Hi everyone,

Well I suppose you all guess what I am going to say first... right?... VIVA ESPAÑA!!!. Spain is the Champion and for me a big football fan this is one of the best moments of my life. I don't know how to compare it. Obviously like when I win a big title is big, this is at that level for me. For the country obviously this is bigger, much bigger and I agree. It made me so happy.

I have to admit I was very nervous before the match. I didn't want to speak to many people, it was like if I was going to go on-court to play a big match. I remember that Benito, my PR Manager, wanted to take a video and some pictures and I didn't want. I didn't allow him and now that I think about it... I wanted to be focussed and expecting the match.

We were a few today. Apart from my team there was also Feliciano Lopez and his team together with his girlfriend, his mother and father. We were around 15 and we jumped many times. When Torres scored it was great and the final whistle was a big party and celebration for us. What a moment. Spain deserved it, we deserve it. We were the only big football nation that hasn't won a big title in almost the last 50 years. Spain won and showing a great football.

So my day started this morning waking up at 9.30 am and immediately listening via internet to the Spanish radios. I went to practice at 1 pm with Tipsarevic, had some press to do and then got back home to "concentrate" on the match. What did I do? Played darts in the little backyard we have with my team and Albert Molina from IMG, played some play station,... You know, just things to make the time go fast.

We ate really late today. I think it was around 4.30 pm. We don't even eat that late in Spain, but you know, the after practice, coming to the house, shower, etc... late. Too late.

Then it was the moment of the match. But anyway, back to tennis, tomorrow I have a very difficult match against a very difficult player. I know it won't be easy, but I will have more support than in the past days since my mother and my sister are coming tomorrow morning. My sister has finished her exams and so they are coming to see me play and support me. I always enjoy their presence.

Saludos a todos !

Rafa

Hi everyone!

Well, I am still jumping and shouting after the football match yesterday. What a match. Don't get me wrong, simply I just love football and I am happy Spain is doing well. We deserve it. But I am also thinking about tomorrow's match against Kiefer.

I heard somewhere that someone said it was not very professional for me to have asked the tournament to put my match early so I could watch the football. I didn't ask them to cancel my match. Come on! I only kindly asked if it was possible to schedule me early ... anyway, jokes aside, I am really focused and thinking about tomorrow's match against Nicolas Kiefer, from Germany.

May I say that he is a very difficult player, one that I have played twice this year on a different surface (hard). It’s not easy. I am playing well now but still this will be a difficult game.

Today the surprise. It rained!!! That brought back memories from last year. I had a practice scheduled for 2pm and had to change it to 4pm. I had arrived to the club at 12.50pm to get ready for the practice. When I left home it was raining so I knew practice would be late so I decided to have lunch at the club - pasta with salmon. I think I have eaten less onsite this year than when I used to go home and have lunch there if it was a day I wasn’t playing.

The funny thing today was that some pasta got stuck in my throat ... just like the banana a year ago. My physio helped me and everything is okay but it was very funny. After practice I had to do some a film shoot for something for the NIKE website and the olympics. So it was a busy, late afternoon. It took me over an hour and a half. I always have something on but it’s okay as this way I keep myself busy and the day of the match comes faster.

Thanks to all and hope to write tomorrow.

Rafa

Hi everyone,

I just came from defeating Nicolas Kiefer in my 3rd round match at Wimbledon. I am writing this blog straight away after winning and have just finished my work both at the physiotherapist and with the media. Lot of questions about a potential final here at Wimbledon, but not from last year... They ask me about this year! Already! If you follow me, I always say that I take match after match and don't even look at the draw since I consider every rival very difficult. I said the other day that Gulbis was dangerous and difficult and there you go he took the first set and the second, very importantly for the match went to a tie break. If he had won that set it would have been a different game. That's why I say these things.

My next match is against Mikhail Youzhny from Russia. A very difficult player who has beaten me at important tournaments. I remember the year he beat me at the quarters of the US Open. He hits very hard and flat and I always have very tough matches against him on fast surfaces.

No need to go far in time or place. Last year, here at Wimbledon, I was 2 sets to love down and really struggling on that Court No 2. It was a great and epic match for me that boosted even more my confidence. I think I really played great on those following three sets and managed to win. Very important win.  I mean, those matches at those courts are very important. They are tricky, very tricky and the rivals know that too. And it's been a while since I wanted to say this. I would like to send a big hello and give my support to Vittorio Selmi. He is an ATP employee and one of the men who really know about this sport. He is an open book. Knows the history of the game, was part of it, one of the pillars together with other people and a person really important that was always close. Well he is going through tough moments in his life since the management of the ATP, the top management, has put him aside. A person that has been working for 30 years for this sport doesn't deserve this treatment. Something really bad from a human point of view that shows the type of people at the top of this organization, our organization, the one that is supposed to be representing us. Vitto, cheer up and hope to see you soon. We want you on top form!And of course, I could not finish today's blog without mentioning the final on Sunday. No, no, there is no tennis tomorrow (for those only following tennis). I mean the Eurocup of football. Spain 2 Germany 1 is my guess. I didn't guess right one score so far, but hopefully tomorrow It will be the first one I guess right. I am confident and very nervous at the same time. More than if I play !!! I spoke to Casillas the other day after the semifinals and I am sure they are going to win. They really believe in themselves and they can do it. This is very important. They are convinced they can do it, and they will do it. Believe me when I say this is very important for Spain too. We need this win. So... Vamos España!!!!

