Hello Everyone!

Where should I begin….!I’VE WON THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN! YES!

When I finally celebrated my last point I felt something I’ve never felt before, it was a more peaceful victory compared to the one in Roland Garros and Wimbledon and at the same time, it was more complete. And I know why it was that way.

I grew up as a clay-courter and my style of game adapted to that: I learned to push my opponents out of the court and that made me wear out my physic with some much running around and long rallies.

But my uncle Tony and I knew that my game had to have more dimensions to it so that I could have the same kind of results on other surfaces.  I had to change my game radically, it needed to be more direct and aggressive. I had to improve my service as well as control my game when going up to the net. I had to make my shots flatter and my volley more accurate.

We had lots of work ahead of us for sure.

Every year we’ve had to improve my game on hard courts and even though I beat Gonzalez in the final of the Olympic games, this final against Roger Federer, (who has recuperated his form) was going to be a test of fire for me.

But we made it!

All the hard work, the dedication I put into it was well worth it. And that is what sport is really about. A victory tastes amazing only if it is the result of hard work.  

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

Rafa

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to say that I will be playing a Grand Slam final again. The first final I will play against Roger in a court other than Wimbledon and Roland Garros.

It’s incredible that after today we would have played together in all the (Grand Slam) finals but one. It will be unreal for me as well because we all know he’s the best tennis player of all time.

This final will be particularly special because it is my first in Melbourne and it will be really hard. I am really excited but somewhat tired from the Friday match against Nando Verdasco. Let’s see how it all turns out.

Thanks you very much to all of you for all the support!

Rafa.