Rafael Nadal

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

If you don’t lose, you cannot enjoy the victories. So I have to accept both things.

It’s the same old story, all you think about is money.

You fight, you try your best, but if you lose, you don’t have to break five racquets and smash up the locker room. You can do those things, but when you’ve finished, nothing’s changed. You’ve still lost. If something positive came from that, I probably would do it. But I see only negativity.

I have always tried to avoid regrets. Could I have done differently some things in my career? Maybe.

My parents’ divorce made an important change in my life. It affected me.

I’m really, really emotional.

I appreciate a lot in this life; the things you cannot buy. Life is only once.

Look at my haircut. I am ready for the war.

I love this game, I love this sport, I love this league. Why don’t I get my own team?

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.

Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball, the rules and realities of the game – and do it by watching some high school or small-town teams.

My motivation and aspiration is the same, being number one or being number five. So that’s the truth. And my goal is the same – it’s to always be happy playing, it’s to enjoy the game and improve always.

I just wanted to see how the shorts felt again.

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.

If somebody says I am better than Roger, I think this person doesn’t know anything about tennis.

Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is the best job. The thing I had to realize was that I can’t do every dream that I have.

Something that works for one person could be a disadvantage to another.

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.

The eyes of some of the fans at Davis Cup matches scare me. There’s no light in them. Fixed emotions. Blind worship. Horror. It makes me think of what happened to us long ago.

I drew my strength from fear. Fear of losing. I don’t remember the games I won, only the games I lost.