AO: Q&A for The Age – day 1

Looks like Rafa’s doing an English Q&A for The Age this AO. Here’s the first entry. To ask a question, send an email to sport@theage.com.au.

Question from Ashley McGlynn: For many years there was you and Roger on the top of the heap battling for the Grand Slams, and the number one spot. Now, with Djokovic at the top of his game, Murray looking more and more likely to win a slam sooner or later, and

16 Jan 2012 | by miri | 7 Comments

AO: El Mundo Q&A – day 1

Rafa’s first Q&A is up on El Mundo. Per the mangle it appears* that:

Rafa, as always, refuses to look beyond the next round.
He’s talked to DC captain Corretja, but doesn’t speculate on who will rep Spain in DC.
He hopes Djokovic can’t repeat everything this year.
He loves Murray, but hasn’t seen Lendl in action as a coach so has no opinion on that.
He keeps his “no talking about player council items” resolution.
Winning any title is nice, but majors are,

16 Jan 2012 | by miri | 3 Comments

USO: El Mundo Q&A #4

Rafa’s next Q&A with elmundo.es is up. From the mangle, I’m guessing that:

He’s not happy about them starting play on Wednesday.
He doesn’t want to answer questions about the Mallorcan government supporting sport.
Cramps happen. He’s happy to be on the DC team.
Just throwing a racket doesn’t garner a warning unless it’s severe. Time warnings are nothing new.
Something I clearly don’t understand about trust, being #1 and play. I’m assuming it means confidence, not trust.
Rafa wanted his friend David to

8 Sep 2011 | by miri | 8 Comments

USO: El Mundo Q&A #3

Rafa’s latest Spanish Q&A for elmundo.es is up. From the mangle, I gather that:

He doesn’t think the change is serve was that crucial at last year’s USO (does that sound right to someone who understands the Spanish?)
He counts Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers, Pablo Andujar, Andres Gimeno-Traver as rivals from his under-13 days.
He likes to play more inside the lines, but opponents some times push him back.
He wisely refuses to dispense medical advice and instead refers someone to a doctor.
They

5 Sep 2011 | by miri | 14 Comments

USO: El Mundo Q&A #2

Rafa’s second USO Spanish Q&A is up on elmundo.es. In attempting to make sense of the mangle, I’m thinking:

Rafa doesn’t know much about the Nole-egg thing that has some people pissed off. (He’s only used it a few times, folks.)
He hopes everything will be fine for Davis Cup (but still wants to talk about getting it changed), and Costa’s told him the venue is good.
He’s happy with Toni as his coach.
I’m confused about his motivation to tweet, but he

2 Sep 2011 | by miri | 4 Comments

USO: El Mundo Q&A #1

Rafa’s answering questions in El Mundo, and his first entry is up. From the mangle, it seems to me:

He’s okay with the idea of “better safe than sorry” when it comes to hurricane precautions even if it created a weird situation
He’s well to compete
He’s been doing a lot of stuff and tweeting and posting about it on Facebook
Fed is Fed
He had a good vacation and enjoys watching footie
Murray is talentous and has everything he needs to win a

30 Aug 2011 | by miri | 6 Comments

Wimbly: Times Blog and Q&A #13

Rafa’s final entries are up on The Times site. First, the blog:

Good morning everyone and first of all thanks for all your support these past weeks.

I am already in Mallorca, back home. Now will be taking some time off, some holidays since I have practically been playing since the Davis Cup tie against Belgium, and that was back at the end of February!

I will be 2 weeks completely off, with my friends, enjoying the summer here in Mallorca.

I am obviously

5 Jul 2011 | by miri | 74 Comments

Wimbly: Times Blog and Q&A #12

A new combined blog & Q&A entry is up on The Times. Can we guess what I’m going to post first? Yeah, the blog:

Hi everyone,

I had a quite day at Wimbledon on Saturday. Practiced with the British junior I have been practicing with almost all week this week. I want to thank him (Evan Hoyt) for these days (today he is also warming me up before the match) and his coach for helping me.

I had some time with my team

3 Jul 2011 | by miri | 4 Comments

Wimbly: Times Blog and Q&A #11

New entries are up! Rafa was feeling chatty. First, the blog:

Hello everybody,

My first words go to Andy Murray, he is a very talented player, a really good one, best of best and yesterday during the first set he proved it once again. What a first set, there was no way I could keep up with his shots! I always say it but it will be sooner than later that he will win a Grand Slam. And I also think that even

2 Jul 2011 | by miri | 17 Comments

Wimbly: Times Blog and Q&A #10

New entry up on The Times. First, the blog:

Hello everyone. We are back at Wimbledon semis against a great player. I have always said that Andy is one of the best and here you go he is again at a Grand Slam semi-final. We have always played great matches and I am sure this will not be an exception.

I have had a lot of questions about the crowds and I have to say that I have always seen this crowd

1 Jul 2011 | by miri | 15 Comments