always greet you. At home, I have a lady who works in my house and of course, I greet her everyday. That’s the normal way to behave but that doesn’t necessarily make a good person out of you. Behaving badly, on the other hand, is what makes you a “bad person”. That’s the reason why you will never see Rafa throw his racquet. He has never done so and he never will. Very early on, I told him that this would be a sign of disrespect to all those who cherish their racquet because it's the only one they've got.”

Even if he has the tendency to take a bit too much time from time to time when he has to serve, Rafa has shown that he’s a fast learner.

By Richard Evans.

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Mise à jour : interview !

F. GONZÁLEZ/R. Nadal

6?2, 6?4, 6?3

Q. Fernando was in awesome form out there. What was it like on the other side of the court? Could you do much against him?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he's playing very good level, that's for sure. Maybe was not a good match for me. I don't know if I can say I am playing bad, but for sure I can't play at hundred percent, no?

I have problems in my leg, so I cannot run. I can't run a lot. Was difficult play one match like this, quarterfinals of one Grand Slam, with pain, without the best conditions, no?

Q. When did you hurt your leg?

RAFAEL NADAL: After the match. After the last match of Murray.

Q. Is that what the treatment was for?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah.

Q. What exactly is it?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't know. I really don't know why. I was thinking before the ?? before the match, I was practicing a little bit in the hotel because I was very tired. Today I going to warm up. I don't feel very bad. I just feel very tired. The leg hurt.

When I am on court, I am trying to run. Hundred percent run, well, I can't. I can't start. Was difficult and disappointing for me, no? I don't know if is a good opportunity because Fernando is very tough match. But for sure when you are in quarterfinals of a Grand Slam and you can't play with your best feelings, your best conditions, is difficult, no?

Q. Did you expect to win?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, before the match, yes. When I am on the match, no.

Q. Did you do something in the match against Murray? When did you feel the pain in that match?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I don't feel the pain in the match of Murray, no? I feel later. I feel after. Well, I don't know. I was thinking was just tired. Normal. I was playing very tough match, I just feel tired. Maybe is not just tired, because is not normal. Walking right now I have lot of pain. Maybe is a little bit more than tired.

Q. What part of your leg is the pain in?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, it's not just the one place. I have pain here, in my famous ass. After I feel a little bit here, too (pointing to the inside and outside of the thigh). That maybe it's just tired, no? But down this way and in the ass is very, very painful, no?

Q. What do you do now? Do you leave Australia as soon as you can? Where do you play next?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I going to leave on Friday maybe because tomorrow I don't have plane. Well, I want to play the Davis Cup after one week. I hope be hundred percent for Davis Cup. Is one of my goals always, play for your country is always special for me.

But I need go to the doctor and watch what I can I do right now, no?

Q. Will you have a scan?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, not yet. I just have doping right now. Nothing else.

Q. How much better a player is Fernando now? Does he seem more patient?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he improves his game a lot, no? He's playing with more calm all the time. Well, now he's doing a lot of slice, open the backhand. Sometimes is difficult.

Well, today I can't say so much, no, because I am not, I don't know.

INTERPRETER: He really didn't have the chance to see how he plays because he was never at a hundred percent today.

RAFAEL NADAL: But for sure he has very good results. He improves a lot his game.

Q. Do you think he's got the game to beat Roger or Andy in the final?

RAFAEL NADAL: You never know. Roger is always very difficult. Is another level always. But you never know. When you are in one final of Grand Slam, you can win for sure because you are with big confidence. Anything can do.

But we will see the semifinals against Tommy Haas, no?

Q. You will have a scan in Spain?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, for sure, because I have the Davis Cup after one week. I need know if I going to be in the team or not ? for me and for the rest.

Q. How much more disappointing is it when you have to leave a tournament after losing not being a hundred percent fit than when you lose in a tough match just normally?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, disappointing, no, because I was playing fine. I was playing good. I was winning very important match two days ago against Murray. I was with good confidence for try to play this quarterfinals and try to go to the final, no? But, well, that's it. I was trying my best all the time. I was fighting a lot for being in this quarterfinals.

But these things happening sometimes. Well, it's not a problem. If I am playing bad, something, well, you can go to the home and say disappointing. But today I just say, well, I can't do more. I try my best. Well, that's it.

Saturday, 20 January, 2007
R. NADAL/S. Wawrinka
6-2, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Question, please.

