Comments on: RAFAEL NADAL PONDERS THE GREAT MYSTERIES: WAR, RELIGION AND ROGER FEDERER

By: Mim

Mim — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:03 +0000

Aaah, but Mary, the BIGGEST difference is that Mirka and Brooklyn are WIVES not girlfriends.

Plus, Roger and Andy are 27 &28 not 23.

Although, Xisca (coolest name ever!) strikes me as a very confident young woman who doesn’t need to be showered in praises. She also has a toughie quality and a no-nonsense vibe about her, yet at the same time she comes off as being doted on a spoiled (no doubt by Rafa himself. SQUEE!) Perfect balance. After all, as we’re seeing more and more, Rafa is extremely thoughtful and poetic. I’m sure when he is being honest and complimenting her what he says is oh-so-special and romantic. I just love how he can be a complete tease, crack jokes, and yet have (as FreakyFrites put it perfectly) “very finely tuned B.S. meter, especially for a guy so young.”

Great interview FreakyFrites! Thanks for sharing!
Like many who have posted here, I too am impressed and proud of him. I’m not surprised because I’ve always known how intelligent, shrewd, thoughtful and outspoken Rafa is. Even way back when he barely had a grasp on the English language he was witty, quick, and would express deep thoughts in just a few healvely-accented and broken sentences. <3

Just when I think I couldn't possibly love, admire and respect him anymore, he goes on ahead and proves me wrong.

Vamos Rafa! Just as you are!

By: Mim

Mim — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:03:35 +0000

Aaah, but Mary, the BIGGEST difference is that Mirka and Brooklyn are WIVES not girlfriends.

Plus, Roger and Andy are 27 &28 not 23.

Just when I think I couldn't possibly love, admire and respect him anymore, he goes on ahead and proves me wrong.

Vamos Rafa! Just as you are!

By: LilyPop

LilyPop — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:47:43 +0000

Wonderful observation Patzin. I also that that it was an honest and realistic answer regarding his girlfriend. Usually 23 year olds are all “She is my liiiife! I could not breath without her! There’s no air! No air!” Guys his age most definitely live in the “Doofy” side of town.

That quality of self-reliance and independence and accountability…those qualities of a man is what makes him oh-so-attractive! (and I’m not just talking about the physical sense. )

He’s the type of gentleman who would be handy around the house (keep from thinking dirty ladies..) I could totally see him waking up in the wee hours of the morning to mend things and build things. He is a man’s man and a woman’s man. Absolutely perfect!

He can watch soccer and play video games. Then go out on a romantic dinner and watch a musical. Then speak out for justice and fairness and defend what and who he believes in, then flash a heart-melting, dimple-ridden, oh-the-angels-have-kissed-him Smile.

*siiigh* His answer was not doubt mature and honest. I feel that my comments are too silly after reading his interview. What a man and what a heart. His honesty, courage, courtesy , ability to be thankful and grateful, humble and conscious, to have ideals and stand by them openly and with assertiveness, to be tender yet strong, admit weakness yet not be weakened by it, are qualities that are only too rare in this day and age.

Here is another interview I just finished reading:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/17/rafael-nadal-interview-atp-world-tour-finals

By: LilyPop

LilyPop — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:22:32 +0000

Oh my goodness!

This interview is excellent! Rafa is so thoughtful, poetic, introspective, reflective, aware and articulate…it’s so deep it will take me a moment to digest it all! I must read through it all again to even attempt to make an intelligent comment reflecting on what he has said and even then I might fail.

All of his comments and observations are remarkable. Even his comments on Federer. How many times have we hear/read comments on Federer, yet Rafa seems to sum it up in the most poetic fashion. He is so straightforward and just KNOWS who he is and what his ideals are and isn’t afraid to voice them publicly and voice them often.

How he talks about poverty and how he saw true happiness in the faces of people who have next to nothing…then how people who live good lives everyday and are blessed yet forget what it all means and are ungrateful and unhappy…

He is so open and honest. I love how you can feel him pondering the questions before he gives an answer that is true to his heart. He is not quick to answer or defensive, dismissive, impatient or fake..He’s simply Rafael Nadal. A 23 year old who understands more about the world than most full grown adults and who knows that there is still much he doesn’t know, but that he is trying his best to be the best human being and world citizen that he can be. Simply inspirational!

I am awestruck and impressed by this gentleman.
What an amazing human being.

I am breathless.

I just love this man. I love Rafa.

