The 80 best phrases and reflections of Rafa Nadal
Rafa Nadal (Manacor, 1986) is a professional Spanish tennis player who is currently considered number one in the world according to the ATP ranking.
Rafael Nadal Parera (Rafa Nadal) is possibly one of the best Spanish sportsmen of the history, being a reference inside the sport and out of him, since his human quality has been verified in innumerable occasions.
Unforgettable phrases and reflections by Rafa Nadal
We all know the sporting aspects of this great tennis player, but his private life has always been a mystery to many of us. Would you like to know a little more about his way of being and his principles?
In the 80 best phrases of Rafa Nadal you will find below you can learn a little more about this great figure of international sport.
1. No one remembers the victories, only the defeats.
The media and the fans can be very cruel when luck is not with us.
2. My worst rival is the next one.
We must face each opponent one by one and give our best in each situation.
3. To see what can be improved, what has been done well and badly, one must have the necessary attitude and a cool head, and be open to analyzing things and seeking solutions.
In tennis the technical aspects can decide every match by tilting the balance one way or the other.
4. I’m only 25, and I look like I’ve been playing a hundred.
When we compete at the highest level, the physical and mental demands are very high.
5. And that’s what I need, to play. I need to compete.
Competitive sport is a lifestyle that Rafa Nadal knows very well.
6. After such a long time without competing, being here is truly more than a dream.
When you’re recovering from an injury, all you want is to get back in the spotlight.
7. Achieving what you have dreamed of makes you happy, but above all, it makes you happy to remember the effort put in to achieve it.
Achieving our goals is something we all dream about, including Rafa Nadal.
8. It is a psychological stick to lose three finals in a row, of course, let’s not fool ourselves, but in life and in a race there are low and high moments.
Rafa Nadal knows very well that he cannot always be one hundred percent of his physical and mental capacity.
9. All of us who play sports know that we go out to win or lose. We have to accept both.
Anything can happen when we compete against the best in the world in any discipline.
10. Attitude is fundamental in life.
The attitude that we show to life can take us very far.
11. Winning here was one more goal, but in the end it’s one more game too.
Even the longest journey begins with a single step.
12. What I’m most satisfied with is my progress, overcoming a difficult situation and being in the semi-finals without having played in the best tournament.
Our biggest rival will always be ourselves, against us we fight the toughest battles.
13. I have always trained at the highest level, at the maximum intensity, and this makes me feel more prepared in the moments of maximum difficulty of the matches.
Preparation is essential when faced with a difficult challenge.
14. The mental part is very important, because in the end always come bad times and you have to be prepared to accept them and overcome them. It’s like life, where you have to accept with the same tranquility the good times and bad.
Psychology is something very important in sport, knowing how to overcome problems is something very complicated on many occasions.
15. I’ve always had the theory that the most important thing is to be happy, enjoy what you do and be mentally fresh.
The search for happiness is something fundamental in everyone’s life.
16. I don’t know if I’m the best or not, I’m not the right one to say it.
Rafa Nadal has always stood out as a humble sportsman with his feet on the ground.
17. I played a very, very good first set and the feeling is getting better. Win or lose, that’s the most important thing.
As a strategist, Rafa Nadal has always known what to do at all times.
18. The first moment I felt I could win was three minutes before the game started.
In order to win we must first visualize the victory, analyze our opponent and go for it.
19. Of course, golf is not a physically demanding sport like tennis.
Other sports such as golf are much easier on anyone’s physique.
20. But I admire the mentality of sport more than the physical aspect, because physical performance is much easier to practice than mental performance.
Rafa Nadal knows that psychology is a fundamental aspect in any sport, to know how to focus and practice our best game.
21. I’ve learned to enjoy suffering.
In order to achieve victory we must first undergo the preparation that it requires.
22. I’m more appreciative than ever of what we’re doing. I am very happy after making a great effort and very excited to win such a historic title.
Self-fulfillment is something we all pursue in life, we must fight for our dreams.
23. It’s an honour to match the record with someone like Borg. Next year I’ll try to come here and beat it, but now it’s time to enjoy this trophy, which is no small thing, and it’s not easy to get. Any comparison with him is an honour.
We must enjoy each victory as if it were the first, because in the end they are all unique to each other.
24. I really like sports. Especially football, it’s my favorite sport. My uncle played football in Barcelona for nine years and played in Spain in three World Cups.
Rafa Nadal’s uncle was also an elite athlete and played for a long time at F.C. Barcelona.
25. The basic thing is to believe in you and try to do your best every day. I’ve had bad times and you get over them.
Self-confidence is something we must all possess to be able to surpass ourselves every day.