Q. Was it a harder match than the scores indicated?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, always. Every match is tough. Every match is different. Every match have difficult moments.

But today maybe I won 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. But always the points are tough. But in every set I have 4-1 with two breaks, so that's important, no?

Q. Are you happy with your form going into the second week? Is this where you would like to be?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, for sure I'm happy today. I play my best match, hundred percent. I play good today - very, very good. I'm happy for that.

Q. It was the first time you played Wawrinka. What do you think about him?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, he has a very good shots. He serve well. Very good backhand. On the forehand sometimes irregular. So what? He's young, too. He can improve. He's No. 31 in the world right now, so that's very good number, and improving.

Q. If you play Murray next, how different will he be to Wawrinka, the challenge?

RAFAEL NADAL: A hundred percent different. He's a different player, different style, everything different. You can't compare the matches, no?

We will see. If is Murray, is going to be very difficult match. If it's Chela, too. We will see Murray's improving his game. He's very young. Just one less than me, yeah. Well, he start good the season in Doha playing the final. We will see.

Q. You knew him in Spain?

RAFAEL NADAL: When he was in Spain, I never practice with him. He was in Barcelona and I live in Mallorca all the time. Different places.

Q. How much more confident are you having played like that compared to Thursday night?

RAFAEL NADAL: I am improving, no? I tell last night I finish with very good feelings in the fourth set. I play my best tennis in the season, and today improve the tennis. I play may best today for sure all the time.

I feel very comfortable with my forehand, with my serve, with my backhand, too. Today maybe I played a very complete match. That's it. I am very happy because if I continuing play like this, like today, I have a chance for a win, for a winner's match. I can lose too, but I have chance to win.

Q. Are you peaking at the right time?

RAFAEL NADAL: From this year?

Q. Yes.

RAFAEL NADAL: For sure, yeah, hundred percent.

Q. Do you feel physically 100% now?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, for sure. Before the match was a little bit tired, because last match, last night, I have a difficult match, and I don't have too much time. I finish very late. I was sleeping at 5:30, 6:00 in the morning. Just have one day and a little bit more.

But, well, today was not very long match. That's important. For Monday, I going to have hundred percent, for sure.

Q. You don't feel the injury any more?

RAFAEL NADAL: No, I don't feel nothing. Thank you.

Q. You have won many titles as a young player, have lived with the pressure of being No. 2. You've seen in England on your visits what happens to English players under expectation. The pressure that Murray is under, is it the same as yours, or do you see it as different?

RAFAEL NADAL: Oh, well, the pression, everyone have his pression, no? I am No. 2, but maybe he wants to be the No. 2 or No. 1, no? I am No. 2 right now. But I have my pression because I want to continue being No. 2, and he have the pression for come to No. 2. That's it.

I want to enjoy when I am on court. Now I am -- I feel with a good feeling when playing tennis. When you are playing well and you are in third round, fourth round in Australia, you have to be happy and play. For sure I want to win and I have pression, but everyone have the same.

Q. Is Murray one of the players that you think in years to come will be one of your great rivals?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I don't know, no? I say he's very good player. He can be one of the best players in the world. He is one of the best players of the world right now, no? But he can continuing like this and win Grand Slams, win very good titles. That's it.

I don't know if in three years, four years I going to be in the top five. But you never know in the future, no? So for sure he has a very good potential. But is coming very good players, too, no?

Young players, new generation, still very good generation: Nalbandian, Hewitt, Roddick, Federer, Davydenko, Blake, Robredo. Every player is there and everyone wants to win because Federer is not old, Roddick is not old, Blake is not old, too. Robredo, Davydenko, every player is maximum 26. So everyone have the chance.

Q. After you won the French Open this year, people were surprised you haven't won since. Coming into 2007, is there any reason why you didn't quite go on in the second half of last season?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I know every player in the tour knows how difficult is win a title, no? I don't know. Ferrero was four years maybe playing the Masters Cup, or three. He has 11 titles. Moya, I don't know, a lot of years playing the tour, five Masters Cup, one of the best players of the world every year. He has maybe 19 titles. You know how difficult is win the title, no?

