Marca.com
by Joan Solsona/Barcelona
April 26, 2024
[Translated from Spanish; Thanks, Elisa]
Media phenomenon at just 18. Rafael Nadal has won respect and admission by players, coaches and fans due to his success on tennis courts. Labels want to have him, although the American multnational corporation Nike has already attached him last year, being aware of his progression. The Manacor� has mixed this year the filming of two TV commercials (he�s the image of Kia Motors and Cola Cao) with 4 ATP titles, including the Monte Carlo Master Series and the Conde de God� last Sunday.
After his winning against his countryman Juan Carlos Ferrero, he said that he was finding difficult to assimilate everything he�s achieved, specially the fact of being in the Top 10.
Do you believe it now?
I�ve assimilated it now. I arrived at my home in Manacor and I made sure I was the 7th of the world on Internet.
What do you think of being higher that people like Andre Agassi?
The important thing is to be up there and trying to stay there the maximum time.
I guess you needed to have a rest after a month of competition where you�ve reached three finals.
The truth is that I�m quite tired. I�m going to disconnect until Wednesday and then I�ll continue training to be in a good shape for the TMS in Rome.
Are you going to prepare yourself on a special way to be on your greatest shape in Roland Garros?
No. For me, Rome and Hamburg are as important as Roland Garros, mainly, because they�re Master Series. For the time being, I just care about being at my 100% for next Monday in Italy.
Your results on clay have turned you the favorite for the second Grand Slam of the season. Do you asume this?
No way. I�d say that the candidates for the final triumph are Federer, Moy�, Ferrero and Argentinian players, like Coria or Gaudio, who played the final last year. I can understand they say I�m the favorite, but I don�t asume I�ll be. It�s the first time I�ll play there and I do want to make a good result. But I don�t know how far I can reach. I�m in a good moment, but there are still 4 weeks until Paris.
The upcoming edition of Roland Garros is in your goals?
After entering the Top 10, the main goal is to enter the Masters and not winning in France. Of course I�d prefer a Grand Slam, but the Masters is closer.
What did the God� tophy in Barcelona mean to you?
It was, without any doubt, very special because all the Spanish players dream about winning it and I�ve already got it. The final agaisnt Ferrero was awesome.
Was this one of your happiest dyas in your career?
I don�t know in what place I�d put it. You have to rate success when it comes. When I won my first little tournament, it was important too.
You multiplied yourself on the RCT Barcelona playing singles and doubles with Feliciano L�pez. Do you think the final againt Ferrero would have been different if you had lost the tie break in the second set?
I was feeling a bit tired, but it�s difficult to say what would have happened. We�ll never know. Luckily, I was able to win in three sets.
How do you reach the highest places at just 18?
I have no idea. The only thing I try to do is enjoy myself on a tennis court. You can�t be satisfied with what you�ve got, but wanting more always. But I�ve worked very hard.
Are you ready for bad moments?
I�ve already suffered them with my foot injury last year. It�s not normal that I�m winning so much matches and that�s not the objective.
Were you able to follow the F1 race with Alonso�s victory over Schumacher?
Yes, yes, the God� final started a bit later becauase we were cheering for Alonso. It was really exciting and I�m vey hppy for him.
Last week in God�, you began to suffer the fame price, being the attraction everywhere you went, signing autographs�
I thank everyone who supports me and is interested on me. I feel really grateful for it and I don�t feel pressured by the environment.
The best thing that could happen to you in this moment is to live in a place like Manacor?
Being home these daas will help me to get away of everythng and disconnect. I�m calm here. I�ve always been the soccer player�s nephew.
How was your duel on golf against your uncles Miguel �ngel and Toni?
Toni won and you can confirm that Miguel �ngel has won me for the first time.
Your passionate for Tiger Woods� sport. What profits does it have?
You get rid of adrenaline and you forget about everything.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, your rival last Sunday, seems to have the tennis that lead him to the No. 1 rank in 2003. How did you see him?
He�s one of the bests in the tour on clay and he�s proved it with the semfinals in Monte arlo and the final in Barcelona. He will be up there soon and he�s one of the favorites in Roland Garros.
Why do you always say you�d like to win Wimbledon?
It�s on grass and that makes it different to the other torunaments.
**Thanks for the translation. Please do not reproduce without giving credit to the original source and VamosRafael.com.**
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