Questions for Rafa
Rafael Nadal is writing a blog for Times Online during Wimbledon fortnight and he has also agreed to answer your questions. Email them to sport@timesonline.co.uk and we'll do the rest. The latest batch appears below:
When you do retire, what will you do with your life? Would you be interested in coaching tennis or will you go in a completely different direction?
Teresa Poole
Rafa: I think I am too young to think about that to be honest. I am thinking more in what I need to do to improve. :-)
Hola Rafa, well done on progressing to round 2. With all the travel you do, I'm sure you love to be home in Manacor as much as possible, but if you could pick any other place to go on a
holiday, where would you pick and why? Much love,
Gill Leone (London, UK)
Rafa: Believe me I would anyway chose Mallorca. It is simply the best!
Hello Rafa! Here’s my question: If Feli is Fidgiano, David Ferrer is Ferru, Moya is Moyini or Charly, and you are Nadalek, what do you call David Nalbandian? All of you seem to be a
very tight group of friends, giving each other nicknames. Also, are there other players whom you’re friends with and you call with a special name?
Anna Katrina Mondala
Rafa: They actually call him "gringo". That's how the other Argentinians call him. I get along well with the Spanish, Argentinians, you know the ones I can talk to without problems with my language.
Hello Rafa, first of all good luck for Wimbledon, this is a question outside of tennis hope you dont mind. Just want to know about your famous Pasta creation (with mushroom and shrimps)
if its not a secret, can you please tell us fans what main ingredients you use besides the mushrooms and shrimps. Is the sauce tomato based or cream, and what other ingredients you
use.
From your two Australian fans Hatice and Belin. Thank you.
Rafa: Many thanks. No, no, no sauce tomato and definitely not cream. I put oil on a pan and then cook sliced onions. once they are well done I put the mushrooms and after all that the gambas. I also put crushed chilis to make it a bit spicy. Then I cook the pasta and mix everything together, Very simple but very good.
Some people (myself included) try and see as many of your matches and practice sessions as possible and will travel around the world to see you play in different tournaments since you
are always a joy to watch. Do you ever recognise people and does it bother you to see the same faces? I'd hate to think you felt threatened by your fans.
MAC
from vamosbrigade, UK
Rafa: Many thanks. Very kind of you. I don't feel threatened. I like to see and recognise the people, but believe me I see a lot of people... Difficult to stay with the faces.
Hi, I played first division tennis for many years, always found weights in the gym slow general movement down. Clearly not in your case, how is this achieved?
Ken
Coates
Rafa: Because I normally don't work in the gym. I prefer to work on the court.
Rafael, Do you have any thoughts on why Spain produces so many wonderful tennis players, and England produces so few?
Dominic
Rafa: I don't know. I think there are many factors. We have a good system of competition and so the kids can learn and play and compete at the same time. This is how you get better. But I am sure there are many more things for the success of Spanish tennis.
What is more valuable for you ?? Winning ONE TOURNAMENT a few consecutive years (e.g.: Monte Carlo, Barcelona, French Open) or winning several tournaments in a row in ONE YEAR (e.g.:
Hamburg, Roland Garros, Queens, :-) ) ? Sunny greetings from Germany - I'm already looking forward seeing you winning in Stuttgart!
Jessica
Rafa: all the titles are important and it also depends on when you win them. Keep the sun :-)
Hello Campeon! I was always curious about your relationship with Carlos Moya. It seems that he loves you like a brother. It's very sweet. Is he also kind of an older brother to you or
more like a friend?
Angela
Rafa: I think he is more a friend than anything else. But I also take some good old brother type of advice from him from time to time
Hi Rafa, have u ever thought of cutting ur hair (really) short? And I wanna know what makes you laugh out loud? do ur best!!
Tasha, Jakarta (Indonesia)
Rafa: Not for the moment !
Hola Rafael, I as a hobby-tennis-player just bought my third racket in ten years now. I guess that's not even as much as you use for one match, hehe. I know you always get new strings
on your rackets but I wonder how many rackets itself you are using during one tournament? And do you get new rackets for a new tournament or just new
strings?
Annika
Rafa: I normally have 6 racquets at each tournament I play. I changed them after Roland Garros and hopefully i will change again after the US Open.
Do you remember your first match? how old were you? and did you won it?
Louise (5 years), Belgium
Rafa: No I don't. Maybe I was your age...
Rafa, I am a pretty average tennis player. Do you think you could beat me if you had to play right handed?
Winston, London
Rafa: Depends what average is. I don't know to be honest. Interesting.
Rafa... I've watched you play since 2005 and these past months you have played brilliant. I deeply admire you. You're the best. Saying that, my next question is based of what I've
seen for a long time. How do you deal with all the female attention that you get from girls and women around the globe? I mean... I've seen some of your trainings and ladies chase
everywhere you go. Besides, Rafa... you're gorgeous. Does your girlfriend get jealous sometimes? Love from Argentina.
Laura
Rafa: Muchas gracias. I just focus on what I have to do. And it is nice to see everyone around. Thanks for the compliments.
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