AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

Some new questions up in The Age (and some Reva pointed out I’d missed):

Question from Zara: I was just wondering what was your favourite kit that you’ve ever worn? I especially liked your US Open 2010 & 2011 kits as well as the polos you wore in 2009.

Rafa says: I don’t have a favorite one but I can tell you I keep one of each gear and special ones. I have yesterday’s shoes and will keep them.

Is there any

30 Jan 2012 | by miri | 12 Comments

AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

It’s time for more question and answers from Rafa and The Age:

Question from Lisa: Hi Rafa, My husband and I went to Melbourne for the first week of the Australian Open. I took my copy of your book hoping to get it signed but missed the chance. My question is, if you are out with your friends having dinner and relaxing does it bother you if fans come up to you for autographs and photos? Would you prefer to interact

27 Jan 2012 | by miri | 12 Comments

AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

More questions and answers have been added to The Age.

Question from Richard: Hi Rafa. Just before you serve, the ball boy will pass you 3 – 4 balls, which you inspect before throwing back 1 – 2 of them. What are you looking for in the balls you decide to use? Why have you rejected the other ones? Are the balls you throw back then continually rejected for the remainder of the game? Thank you.

Rafa says: I am looking normally

24 Jan 2012 | by miri | 2 Comments

AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

More questions and answers up on The Age. (I’ve edited some of the more rambly questions down to the actual question.)

Question from Isabelle: Hey, Rafa, I have a question for you! I’m actually going to Mallorca this summer for a month and I was wondering if the native people there also speak English? I don’t know any Spanish except for “Vamos!’, so do you think I should start learning some Spanish

22 Jan 2012 | by miri | 6 Comments

El Mundo Q&A – day 5

Day 5 of Rafa’s Q&A for El Mundo is up. From the mangle, it appears* that:

He’s not sure where the turning point will come in his mental battle against Djokovic (who is playing well).
He doesn’t feel he’s at the end of his career, but has been on the tour for quite awhile so is closer to the end than the beginning.
He’s not sure if a one-handed top-spin backhand would add

22 Jan 2012 | by miri | 3 Comments

El Mundo Q&A – day 4

Rafa’s next Q&A for El Mundo is up. From the mangle, it appears* that:

Rafa likes hot weather, and the change to his racket weight is almost imperceptible but has mounted something…(um, help on that one, please?)
If he could only win one slam for the rest of the career he’d take any of them. Well, maybe Wimbledon because he has more relevance.
He’d love to represent Spain in this year’s Olympics. In fact, it would be an honor.
He has to

21 Jan 2012 | by miri | 3 Comments

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

20 Jan 2012 | by miri | 9 Comments

El Mundo Q&A – day 3

There’s a new Q&A up on the El Mundo site. From the mangle, it appears* that:

There’s no time table on change in the tennis world. He’ll just keep on working on his game.
Tomic could be this year’s surprise high finisher.
Something about forcing food (and the US being very different) that I think means he eats local food when he travels on the tour.
It should be very difficult for someone to win a Grand Slam.
When a bug gets on your

20 Jan 2012 | by miri | 4 Comments

AO: Q&A for The Age – continued

They’ve added some more questions to Rafa’s Q&A for The Age. Not sure if this counts as a new entry (day) or if they are just going to keep adding to the first one. We’ll see what’s going on.

Question from Mark: Hey Rafa. You obviously play a very physical game of tennis. Do you ever have any concerns that your style of play or your demanding training regime is shortening the longevity of your career as a player? Cheers.

Rafa says: Hi

18 Jan 2012 | by miri | One Comment

AO: El Mundo Q&A – day 2

Day two of Rafa’s Q&A with El Mundo is up. Per the mangle it appears* that:

It hasn’t been that hot in Melbourne this year (the opposite, in fact), until the day of his first match. But that didn’t feel so bad because of the windy. He has occasionally played while wearing long sleeves.
He does look at the overall draw, but concentrates on the next match (I think). Then there’s something about math. (Is that related to a super-majority?)
It’s not

17 Jan 2012 | by miri | One Comment