By: XYZ

XYZ — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:38:57 +0000

Great interview. I love how honest he is, although I was stunned with his answer re:Xisca and religion.

By: lorrie

lorrie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:14:08 +0000

great interview. it’s always good to know that someone as young, famous and wealthy as rafa is knows where true happiness really exists.

thanks ff.

By: neilintoronto

neilintoronto — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:59:49 +0000

LOL or at least you’ll become fluent in Googletranslate, which seems to be a language unto its own

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:54:19 +0000

You’re welcome, Neil! Glad you enjoyed it. I hope to one day find myself fluent in Spanish and German, just from trying to figure out the Google translations of all these non-english interviews for Rafa and Roger.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:53:21 +0000

Completely agree! Rafa has a very finely tuned B.S. meter, especially for a guy so young.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:52:43 +0000

Nadal definitely exhibits a strong sense of social justice. I hope he finds more ways to engage in the world when he’s retired from the tennis circus.

It’s great that both Rafa and Roger are doing great things with their foundations and raising awareness about poverty and injustice all over the world. So many tennis players (roddick, sharapova, obviously Agassi) make charitable works a priority. It’s one of the things I really admire about the sport.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:48:29 +0000

Ha! Ann, have you read Agassi’s book? He reserves a particular dislike for the mild-mannered Michael Chang. Why? Because Michael always thanked God for the win – Agassi’s point being “Who is Michael Chang to enjoy special treatment from God? Is he saying that God’s for him and against me when I lose to him?”

By: neilintoronto

neilintoronto — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:24:31 +0000

Thank you so much for translating this interview. Its amazing to me, how lazy the English press can be and i’m glad to read a more in depth interview with Rafal than we are used to seeing in English!

Well done and thanks again!

By: Dana99

Dana99 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:55:03 +0000

Every time I read an interview with him, I come away more impressed than ever.

By: patzin

patzin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:09:55 +0000

I think Rafa’s motivation is internal and he doesn’t use or blame others ie he takes responsibility for playing good or bad. I thought his answer re: Xisca was honest and mature.

By: lk28

lk28 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:39:53 +0000

I stand corrected. Actually, I don’t doubt his involvement (I know about his foundation), but I don’t recall ever having seen an interview where he talked about such things. I guess I’ll have to look further. Thanks for the info.

By: judy

judy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:04:20 +0000

i was thinking about xisca too, he could have said, ’she helps me in different ways, for sure’ but then again she might not be as involved like mirka and he gave a very honest answer. besides, she doesn’t strike me as someone who would be insecure or worry about what he says. they’ve been together for years and i’m sure she gives him love and support. nice to see her in the stands.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:06:19 +0000

Then it means you don’t follow much of Roger’s life outside of a tennis court. He is one of the most involved active players in charity in Africa, Europe & Asia in his capacity as Unicef goodwill ambassador…..goodwill ambassador’s are chosen for having knowledge in the real world in addition to being successful in their fields of trade. His personal charities in Africa (most active in South Africa ‘coz that’s where his mum is from) are most inspirational ‘coz they have nothing to do with tennis…all about those little boys & girls going to school, having 3 square meals per day & having a better future. If you get time, hear him speak about his mum, him & South Africa in general….quite moving stuff.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:54:48 +0000

freakyfrites, either the translation for the girlfriend question is wrong OR Xisca isn’t gonna be too happy when she reads this…especially when the likes of Mirka & Brooklyn Decker are showered with tennis praises left, right & centre. lol. Surely, the standard answer for such a query is usually ‘Yes, in some way…’, even if she gives just a simple reminder like ‘you can do it! you are the best!’ Such a question is in the ranks of ‘do I look fat in this?’ lol.

By: judy

judy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:54:25 +0000

thanks for sharing this great interview. always interesting to hear a player’s thoughts re: tennis, life and real world issues. rafa gives thoughtful answers.

By: lk28

lk28 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:48:21 +0000

Great interview, FF. Thanks for posting it. I agree with others that Rafa is indeed thoughtful and perceptive. It’s especially admirable that he is aware of the world outside of tennis, and knows that so many people lead hard lives. (As much as I love Roger, I don’t think he thinks about the world beyond the tennis court a lot.)
I do think that both Rafa and Roger are lone wolves, though. Each has an intimate circle that he trusts, but, ultimately, I think each relies only on himself and doesn’t pay attention to what others think or say. And, yes, we are indeed lucky that two players of such talent, perception, and sportsmanship are at the top of our game.