Rafael Nadal

I started to travel like this at the age of 15 so for me, it’s normal. Some days you get tired and you feel, ‘I want to stay at home a little bit more,’ but it’s only the moment.

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.

It is important to recognize the small successes.

My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?

I’m really, really emotional.

I will work day after day like I did my whole life … I’m not going to change anything.

You learn their honesty, you learn their competitiveness. You learn a lot about a person. It’s not that they have to sink the putt and there’s a great deal of talent involved – but you do learn about how competitive a person is on the golf course, and frankly, how honest.

The first match is never easy. To play three sets with some important moments, that’s important for the confidence.

It should not be a child’s only goal to become the best player in the world. That would be a bad, a harmful attitude.

Every time you are not practicing someone else is.

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

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

So this is it. Match point for eternity.

Money plays an important role in football but it is not the dominating factor. When Chelsea play a Carling Cup game in a small city and it could result in a draw – the excitement, the spirit, the atmosphere – that’s the real beauty of football in England.

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’d rather lose an argument than get into a long discussion in order to win it.

Gaudio is playing very well. Today he played at an incredible level, especially on his backhand. But I am only thinking of my own game, and of playing well.

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

How does one control weight? By not overeating. How does one stay in shape? One plays sports. There are no magic pills here.

I always like to do the things that I think are right. I am not trying to be a model, I am trying to be myself and do the right things. If what I am doing is a model, or is an example, is the right example, I am very happy, but I don’t pretend that.

Even if I have already peaked, I have to believe I can improve. I wake up every morning, and go to practice, with the illusion that I’m going to get better that day.