Rafa Nadal by John Carlin (John Carlin is co-author of ‘Rafa: My Story’ (Sphere) with Rafael Nadal)
Vrlo zanimljiv clanak/intervju uradjen po zavrsetku WTF-a. Obavezno procitajte
“People say I am playing more aggressively, higher up the court, that I am conserving my energies better, playing more astutely than before,” says Nadal, as the riverboat approaches the Millennium Bridge. “I don’t like that. It’s not the point. My success has been a mental success. I wanted to prove to myself that I could compete at the highest level again. That’s the challenge that’s driven me this past year. It’s a question of pride. It’s been a personal battle. Because, let’s be clear, my knee still hurts me today. After winning at Indian Wells [in California] early in the year I was limping for 48 hours. I have played every game this year with anti-inflammatories, without exception. I have no choice if I am to remain the player I know I can be in the face of my body’s limitations. And that constant battle with myself is what motivates me as much as anything else.”
What he does know now is that he is looking forward to competing in Australia next week with as much enthusiasm as the first time he played there 10 years ago. “It’ll be complicated, it will be tough. Winning there right now feels like an impossible challenge,” he says. “But I look forward to it with enormous excitement.
