Rafael Nadal took time out of his preparation for the ATP Cup and Australian Open this week for a broad and candid interview with Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s main international anchor. The 20-time champion was in a great mood, participating in the pandemic, his three great rivals, his motivations, plans for life after tennis and the secret behind his rituals on the court. Here are some of the highlights of Rafa’s interview.
The pandemic
Nadal said he looked at the big picture in relation to the pandemic and credited Australia for providing a model for fighting the virus.
“The world is suffering, we cannot complain,” he said. “We can only thank Tennis Australia, the Australian community, for welcoming us and accepting that we come, because I know that they have been under very strict measures for several months. So for us, it is good that we can at least continue playing tennis.”
The Majorcan said the pandemic struck close to home for him. “You see how many are dying around the world,” he said. “You see how many people are losing their father, their mother, without having a chance to say goodbye … That’s what’s happening in my country. People close to me are suffering from this situation.
Nadal said he understands how lucky he and other tennis players are, especially at a time like this. “I feel that today we are privileged people, having the chance to continue doing our job,” he said.
Rivalries and Motivation
Amanpour asked Nadal about his rivals and he insisted that he is not “obsessed” with eclipsing Federer in counting the champions’ title.
“Records are important, I’m a competitor, but I’ve never been obsessed with trying to be the best,” said Nadal, No. 2 at FedEx ATP Rankings. “I did a lot more than I ever dreamed of in my tennis career. It would be amazing for me to win one more and be at the end of my career to be the player with the most Grand Slams, but that is not the key to my happiness in the future. No it’s an obsession. ”
The Spaniard said he had good relations with Federer and Novak Djokovic, which motivated him to stand out. “We did beautiful things together and important things for our sport,” he said. “We strive to be better. Having someone in front of you who is doing many things better than you, it gives you a clear way about what you need to improve to achieve your goals. “
Plans
Amanpour said cheerfully to Nadal: “I know you will not tell me when you are going to retire”, but he was interrupted by the Spaniard. “I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” he said, laughing.
She asked him about his “outlook” on life after competitions, and Nadal said he was looking forward to dedicating more time to his foundation, the Rafael Nadal Foundation, and his academy, the Rafael Nadal Academy. And he mentioned that he hoped one day to start a family with his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, with whom he married in 2019. “If the children come, then there will be a change,” he said when asked about how married life has impacted his career.”[It’s] something that will probably happen in the future because we both want to. ”
On the topic of children, Nadal said it is important that he and other athletes with large platforms are models. “For us, in my personal opinion, it is mandatory to be a positive example for society,” he said. “It is important to send the right messages to the world and especially to young people”.
Rituals and hopes
The CNN correspondent confessed to Nadal that she was fascinated by her rituals and tics on the courts, and the Spaniard was open about why he likes to line up his bottles, instead of stepping on the lines and so on. “In a way, it’s stupid,” he said of his rituals, blushing a little. “On the other hand, for me I am not doing this in training or in normal life … It is a way to make the difference between training and matches. When I’m doing all these routines, I feel 100% focused on what I’m doing, don’t I? Routines help you to be focused and more secure about yourself. ”
Nadal, who will play an exhibition match in Adelaide against Dominic Thiem on Friday night, said he hopes to compete in the ATP Cup and is focused on winning the Australian Open this year. “I like what I do, I like the competition,” he said. “I know it’s not forever … I’m in the last part of my career because I’m 34 and a half years old … I feel very lucky to be where I am today and to continue doing what I’m doing. I accept that and I thank life for these great things that happened to me ”.