AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

The Age has added ooodles more Q&A to their page:

Question from Mark: Rafa, I view your groundstrokes to be some of the best in the game, especially since you can use them to win the French on clay, and then a few weeks later Wimbledon on grass. May I ask a technical question about your racquet choice – do you prefer a head-heavy balance, or a head-light balance? And, do you change your racquet balance at all for different surfaces? Thanks

Rafa says: I have a head-light balanced racquet but I added a few grams on the head to gain a bit more power.

And, I swear, every commentator this week has had a different opinion on whether the amount added actually makes a darn bit of difference.

Question from Yan Kuang: Hi Rafa, I am a big fan of your forehand. Do you pull your racquet to the contact point? When do you transfer your weight, before or after the contacting with the ball? Enjoy the game and keep injury-free. It doesn’t matter you are No. 1 or not. You are always our hero.

Rafa says: I would say during the impact.

Does that answer the first part or did he skip the first part and answer the second just to keep us on our toes?

Question from Rachel McGuigan: Hi Rafa! I absolutely love watching you play tennis and I’ll be praying that you win the Aussie Open! I am a left-handed tennis player and can easily see the advantages. What aspect of your game has the greatest advantage due to being left-handed? Also, your outfit choice is boss. Mucho amor, Rachel

Rafa says: I think that on the advantage I can serve wider and the right handed guys can have more difficulty since it is the decisive point.

Interesting that he says that’s the best thing about playing lefty and yet his serve isn’t considered that good by many because he has coordination problems since he’s not serving with his right. Wonder how bad he’d serve with his right? Also, was he serving with his right when he was playing two hands off both sides? I’m guessing so. That would mean he didn’t start serving left-handed until he’d already been playing tennis for years. I’m sure this is an obvious observation, it just really struck me. (Yes, I’m still tired and punchy.)

Question from George Karanfilovski: My question relates to the complaints many male tennis players on the ATP tour seem to be making regarding the scheduling of tournaments and the distribution of prize money. What are your views on these two issues and of any other issues that I’m not aware of?

Rafa says: I think it is too long to expose here and there has been some problems about this so I prefer to keep discussing these things internally. Sorry hope you understand.

He’s learned his lesson.

Question from Belen Mateo: Rafa, compared to your participation in the tournament last year, how do you see yourself right now? Are you feeling healthier and more confident? Best of luck this year!

Rafa says: I am playing well and feeling good. Having said that this has only started basically. Tomorrow I have a very tough match against my friend Feli.

Will you have to play your best to have your chances, Rafa?

Question from Mariam Ibrahom: hey Rafa, i am a really huge fan and i have been supporting you for a while. i really love tennis and i use to play for about 5 years when i was younger, i am 15 now and wanted to know from a perspective of a professional and you being my idol would it be too late if i started again? I wanted to become a professional once upon a time but people keep telling me its too late, what would you say?

Rafa says: You never know but it is true that you could find your self much behind other kids your age that have a lot of experience competing. I won my first pro match at that age and I’d been competing for many years. But as I say you never know so give it a try and most important thing enjoy!

I can’t imagine winning a professional anything at 15.

Question from Agent Z: thankz for reading and can you answer this? Which kind of racquets do you prefer for a lefty?

Rafa says: I use Babolat.

And just what answer did the asker expect?

Question from Sherling: Congratulations on your win over Tommy Hass this afternoon. How do you feel about the chance of winning your 2nd Australian Open and your 11th Grand Slams? Vamos

Rafa says: Still very very far. My next rival, Feliciano Lopez, that’s what I am thinking on right now.

Awww….he’s thinking about Feli. Oh. The match against Feli. Never mind.

Question from Thien Nguyen: Hey Rafa, very big fan! Your heavy topspin forehand stroke is very distinctive, with the heavy topspin and the racquet ending up around your head. Ever since you have become so successful, I have noticed a lot of players at my local clubs using type of forehand more frequently, and many newer pros seem to use this type of stroke as part of their game as well. How do you feel about making this type of stroke so popular that kids will now learn to play like Rafa, and you have changed the way people will play tennis from now on?

Rafa says: It is funny and nice to see. Each ne has to try to hit the best they can. Don’t copy! I didn’t! :-)

But…but…I thought your dad said to copy?

Question from Gareth Carr: Of the 4 grand slams held around the world each year, which is the hardest to win and why?

Rafa says: All of them I would say! Believe me this is the truth!

