Nadal On Federer & Djokovic: 'We Push Each Other To Be Better'
Rafael Nadal took time out from his ATP Cup and Australian Open preparations this week for a wide-ranging and candid interview with Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Anchor. The 20-time major champion was in great spirits, holding court on the pandemic, his Big Three rivals, his motivations, plans for life after tennis, and the secret behind his on-court rituals. Here are some of the highlights of Rafa’s interview.
The Pandemic
Nadal said he looked at the big picture regarding the pandemic and credited Australia for providing a model for combating with the virus.
“The world is suffering, we can’t complain,” he said. “We can only say thanks to Tennis Australia, to the Australian community, to welcome us and to accept us to come because I know they have been under very strict measures for a lot of months. So, for us, it’s good that we can at least keep playing tennis.”
The Mallorcan said that the pandemic has hit 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 mum, without having the chance to say goodbye…That’s what’s happening in my country. Close people to me are suffering this situation.
Nadal said he understands how lucky he and other tennis players are, particularly at a time like this. “ I feel that we are privileged people today, having the chance to keep doing our jobs,” he said.
Rivalries and Motivation
Amanpour asked Nadal about his rivals and he insisted that he isn’t “obsessed” with eclipsing Federer in the majors’ title tally.
“The records are important, I’m a competitor, but I’ve never been obsessed with trying to be the best,” said Nadal, No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. “I did much more than what I ever dreamed in my tennis career. It would be amazing for me to win one more and to be at the end of my career to be the player with more Grand Slams, but that’s not the key for my happiness in the future. It’s not an obsession.”
The Spaniard said that he had good relationships with Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have motivated him to excel.
“We did beautiful things together and important things for our sport,” he said. “We push each other to be better. To have somebody in front of you that’s doing a lot of things better than you, it gives you a clear way about what you need to improve to achieve your goals.”
Plans
Amanpour playfully told Nadal, “I know you’re not going to tell me when you’re going to retire,” but was interrupted by the Spaniard. “I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” he said, laughing.
She asked him for his “vision” of life after competition, and Nadal said he looked forward to devoting more time to his foundation, the Rafael Nadal Foundation, and his academy, the Rafael Nadal Academy. And he mentioned that he looked forward to one day starting a family with his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, whom he married in 2019.
“If kids come, then there’ll be a change,” he said when asked how married life has impacted his career.”[It’s] something that probably will happen in the future because both of us want it.”
On the topic of children, Nadal said it was important for him and other athletes with large platforms to be role models.
“For us, in my personal opinion, it’s mandatory to be a positive example for society,” he said. “It’s important to send the right messages to the world and especially to the young people.”
Rituals and Hopes
The CNN correspondent confessed to Nadal that she was fascinated by his on-court rituals and ticks, and the Spaniard opened up about why he likes to line up his bottles, not step on lines and so on.
“In some way it’s stupid,” he said of his rituals, blushing just a little. “On the other hand, for me I am not doing this stuff in practice or normal life… It’s a way to make a difference between practices and matches. When I’m doing all these routines, I feel 100% focused on what I’m doing, no? The 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 looks forward to competing in the ATP Cup and is focused on winning the Australian Open this year.
“I like what I’m doing, I like the competition,” he said. “I know it’s not forever… I’m in the last part of my career because I have 34 ½ years… I feel very lucky to be where I am today and keep doing what I’m doing. I accept that and say thanks to life for these great things that have happened to me.”
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