26. Sleeveless shirts give you real freedom of movement and keep you cool at games, but I thought it was time for a change.
Comfort is something essential when we practice any sport and much more in the elite.
27. I’m lucky because my family is wealthy. My father has his own glass business.
Rafa Nadal’s family has a good financial situation, this situation has been able to help Rafa in many aspects of his life.
28. If the knee is doing well, what reason is there for it not to do so? For eight years I’ve been between the first and second in the world. I dare to think that in seven months I haven’t forgotten to play tennis.
Rafa Nadal’s qualities to play tennis are indisputable, even coming out of an injury, Rafa is a fearsome opponent.
29. In tennis when you are young it is good to look for a suitable environment, partners who can compete with you and live with you.
Training in tennis, as in many other aspects of life, is fundamental.
30. I like fishing. Not real fishing. I like the tranquility of being at sea. It’s different.
Rafa Nadal has always had a very special relationship with the sea, as it has always lived very close to him and gives him peace of mind.
31. Tennis is a tough sport. There is a lot of competition all year round and you play alone.
Tennis is one of the most complete and demanding sports in existence. The technique, precision, speed, and resistance that its practice requires, are very difficult aspects for anyone to achieve.
32. Privacy is fundamental and I think that the law in this sense is not well focused, the harassment of the paparazzi should be more controlled. However, I must say that I have always been respected and have led a very normal life.
We must learn to separate the world of sport from the private life of sportsmen and women.
33. I have been learning English on the road since I started when I was 15, so it is a slow process, but I am making some progress.
When we compete with the elite, the use of English during competitions is essential.
34. My parents’ divorce made a big difference in my life. It affected me.
The family situations that Rafa Nadal has gone through in his life, have made a dent in their way of being.
35. My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?
We must take it one step at a time and always do our best.
36. I appreciate this life, the things you can’t buy. You only live once. I’m happy here and I usually avoid anything that’s a risk.
Happiness is given by the little things in life, it is not necessary to be rich in order to achieve happiness.
37. I always work with one goal and that is to improve as a player and as a person. That’s the most important thing of all.
Seeking to improve is something that has always motivated Rafa Nadal.
38. I’m not the bravest person off the track. Being alone in the dark is something I don’t like.
Behind the scenes Rafa Nadal becomes a much calmer and more relaxed person.
39. It’s just a tennis match. In the end, that’s life. There are far more important things.
Nadal knows very well that the important things in life go far beyond sport.
40. You fight, you do your best, but if you lose, you don’t have to break five rackets and punch the locker room. If there was anything positive in those things, I’d probably do it. But I only see negativity.
Negative attitudes are something that is always visible in the world of tennis, but Rafa Nadal knows very well that they do not bring you anything positive as a player.
41. Losing is not my enemy… the fear of losing is my enemy.
The struggle against ourselves is a constant in our lives.
42. It’s never time to look for excuses.
We must not take refuge in excuses, we must give one hundred percent and not regret anything.
43. There are a lot of moments during a game when you’re tense, struggling with yourself. Tennis is a lesson in self-control.
Strategy in tennis is something fundamental and we must always keep a cool head.
44. When you get older, if you’re healthy, there’s no problem. If you’re not healthy, then go home.
The time will come for all of us to have our body tell us enough and we must listen to it.
45. When I’m in the fifth set and I’ve been playing for many hours, I end up enjoying the feeling of seeing how far I can go.
Physical and mental endurance is something of vital importance in tennis, Rafa Nadal knows this very well.
46. When you want something very badly, no sacrifice is too great.
The desire to achieve our goals is what drives us to achieve them.
47. I play every point as if my life depended on it.
Giving one hundred percent in each point, in each set, is something that differentiates Rafa Nadal from any other player.
48. No matter how great your dedication, you never earn anything on your own.
To get a victory, we always depend on a large number of people, our family, coaches, etc.
49. What distinguishes tennis is respect for the opponent, one’s behavior on the court.
Tennis should be a gentleman’s sport and we should not lose our temper on the court.
50. If you want to belong to the best, you need good technique and, perhaps even more importantly, a good eye. If you see the ball first, you have more time to think about how and where to return it.
Even the eyesight is tested in a tennis match.
51. Either I’m blind or fixing games for bets doesn’t exist. When I go to tournaments I see people who want to win. If there is a problem in this regard it is in lower level tournaments.
In this appointment Rafa Nadal talks about how it is from his point of view impossible to fix a tennis match.
52. I’d rather lose an argument than get into a long one to win.
Rafa Nadal prefers not to waste time with discussions that will not lead to anything.