Then I shall believe it to be the true.

Question from Janelle Wanzek: Hola Rafa!!! I was wondering how do you prepare for your matches. Do you have a ritual? Also what goes through your mind when you are down during a match and how do you get it back? Muchas Gracias y Buena Suerte

Rafa says: Yes I do have my organisation and the things I do like to warm up, eat 2 hours before, prepare my equipment, racquets, tape my ankles, etc.

Does he have a ritual? Does he have a ritual? *trying not to giggle*

Question from Pip Coomes: How much do you plan a point before you serve? Once you have served are your shots more based on instinct or is your mind always thinking of what shot to play next? Also what is it you love so much about the Aquarium? Good luck in Melbourne. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2012

Rafa says: Thanks Pip. I do think about the next serve and what I have to do. It is part of the game plan. Then you know what you have to do on each situation that can vary during the point!

Regarding the aquarium, I went yesterday and it is amazing to see all those fish. I love it and had a great time there.

Rafa and fishies…so happy together.

Question from Raquel: Saludos Rafa! Congratulations on your win vs Haas and best of luck for the rest of the tournament. You speak at least three languages. What language do you ‘speak’ in your head when you play? Castellano, Catalán, Mallorquín?

Rafa says: Catalan and Mallorquin is more or less the same. I think in both Castellano and Mallorquin, it depends.

Interesting. I would have figured he’d mainly think in Mallorquin.

Question from Magenta: Hi rafa. I’m a really big fan of yours and I love watching you play. I was wondering if you have always had your little habits like before you serve when you tap your toe and put your hair behind your ears? And does it help you concentrate? Good luck love Magenta

Rafa says: It is part of my routine, let’s put it this way.

Heh. Okay.

Question from Nicole Jones: Hi Rafa, I am a dedicated supporter of yours and you bring me so much joy with your victories! I also have so much respect for your sportsmanship – you are such a gentleman and a lot of sportsmen can learn from your fantastic attitude. I would like to know what you do to console yourself or lift your mood after a loss. I find that I am so disappointed just as a fan at times when you have bad luck so wonder how you deal with the highs and lows of being on the professional circuit.? Thank you and all the best for 2012!

Rafa says: Thanks very much for your comments. It depends on the loss I do one thing or another. If it has been a bad loss I try to analyze what happened and spend some time on my own thinking.

*pictures sad Rafa sitting on his own thinking* *wants to hug something*

Question from Gajendra Bhansali: Hello Rafa, a very big good luck to you for Oz open. My question is you complain of long ATP calender, that takes a toll on your body. So my suggestion is why don’t you simply skip the tournaments like ATP 500 and even ATP masters 1000? They are not mandatory I suppose as far as my knowledge goes. So what’s your take on this? Bye good luck I am your greatest and craziest fan and concerned about your health, that’s why such a suggestion or question. For me you are the greatest. Please do reply. LOVE YOU

Rafa says: Thanks Gajendra. Well it is not as simple as you might think. First of all you have to play the 1000 events because they are mandatory events. If you don’t play them your ranking suffers since they all count and if you don’t play you get a zero pointer. You also have to play mandatory 4 of the 500 events. The problem is that there is no off season and it all depends on the number of matches you play during a year. Not easy to solve. Too long to explain here.

I love it when people who don’t even bother to look up the scheduling rules give suggestions on scheduling.

Question from Patricia Giralt: Why don’t you travel with a cook to take care of your diet? I guess when Djokovic changed his diet he does not even sweat that much when Rafa is sweating profusely. It used to be the opposite. Don’t you think changing your diet may help you as it helped Novak?

Rafa says: I am good the way I travel and there are great restaurants every where we go. I don’t think there is a real need for that.

aka – I can get gambas and nutella anywhere!

Question from Jane Harper: Hi Rafa, I sure hope your knee is feeling better. That must have been so frightening. I want to ask a fun question. What is your favourite Christmas carol?

Rafa says: I don’t know. I suppose the usual ones in Spain.

What? Don’t want to tick off the various intense Christmas carol camps out there?

Question from Olivia: Hi Rafa!! How are you? Do you spend any time reading your timeline in Twitter, and have you thought of answering to fans’ questions directly? We would love that if it’s possible! Good luck for your 2nd round match and the entire tournament!

Rafa says: Sometimes I do but not always. Simply too many messages and in English most of them so that makes it more difficult.

