Rafael Nadal

Every year I go to Broadway to see a musical – I like the music. I saw ‘Mamma Mia;’ I saw ‘Les Miserables;’ I saw ‘Phantom of the Opera’ like six, seven times.

There are many moments during a match when you are tense, wrestling with yourself. Tennis is a lesson in self-control.

I have lived my whole life with high intensity.

It’s already a great feeling to be third on the list. To get past Borg, I will have to reach the final in Barcelona next week. It won?t be easy. I could lose any day. But if I am 100 per cent I know I have a great chance of winning.

If you want to belong to the best, you need good technique and, perhaps even more importantly, a good eye. If you see the ball sooner, you have more time to think about how and where to return it.

It’s not the time to look for excuses.

Anyone could become a star, but everyone must be a human being.

For sure, I’m going to play less matches because I think it’s very difficult to win the same number of matches as last year. Maybe I’m going to play a little bit less, but I like playing tournaments; so if I feel good, I going to play for sure.

I’m only superstitious on the tennis court.

Every time you are not practicing someone else is.

I didn’t play a great match, but once I pass the first two rounds, things get easier. I’m used to the court and the conditions.

Some people get very confused about my game. They think it’s better if the court is slow, because I have a good defence. But the faster it is, the better for me. My spin is more painful for my opponents, my aggressive game works better.

I tried to find a solution to the problem that I had, tried to find a way to start playing better.

I’m lucky enough to do what I like for work – not everyone’s that fortunate.

I’m really, really emotional.

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.

When one player is better than you, at this moment, the only thing you can do is work, try to find solutions and try to wait a little bit for your time. I’m going to wait and I’m going to try a sixth time. And if the sixth doesn’t happen, a seventh. It’s going to be like this. That’s the spirit of sport.

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

I have no sense of humor about losing

Two weeks ago, I was in a fantastic situation, winning at Roland Garros. Now, losing in the first round, it’s tough. The tour continues. Life continues. This is a sport of victories, not a sport of losses. Nobody remembers the losses. I don’t want to remember the loss.

I love basketball.