53. People have ups and downs and I have been very regular, but the day will come when I will go down and not come back. I don’t know if it will be this time, I hope not.
Nadal knows very well that we will all have to withdraw from elite sport, it is the law of life.
54. For me, the experience of the Olympic Games is unique: what you experience, what you live with.
The Olympic Games was something that undoubtedly enchanted Rafa Nadal, undoubtedly one of the most relevant competitions worldwide.
55. I don’t mind being number one. There’s no comparison between winning a tournament and being number one.
Rafa Nadal likes the pleasure of feeling the victory of a tournament or a Grand Slam, being number one is only a consequence of your previous victories.
56. I do not live in a bubble, I live in Manacor. When I return from the tournaments, I return to the real world.
The place where Rafa Nadal lives is undoubtedly a privileged place and one of the most beautiful possibly in all of Spain.
57. I have had to go to hospitals all over the world and I assure you that our health is better than in other countries that we consider to be far superior to us.
Healthcare is something that all Spaniards can be proud of, one of the best in the world.
58. Money does not buy happiness and I am happy living in Mallorca.
Money is something that can be very useful to us, but will not in itself bring us happiness.
59. I am aware that I need to improve my tennis, but I am confident that I will go further.
Nadal has always been very aware of his limitations and has fought to improve them every day.
60. Yes, there are times when you momentarily stop believing. Sometimes you lose your confidence and faith. And anyone who says otherwise is lying.
We all suffer from ups and downs in our morale, but we must know how to recover and keep fighting.
61. By paying taxes in another country I would have earned twice as much money, but by residing in Spain I have earned twice as much happiness.
Money does not bring happiness and Rafa Nadal knows this very well.
62. When a politician is in charge and does something well, others should say it has been done well. One cannot always be in a state of general tension.
We must recognize the positive aspects of others, a negative attitude makes any situation worse.
63. I don’t worry about personal motivation because I want to be up there longer, and I work for it.
Nadal has always known that motivation is a fundamental aspect in sport and he has always known how to give it the importance it should have.
64. There’s nothing wrong with me, I just played worse, that’s all. It’s the sport, it’s simple. There’s no need to get complicated.
We all have worse days and better days, life goes on.
65. Now I have to be as calm as possible because my race is done, all that comes is to win.
Rafa Nadal’s career has been super prolific and from now on everything that comes will be positive.
66. Anyone could become a star, but we must all be a human being.
We must keep our feet on the ground, Rafa Nadal has that very clear.
67. Madrid is my team and of course I would like to be the president of Real Madrid. But to talk about that is a utopia.
Nothing has always been a great fan of Real Madrid, I would certainly be a great president of this football club.
68. I’m still trying to get rid of some more mania, but the pants thing is not going to be solved.
In tennis and many other sports, hobbies are something that accompany athletes throughout their careers.
69. Of course I’m thinking about having children. I’d like to have a family. I am educated like this, I like it very much and I have always had a very special bond with children, and I would like to have several.
At 33 years old, Rafa Nadal still has no children, but it is something he will know how to solve.
70. Let us not pretend that success is a rule because it is an exception.
People get used to victories, but they won’t always be there.
71. I wish the band-aids were a habit too, but it’s not. It’s the skin.
Tennis punishes the hands of the players a lot, Rafa Nadal always uses strips to cover them.
72. Whether I play well or badly, I have to play aggressively. I must play aggressively.
Nadal has always been a very aggressive player on the court, is a mark of the house Nadal.
73. No problem for me. The man was really nice. He said: I love you, and then he kissed me.
Fans have always loved Rafa Nadal, both as a tennis player and as a person.
74. I have this way of living the sport. I like my nerves as a player or as a spectator. My passion will never change.
Nadal has always felt very visceral sport, in this appointment makes it clear.
75. I’ve got enough hobbies, but we’re getting better and I’m not touching my socks anymore.
Journalists have always pursued Nadal’s hobbies and he has gradually corrected them.
76. I have no idols, no heroes, nothing.
Not at all, his only ambition is self-improvement, he doesn’t seek to imitate anyone.
77. Nobody’s perfect, everybody does stupid things.
Indeed, as Nadal says in this quote, no one is perfect.
78. The only way to find a solution is to fight, move, run and control that pressure.
We have to do our best, put all the meat on the table and go out and win.
79. I love the beach, I love the sea. All my life I’ve lived by the sea.
Rafa Nadal’s relationship with the sea has always been very close, in Manacor where he resides he can enjoy this medium very much.
80. If someone says I’m better than Roger, I don’t think they know anything about tennis.
The rivalry between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer has always been huge, but both players are very different and at the same time great examples of what a tennis player should be.