Far, far, far too many – and many of them full of hate. I wouldn’t bother if I were him either.

Question from Naomi Wallace: Rafa, I have read many times that you like fish. To watch (at the aquarium), to catch (on your boat), and to eat (whenever you can). Is there something about fish in particular, as an animal, that makes them so special to you, especially to watch? Is there something about the way a fish moves so quickly, turns so quickly, that you would like to emulate on court? Please win the Olympic gold for Spain (and Kentucky, where I am from). Best wishes.

Rafa says: It is a very good question. I do love fish and in all forms you describe but I never stopped to think about it the way you say. I think it is beautiful and love to go to aquariums. I might even go today if I win and finish not too late. But believe me I don’t try to emulate them swimming! I am actually a bad swimmer.

Bad swimmer. Heh. Is that why he always wants to be able to see the bottom?

Speaking of Kentucky, I wonder if he’s been to the aquarium that’s in Kentucky, but near the Cincinnati tournament? Rafa, I’ll take you there! I’ll even cover the admission fee. :) It’s worth it for the jellyfish chandelier alone.

Question from Stephen Lew: Dear Rafa, Great to have you back in Melbourne. How many languages do you speak fluently? When you talk to Roger Federer, which language(s) do you use to speak together?

Rafa says: I speak other than Spanish, Mallorcan (sort of Catalan language) and my “funny” English. Roger and I speak English, oh well, I try to speak English….

Awww. Rafa, your English is funny…but it’s also very good.

Question from Ferid: Is your goal to win Australian Open? And what you think if you make an event in north Africa like Tunisia.. Its always in Europe or America, don’t forget your fans in Africa Rafa.

Rafa says: My goal once I am competing is to win but…. I would love to play there once. I know I have a lot of fans from there! I see that on my Facebook page.

But… but nothing!

Question from George Karanfilovski: My question relates to the complaints many male tennis players on the ATP tour seem to be making regarding the scheduling of tournaments and the distribution of prize money. What are your views on these two issues and of any other issues that I’m not aware of?

Rafa says: Tough to respond to this question in few lines! But clearly it is an issue that has been addressed.

Nope. Not going to get him to talk about that.

Question from Zeti: Hola, Rafa :-) 1. What’s is your favourite childhood storybook and superhero? 2. What is your favourite subject in school? 3. What’ is your favourite colour? Vamos, Rafa ! Be the no.1 again :-) All the best & Good Luck.

Rafa says: 1. None. 2. Sports. 3. Blue.

3 parts! OMG, he answered all three parts!!

Question from Zahra Costello: Hello Rafa. I was wondering if you had noticed how famous the little rolling bag you used in Abu Dhabi had become? It’s now on twitter with hundreds of followers.

Rafa says: Funny isn’t it? I can’t believe it. I just didn’t have another one and carried that one day. I normally carry my wires, laptop, PS3 etc there.

It cracks me up he carries his PlayStation around with him. Don’t hotels usually have ones you can rent/borrow/hell-they’d-give-it-to-him-free?

Question from Belen Mateo: Rafa, compared to your participation in the tournament last year, how do you see yourself right now? Are you feeling healthier and more confident? Best of luck this year!

Rafa says: I am feeling well although it is only the beginning and if I keep winning there is a long way to go.

Yep, babysteps.

Question from Usaid Ghauri: It definitely troubles a person after a defeat, especially when you know that you could have turned it to a win. So what is your feeling at the moment when your opponent hits the match point? And how do you manage to control that frustration, if there is any?

Rafa says: Wow, tough question. It all depends how the match goes. If it has been an easy match for the rival is different than if we are playing close and it could go either way. If the guy has been better you just go there to the net, shake hands, congratulate him and wish him good luck! You can be sure that I gave my 100% though.

Which is worse? Having your pants beaten off you or losing by the skin of your teeth? Is one worse right away but a different one worse in the long run?

Question from Arshad Khan: Rafa, I am one of your greatest FANS. I don’t remember even missing one single match of your on TV. I have question about game with Novak .What changes are you making to encounter Novak attack both side. I have watched your US open final 10 times. In 3rd Set you started slicing more, I guess keeping the ball Low and slice him more keep NOVAK off grad of attaching. You are one match away from getting into his head. He has a week personality compare to you and Rogers.

Rafa says: Thanks for this. I think the analysis of the 3rd set is right but it would be very long to comment the whole match. It changed a lot in every set!

