I always feel more
emotional when I play in Monte Carlo
because of the history of the tournament, and because it was there in 2003 that everything started
you miss-hit the ball. You need to make sure you always take the ball at the highest point. You can
you miss-hit the ball. You need to make sure you always take the ball at the highest point. Y get away with half-volleys on hard courts and on grass but it doesn’t work on clay.”
“I suppose when you are born into the clay courts and have played on them since being a kid it makes playing on clay easier,” responds Nadal, a model of modesty and humility. “I like to play on all surfaces though, and I have proven that I can play on all surfaces, but I think that clay and grass are better for the body, particularly if you play tennis every day. They are softer and your body suffers less, so for future generations of tennis players, clay and grass might be the best surfaces.”
Nadal is not guaranteed success at Roland Garros, but if any player does manage to defeat him, it will be the greatest performance of that player’s life.
NADAL ON…
…narrowly missing out on achieving the ‘Rafa Slam’ in January (of holding all four Grand Slam titles at once):
“I knew that was something very difficult to achieve, but it was never really a goal of mine. My goal is simply to win tournaments, and if other records can be set then that is great.”
…the best advice he has been given:
“To have fun when I was a boy, and that is what I did. After that, I was told to practice with the same intensity as when I play in competition. This is the best way to practice real match situations.
…his Babolat AeroPro Drive rackets:
“I love the AeroPro Drive as it gives me the power and control that I need. I was involved with its development and I gave my input on its weight and some other technicalities, and Babolat came down to Mallorca so I could test different options.”
20
www.activinstinct.com
…what he recommends from the menu at the Sa Punta restaurant his family owns in Menacor:
The quality is great, but if anything I would recom- mend the fish – grilled fish. It is really good and very fresh. I love it.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46