I play very bad -- me, in my opinion, I play very bad in Toronto, Cincinnati, the first two Masters Series of the second half of the season. After I play a very good US Open. I play a good US Open. I have a very good chance for be in the semifinals. I lost against Youzhny. Youzhny was playing very good. I play very good in Madrid. Lost against Berdych, was playing a very good match. I lost the semifinals of Shanghai against the best, Federer. That's it. I don't play too much tournaments, just play six tournaments. I have my chance in three.

Q. Murray has made a habit of beating Spanish players. He beat Martin, then Verdasco. Have you spoken to either of them since they played the matches?

RAFAEL NADAL: We will see. I have chances -- more chances to lose than to win. I don't know. Every match is different. Every player is different. No one Spanish player is the same. I don't know. For sure he has the chance.

If he win today, he has a chance for beat me and arrive to the final and win the tournament because he's very good player. But I will try my best.

Q. What about Chela?

RAFAEL NADAL: If it Chela, going to be tough match, too. Chela is a veteran player. He has good experience in all surfaces. Going to be tough, too.

R. NADAL/P. Kohlschreiber

7?5, 6?3, 4?6, 6?2

Q. Could you tell us where you got hit with those two balls, how badly it hurt. When Kohlschreiber hit you at the net with those two balls, where did it hit and badly did it hurt?

The first one there in the finger. The other one I touch with the racquet. The first one I understand hundred percent fine. You are in the net, you want to win the point. But the second one is a little bit struggling because he has all court for him, no? But it's fine.

Q. Where did the second one hit you?

No, no. In the racquet.

Q. On the racquet?

Yes. For very good luck on the racquet. For nothing put me in one eye, something, in the face.

Q. It was a good fight. Did you like it?

Yeah, I am happy with this match, no? Was very important for me. Is very good test because I finish the match very good physically. The first set I play very good tennis, too.

Kohlschreiber play a good match. Was playing great tennis. I just play bad maybe the final of third set, no? I serve bad. I play without confidence with my serve and with my forehand and backhand. I miss a lot.

But it's fine, no? After I come back very well with very good attitude. I am very happy for that, no? I feel faster on court than the other days, no? Today I feel the faster day when I start this season, no? I am happy. Maybe I improve my tennis here. I feel better here than Shanghai right now. I have good confidence next round.

Q. Were you surprised by the way he played?

No, I know every match is tough. You could see, Roddick was losing two sets to love against Tsonga. Safin two sets to one. When you are at the hotel and you saw the TV, when you go on court, you think, I going to have a difficult match, too.

Q. Does it give you confidence that you don't play your best and you still win?

Well, that's very important, no? Is very important win when you're not playing the best because that's a good point. That give me very good confidence. But I am happy with my game today. I feel better. Maybe is the first match in the year when I feel better, I feel good in some moments, no? So that's very important. I am trying every day to get my hundred percent. But I am fine. I improving every day, so that's very important for me.

Q. Do you feel like you need to improve in your service games?

He was returning the ball very well. He was returning very well. But I won the first set with one break. I play bad this break, no? I miss some balls. But after he play good. In the third set, he has very good points when I was serving. Sometimes is not easy, no? But, well, I need continuing improve my serve always. And sometimes the problem is not just in the serve. You have one player in front. You have to compete against him. He can return very well. Sometimes you need more luck than the other.

Q. Do you expect a more difficult task in the next round?

Well, every match is very difficult, no? You never know what's happening the next round. He is a very good player. He play very aggressive all the time. He play very fast. We will see. Going to have a difficult match. I need play my best for win, no? But I feel better every day and I will try.

Q. What do you know about him? Never played him?

I think I never play against him. He's a good player. I saw him lot of time on the tournaments. I know he has very good backhand. He play very good all the time, touching the ball very hard.

Q. Fans were very loud. Did the Spanish fans help you or did the German fans bother you at all?

Everything is fine, no? The atmosphere was fine. Always here I play good matches here against Hewitt against one Australian. The people here is very nice, respectful with the game. Was nice. The German, the Spanish, so everything fine.

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Mise à jour : les photos 3ième partie !

Gonzalez

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Mise à jour : les photos 2nde partie !

Murray

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Mise à jour : les photos !

Coucou à toutes et à tous !

Ravie de vous retrouver, vous m'avez bien manqué. Mes vacances finies, je vais faire mon maximum pour rattraper tout mon retard, bien que j'aurai préféré rentrer à temps pour voir Rafael en finale...

Désolée pour le retard mais je vais tenter de tout remettre à jour.

Bécos.