Thanks. Rafa

Hi everyone,

Well, to be honest with all, if it was for me, I would only talk about football all night. I am writing this blog tonight a couple of hours after Spain has defeated Russia and qualified to play the final of the Eurocup of football. Big night for us Spaniards, very big. I love football and everyone knows it. I had a great time today and I am very proud of what the guys have done. What a match, what a team we have. I believe they can really win the whole thing and that could be historical for my country. I might sound a bit over excited, but you know what, I really am.

I watched the match again at home, at the house I have rented during my stay at Wimbledon. I had my team with me, the people traveling to the tournaments with me, also Feliciano Lopez and his team. We had a great time before and after and I am writing this short blog today before going to sleep.I have been asked if did really ask the organization to play early. And yes I did. I am not sure if this is very professional. Why not? we can do both, hhuhh? We can play our tournament and also be looking forward to watch football. I did ask to play early so that I could be on-time to watch the match. It is not only the tennis match itself that it was also pretty long (almost 4 hours). But after that I have some work in the changing room with my physiotherapist and then all the media and TV. That takes almost 1.5 hours.

Tomorrow I have that half day off as I call it since after practice I will take it easy and rest. Maybe it is not the right day to go for that ride on The Thames. Maybe next week if I am still at the tournament.

Many thanks to all and allow me to say today: Viva España !

Rafa

Hi everyone,

Well, today is an important day. Not because of my match, but because for the football match Spain v Russia. I hope you don't take this comment in a wrong way. I mean, my match is very important for me and I am very focussed on it. I want to win and I know it is a very tough and difficult one. First thing first. But I am also excited about that semi-final in the Eurocup. But the Gulbis match will be very difficult since I know him and he is a very promising young player with great shots and specially a great serve. I know it will be tough.

Coming back to football, we will watch it at the house I have rented in Wimbledon with some other Spanish players, coaches and managers. There will be a great atmosphere and we are all very excited about it. Again, don't take me wrong since the tennis is my number one priority... On Wednesday I practiced only one time and I have to say I am feeling great. I feel playing good and hopefully on Thursday I can play at my best.

You might think that I am getting boring with these blogs since I don't talk much, but I think this is more or less a diary and with the fact of having the house so close to the tournament site, I really don't do much. From the house to the club back and forth. It is great for the concentration on the tournament but not much social life, sightseeing or anything alike. We don't even go out for dinner. Only with the exceptions of a special dinner or things alike.

My uncle Toni, who loves to walk, does go out for walks and even goes to the city if he has a free afternoon or morning and walk. I simply can't do that. Lot of people say to us, well your life looks great with all that travelling. But to be honest we don't have that much time to go out and do what other "normal" people do when they travel. Except on very rare occasions I go out and do "tourism". I did it in during Roland Garros since I had 2 days in between the quarter and semifinals and then it is OK. Also good to break the monotony of the long weeks.

Here I found out that there are boats that go through the river Thames and if I go further in the tournament I am thinking of one day doing it to have a different view of London from the river. We'll see.

Anyway, as I say big day today and hopefully Spain will win (after I pass to 3rd round?)

Thanks all.

Rafa

Hi everyone,

Once again I am happy and it is nice to be like this everyday. I won my first round match at Wimbledon and that, for me, it is great news. IT is always difficult, believe me, these first rounds. Today's opponent has a great service and as I said yesterday can hit very strongly. But I played well and specially I served very well. I guess you don't want to hear more of me about the match so I tell you other stories.

It is funny how most of my press conference today and some of your questions are about football. I know football is the biggest sport in the World and I also love to talk about it. So it is cool with me. Specially when Spain is playing the semifinals of the Eurocup. So there you go, I had a lot of questions about my thoughts on the match against Russia, etc. I love answering questions about football but I don't really understand why so they ask me? I know that I am quite popular and what I say is always useful but when they ask me for the ideal 11 playing or things like that it is funny. One other thing is that Giorgio di Palermo, a Tour Manager from the ATP, is really upset with me and some of the other Spaniards around since we gave him a hard time the other day after the Italy v Spain match. Well, he has to remember that when Roma eliminated Real Madrid from the Champions League earlier this year he more or less behaved like this. So here it is my revenge. In any case Giorgio is a great guy so, come one man, don't get upset. We deserved to win and Italy, a country that I truly love and enjoy very much, played simply ugly and bad. But they are the World Champions so respect to them.

I did not mention the other day is that I bought a nice painting of Marilyn Rock by the reccomondation of Daniel Muszkat, who is the representative of the artist Daniele Donde. My agent Carlos Costa introduced me to him and I just loved that painting. Not that I am very much into art but I do like these things and specially paintings. My uncle loves it too. I also got a present today from a sculptress called Louise. Really beautiful so I have to thank her. Last year she already made one of me and gave it to me. She actually brought it to Mallorca and it is really nice of her.