Boy did it. Especially different from 3rd to 4th. :(

Question from Judith Forde: Hola rafa. Did you know that the bag you used in Middle East has its own twitter account called @RafasRollingBag. We all miss it. Are you going to bring it on court again?

Rafa says: Hahahahahahaha. I didn’t know but I read something here. Not thinking in bringing it out again but will certainly talk to Nike about it!

Sadly, I doubt the bag’s ever going to be on court again.

Question from Olga: First, we BELIEVE and know you will do your best and we pray your health will allow you to do your best. I guess it’s really a family question and if it is too personal it’s okay. How does all the travelling and the time away from home impact everyone, even those travelling with you? Seems to us like the schedule does need to be changed. Look forward to seeing you in Indian Wells and NY at the Open. Take care, all the best, Olga

Rafa says: Well, I travel with a nice group of people and besides from working we are all good friends and get along pretty well. This is good and necessary for me. Then my family also comes sometimes to tournaments and I really enjoy when they a around. I miss some people obviously but I know this is also my job and I am very fortunate I have to say.

He likes having his peeps around.

Question from Adam: Greetings, our champion. We live in NJ, in the USA and you need to know how many people support you for the US Open as well as the rest of the tournaments and my Mom and a friend will be in Indian Wells. We all hope you exceed your own expectations and your health stays well. My question: How are there differences in hard court surfaces and their impact on the game? Also, how much does the weather impact play? Thanks and DO WELL! All the best, Adam from Montvale, NJ

Rafa says: Hard courts are tough on the body and this is a problem for our future, when we stop playing. We have also addressed this issue to our reps since we have to take care of the health of players. Regarding the weather, the best example is the last 2 years at the Us Open where it rained so much that the final has been played for two consecutive years a day after initially planned. Also all the mess with the previous rounds.

I can’t read the word “future” without hearing it my head how he says it.

Question from Kelly M: Hi Rafa! I find you an inspiration, and when I am afraid or think I cannot do something I think of your dedication and fighting spirit and it helps me to get motivated, gives me courage and I give all my energy to my task. How does it feel for you when you hear that you are inspiring your fans in this way? Thank you for being such a fabulous role model!

Rafa says: Many thanks for these kind words. For me is an honour to hear this and I am very thankful. Sometimes I hear people that say that to me and they are fighting health problems and to me that is something amazing since that is really important. What I do is only sport and i believe not comparable. Life and health is much more important and serious.

Indeed.

Question from Zoe: I live in England and I know how much of a euphoria there is at the time of when Wimbledon is about to start, how does it compare to the atmosphere in Melbourne for the Australian Open? Also in the UK, if we find a 4 leaf clover it is considered to be very lucky, do you take anything with you that you feel is lucky for you on your travels?

Rafa says: I think it is different in a way but still this is a very big event, a very important event and there is a lot of attention to it. Regarding the lucky thing I don’t take anything.

And here I was going to send him an “Epic Win” colored Ugly Doll Lucky Ucky. (No I wasn’t.)

Question from Mary Cotta: You have many fans around the world and they all want to see you become number one again. Are you focusing on reaching the top this year or do you think that this will be just a consequence of playing good matches and doing your best?

Rafa says: For me the important thing is to win matches and tournaments. This is the priority.

Take care of what you can and don’t sweat what you don’t have direct control over.

Question from Matthew Levine: First I want to say that you are the best no matter what the rankings say, and you inspire me to work as hard as I can on the tennis court. What are you working on to beat Novak? Last year you had opportunities in every match to come out with a win but he just won the big points. Would you ever consider playing doubles with Roger? It would be great for tennis!

Rafa says: I am actually working on everything to beat my next rival tomorrow. I don’t really think of anything else since every match is very difficult and I could potentially find Novak only at the final, still far away. Regarding doubles with Roger, I would love to. I hope one day we can play.

I hope so too.

Question from Jolanda Torn: My question is not about tennis, more about how you cope with all the attention all day every day. Do you really keep friendly all the time? And if u wanted to get angry to a very irritating fan, how do you deal with this frustration or doesnt it frustrate it you at all? Good luck with this year!

Rafa says: Thanks Jolanda. I tryt to be me always and be nice with people the same way they are with me. I have to be thankful always since thanks to the fans we are also here with all this attention.

He’s far more patient than I could ever, ever be.

