Rafael Nadal

I’m not the best player in the history of tennis. I think I’m amongst the best. That’s true. That’s enough for me.

I appreciate a lot in this life; the things you cannot buy. Life is only once. I am happy being here and all the things that are a risk I normally avoid.

What distinguishes tennis is respect for one’s opponent, one’s conduct on the court.

My goal is to improve my game, stay healthy and be competitive. If I have that, I know I can be able to win tournaments, which in the end is what it counts.

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.

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

Playing well or playing bad, I have to play aggressive. I must play aggressive.

I play because I have fun, if I don’t have fun on the court, there is something wrong. I am just a 19 year old boy that likes to do what he likes, nothing else.

My uncle developed the training philosophy. His idea of good tennis training is basically quite simple: you must try to gain time.

[Roger Federer] We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game in a way I haven’t seen anyone – and I mean anyone – play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated – and the wonderful feel he has stays with him – he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.

I always had the theory that the most important thing is be happy, enjoy what are you doing, and be fresh mentally.

Where do you go when you’re the best in the world? What’s next?

I always think about victory. It was very important for me to stay in this final. If I play my best I have a chance (against Federer). I’m going to play aggressively, with determination.

I want to be remembered as a great athlete. As a boxing champion.

It was a very unbelievable day for me. It’s special to begin the clay season like this. Beating Roger in the final is even more special, it’s great.

Girls had never been important. I’d had a girlfriend or two and had liked them a lot but it wasn’t love, because my first love was tennis.

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 don’t really care what the man on the street thinks. I never did anything to please him in the first place, and I’m not going to start now.

Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to do sports for a living. In the beginning, I played a lot of soccer, but in the end I chose tennis. I love sports in general … But tennis is my passion.

Winning is a way of expressing yourself.

Tennis is a hard sport. There is a lot of competition all year and you play alone.