I am sort of shy and when people give me these presents I really have a tough time. I hope they all take it right. It is simply that also my English is not the best so I struggle a bit. But I really appreciate all these gestures.

Many thanks to all and until tomorrow.

Rafa

Hi everyone!

Today I am a very happy person. I normally am, but today, after the football match I can't say I could not be happier. We watched the match at the house I have rented in Wimbledon. Me, Toni, Rafa Maymo, Benito from my team, Feliciano Lopez, his girlfriend, Albert Costa, Richy Sanchez (coach of Jankovic), Toni Estalella and Gabriel Urpi (coach of Penetta) are the ones that watched the match here.

Great atmosphere!!! Feli as always very critical with the whole match except with his friends Sergio Ramos and Casillas hahahahahaha. But I suppose because we were all nervous. I hope Spain will win. We broke this June 22nd thing and we won in penalties! I can say I was not nervous before the match and you might think that's normal, but everybody around was nervous. I wasn't because I had a lot of faith on our team, but as the match started and the minutes passed I was starting to get nervous. As the 90 minutes approached then I was really nervous. I am sure you do not want me to do a whole analysis of the match (although I like to do this) but wow. I jumped unbelievable when we won. I believed on the victory but you know it is always difficult against Italy!

So my day, apart from this moment was a normal day at the club. I practiced twice yesterday as I normally do before the competition starts. Once the competition has started then I normally practice only once. We do this, or at least I do it, to save energy for the matches. Unless I am playing really bad and then I need to practice more this is the way I do it.

Then I go to the locker room to debrief with Toni and Maymo. The only negative thing so far is that the tournament only gives us one badge to get into the locker room. That means that Maymo, who is always with me taking care of my body, taping me, etc, can't have access this year to the locker room. I don't think this is normal since he is my physiotherapist, he is a professional, he goes at every locker room and I need him inside. We have asked the organization and they say only one, Toni or Rafa. Very strange and unfortunate. But it is not my tournament so I don't make the rules

Anyway, for the rest everything well and I'm looking forward to the start of the competition, my competition!

Many thanks,

Rafa

Hi Everyone,

OK, so tomorrow (Tuesday) I start playing. I am very excited since you all know I love the competition. Last year I arrived early here in London and the wait to start was long. Also we had bad weather and all that, but this year I arrived late to Wimbledon and the wait has been incredibly short. It is actually already Monday and tomorrow we are off to play.

So my days have been easy and quite. No hick-ups. I have been practising and since the weather has been holding we cannot complain. This year the house where I am staying is even closer to the club. Walking it takes me 1 minute or 2 and so I can practice and go home for lunch, watch some  TV, play some PS and go back to practice. We had lunch today and did the normal pasta I always do. Pasta with mushrooms and seafood. We didn't have seafood today so I just put some surinami I think it is called. These Japanese sticks that taste so good. I put a lot of onions before so it is really nice. Carlos Costa, my manager, arrived last night so he came for lunch and we also took the chance to talk about different things. I also talk to him a lot about tennis since he was a very good tennis player and knows a lot so it is always good to have him around.

Tonight we are going to the city since we have been invited to Albert Costa's birthday dinner. His wife has come and has organized this  secret dinner. A whole bunch of people will be there and so no cooking tonight for me. I normally don't go to London during these weeks but tonight it is special so we will be there. The dinner, where? of course at El Cambio de Tercio !!! I think we are over 25 people so I am sure it will be a lot of fun !

I am feeling good and let's see how this starts. You never know with Wimbledon and grass.

Thanks to all.Rafa

Hi everybody,

I am back in London and back writing this blog. First of all I would like to thank this newspaper for giving me this opportunity to write this blog again here during WIMBLEDON and thanks to all you readers for following me and reading what a non writer like me does. I hope I don't make too many mistakes.

I feel great back here in London, or better if I say at Wimbledon. I had a great week in London after Roland Garros playing at the Artois Championships at Queen's. I didn't think I could win it when I was travelling on the Eurostar (without air conditioning by the way) with my parents and a couple of my team. We went straight from the station to the club to practice and when I first hit my ball the sensations were different. I did feel better on the next day playing doubs and the feeling got better and better every day. So great win, my first title on grass and really looking forward to this year's Wimbledon.

I decided after lifting the trophy to change a bit my plans and went to Mallorca to rest for 3 days. I only got back here to London yesterday and had my first practice at Wimbledon yesterday. As I say I was supposed to come back to London on Monday or Tuesday the latest to start preparing for Wimbledon.

But changed that since I needed 3 days of rest. I have only been at home 8 days in the last 4 months and that's also "thanks" to the fact that I lost 1st round in Rome. Otherwise it would have been only 4 days... Tough. So I needed those 3 days at home, playing golf, being with my family and friends and forgetting a bit about tennis.

I was supposed to play today an exhibition at Hurlingham Club but had to cancel since I did not feel ready to play and could not cheat to the people there. I feel I needed to practice a bit more here and so I decided to cancel that participation.

In any case here we are and l hope you will follow me this Wimbledon.

Thanks. Rafa