Question from Arthur: Hi, Rafa my question for you would be are you gonna talk in french this year in the ceremony of the french open I believe that you gonna make it and make history is what you love to do. So i’m wondering if you gonna do it in french and i can’t wait till july love ya and God Bless.

Rafa says: I learn some words in French every year. I hope I have the chance to do so, that would mean I played the final and I have the mic ! :-)

And maybe it will be a working mic!

Question from Sarah Fry, Southampton: Hello Rafael. If you could win just one tournament this year (obviously hope you win more) which one would be the most important for you and why?

Rafa says: This is a tough one since I would love to win any of the Grand Slams, they are the biggest on the tennis calendar. But I give importance to all tournaments I play.

Yes. They are all special and all make you feel like home. We understand.

Question: Rafa you had answered Federer winning the wimbeldon in 2008 making a point that wimbledon is not any more Roger’s arena. Answered your critics in 2010, who wrote you off in 2009, after you came back from your injury winning 3 slams. 2011 is where Novak had a great year against you. When will you answer Novak, this year? Because we know that nothing in the world is as strong as “your mind”.

Rafa says: I hope I can “answer” as you say pretty quickly!!!! ;-)

Lickety-split!

Question from Sarah: Thank you ahead of time for answering my question and being so gracious to your fans. We all LOVE you! You are now an Idol to many many people now. Do you still have an Idol or a person that you admirer?

Rafa says: Thanks Sarah. I never had idols to be honest with you. Liked many people and specially followed sports, but no idols.

This really seems to be an important thing with him – having no idols. It’s something he’s never really wavered on.

Question from Kathryn: How do I stop dreaming about you. I dreamed last night we were going to Hawaii. Don’t get wrong…they are lovely dreams. OK in all seriousness, what do you plan to change this year so you can kick Novak’s butt and knock him down a few pegs? Love, Love, Love watching you.

Rafa says: I normally don’t dream about me.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m sorry…that related to the question how?

Question from Melis: I have some questions for Rafa from Turkey.
1. When you will retire from tennis, Do you want to become a tennis coach like your uncle?

Rafa says: I don’t think so but you never know.

2. Why do you want to write your autobiography book and is it’s timing important for you?

Rafa says: Because I felt I could say things about me that people wanted to know and thought it was a good opportunity now.

I know that people say it’s about money and it probably is. But I also wonder if winning the USO felt like the finishing of part one of a story for him, you know? Career Slam complete.

Question from Goran: Hello Rafa, since I work in school it’s very important for me to motivate my school kids. I was wondering, what does motivate you more – positive feedback, like praise when you do something good, or do you respond better when you are told what you are doing wrong? Greetings from Croatia!

Rafa says: The best thing is to give example to them and work hard, teach them to enjoy what they do and to enjoy it.

It’s all about enjoyment.

Question from Catherine: When the press continues to emphasize your mental ability in regard to playing matches against Djokovic, does these make you mentally tougher, create more pressure or have little if any effect?

Rafa says: It really doesn’t matter. I know how things work and I know what the situation is. I don’t need to hear it from anyone except maybe from Toni.

And if it did matter, would he let on?

Question from Cynthia: Hi, Rafa. I enjoyed the section of your book in which you described your passion for olives – and what you did to get your hands on them when you were a small child. Are there any types of olives which are your favorites? Are there any that you don’t like as much? Or do you love them all? :-)

Rafa says: I love olives, really. Always eat them. I love the Spanish olives, they are a bit bigger than normal. But I like the taste of them.

But…green or black? I need to know. Because black olives, meh. Green? OMG I LOVE THEM!

Question from John Kiprov: Why are you the only player out there that always mentions his own injuries? For example,” A train ran over me but I managed to play a great game. A piano fell twenty stories on my head but I still managed to play a great game”. Why do you do this? It seems that after every match you bring this nonsense up.

Rafa says: I don’t think I talked about any injury yesterday. But what do you want me to do if I was injured, had a strain on my knee and get the question from the media? If I am not asked I don’t say and if I am asked I have one thing clear: I don’t lie, I never lie! Would you prefer me to lie?

Anyone got a Eurythmics song stuck in their head now?

Question from Harshit Nigam: With the showcase of winning last year’s Davis Cup Final, had it boosted your confidence once again? Will we find our old Rafa back on business once again?

Rafa says: Yes, definitely that has been helpful. I am back but we have to see how it goes and respect every rival.

Always.

20 Jan 2012 | by miri | 9 Comments