Rafa Nadal is only 21, but he is already thinking of his future beyond tennis and is convinced his privileged position gives him the chance to help others.

"This can be the beginning of my future, when I retire and have more time," the Spaniard said Wednesday as he launched the Rafa Nadal Foundation in his native town, Manacor, on the island of Mallorca.

"I am doing very well and I owe society," Rafa said.

As he launched the foundation - set to focus on social work and development aid - he was proudly watched by his parents, his uncles and his four grandparents at the restaurant of the Manacor Tennis Club, where he has been playing since he was a child and where he is currently preparing his return to the ATP circuit next week in Rotterdam.

Rafa, a thoughtful player who constantly observes the world around him, is conscious of reality.

"A month-and-a-half ago I was in Chennai, in India. The truth is we live great here. And if I can contribute something with my image..." he said.

The tennis player recalled other charity projects that he has been involved in, like a match against Malaria with Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

"We raised an amount of money that we would never have imagined. I have to thank Iker, my project partner, who went all out for it," Nadal said. "That is why the time has come to set up my own foundation and determine the destination of the money."

The foundation will seek to promote "sport as an integration tool for those groups in most need," focusing particularly on childhood and youth.

Ana Maria Parera, Nadal's mother, will chair the foundation, and his father Sebastian will be vice-chairman. Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal and his agent, former tennis player Carlos Costa, will also be involved.

"It makes me proud that Rafa has counted on me, because I chase him around all year," Costa said. "Rafa travels the world and sees things."

On a morning with the threat of rain - leading to change the ceremony from a tennis court to the club restaurant - Costa noted that he is "open to receive projects as from now."

"Rafa was already great, but he has grown even greater today," Manacor Mayor Toni Pastor told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Nadal's mother, in turn, said she is "very proud" of her son.

The player stressed his commitment to the project, and noted that he plans to follow it closely.

"My involvement is as great as it can be, because I do everything 100 per cent, like tennis," he said.

"I have wanted people who are close to me to make me build the beginning of my future. I am 21, I hope to have a long career, yes, but this can be a start," Nadal said.

Nadal is not the first sportsman to set up a foundation. One of the most famous in tennis is that set up by Swiss world number one Roger Federer, which focuses on Africa - the continent that Federer's mother hails from.

"I have talked a lot about this with Roger, and he tells me that when you are there it is something that fills you with satisfaction. And I think the time has come, it is a beautiful time for my life and for my career," Nadal said.

Despite the fact that poverty in India struck him particularly hard, Nadal wants to start by helping "people close by, in the Balearic Islands, in Spain, and then, if possible, abroad."

"And I want to move little by little," Nadal warned. "Whatever I do, I want to be involved in it. And to do it well. Because I hold the hope of helping those who need it most."

Tsonga, who won over the crowds with a contagious smile and a go-for-broke style, claimed a stunning win against Rafa Nadal in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory that carried him to his first Grand Slam final.

Feeding off the crowd's energy, even whipping it to a fever pitch like an orchestra conductor, the 38th-ranked Tsonga thrived under pressure, producing what he called his best performance ever.

"It's unbelievable, just amazing," the Frenchman said. "Nothing can stop me today. It's like a dream. I can't believe it's true. I was moving on the court like never I move. Everything was perfect.".... No arguments there. "I was playing fine," Rafa said. "He played unbelievable. Congratulate him."

Tsonga, who beat three top 12 players earlier in the tournament, had never gone beyond the fourth round in his four previous Grand Slams. Now, he will play the winner of Friday's semifinal between top-ranked Roger Federer and No. 3 Novak Djokovic.adal had just 12 unforced errors — four combined in the first two sets.

Tsonga smashed 17 aces against Rafa, one of the best serve returners. With the crowd cheering and often on its feet, Tsonga picked up volleys off his feet with a deft touch. Changing speed and spin, he slugged it out with Rafa from the baseline the way few can. And anytime he got close to trouble, his big serve bailed him out. "I can't believe some volleys," Rafa said. "I tried to play little bit slower. I tried to play a little bit faster. I tried to play more inside the court, behind the court. No chance. Not today."

Tsonga broke Rafa at love to finish off the first set, then reveled in the cheers, waving his arms to get the fans to yell even louder. "They give me lot of energy," he said. With Rafa serving at 3-4 in the second set, Tsonga set up break point with a lunging backhand volley that left him with his back facing the net, then raised a finger to indicate "One more." He smacked a blistering service return on the next point, then another stinging shot to set up an easy overhead. Serving for the set, Tsonga blasted two aces, then another serve that clipped the net and landed on the line. Rafa challenged the call, clearly unwilling to give Tsonga another chance — and for good reason. The call stood, and Tsonga rang up another ace.

Tsonga broke for the seventh time, then served for the match at 5-2, finishing it off with another ace. He looked stunned it was over, then jumped around the court in celebration.

Well done for Rafa, that was a great effort!

Rafael Nadal enjoyed a spirited challenge from Serbian qualifier Viktor Troicki to work his way into the second round of the Australian Open.

Rafa was made to fight for every point by the 126th-ranked Troicki in the night centre court match but finally prevailed after two hours 35 minutes, winning 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 6-1 and will next play Frenchman Florent Serra in the second round.

Troicki, who was making his Grand Slam debut, had the benefit of winning three qualifying matches to earn his place against Rafa, who is playing in his fourth Australian Open and has progressed a round further in each of his previous appearances in Melbourne, last year reaching a place in the quater finals against the eventual finalist Fernando Gonzalez.

The opening set was decided in a tiebreaker and Rafa set up four set points to go one up in just over an hour. Troicki again proved difficult to subdue and broke the Spaniard in the third game, before Rafa broke twice in the eighth and 12th to take a stranglehold on the match with a two sets to love lead. Troicki's serve was broken in the fourth game of the final set as Nadal took command, with the Serb's game beginning to unravel. Rafa finished strong and broke Troicki again in the sixth and served out the match.

Rafa Nadal is ready to start his 2008 campaign this monday against WIldcard Viktor Troicki, from Servia. 

In the meantime, before he gets to hits some balls at Rod Laver Arena, he did a little interview in which he talked about his expectations for the open amongst other things. Rafael Nadal - January 12, 2008 Australian Open Pre Tournament Interview - AustralianOpen.com

Q. How you feeling physically ahead of the Australian Open?

RAFAEL NADAL: Perfect, no? Physical is no one problem, so I am very happy about that.

Q. Chennai seemed to be quite a demanding week for you with that long semifinal. Been no problems with that?

RAFAEL NADAL: No. Was only tired, no? Was terrible semifinal, no? Four hours match. Well, I only have less than 24 hours for recover. I go to sleep late because I finish the match late. Was tough to recover.

So Michael play good tennis and he beat me very easy.

Q. What do you think of the courts, the new courts?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't see too much difference. My opinion. I don't know.

Q. You have a chance to take the No. 1 ranking. Is that a focus for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think is not a real chance - not yet.

Q. Do you feel like you're better prepared for Melbourne than you have been ever before in terms of having played here now over the last few years, gained a bit more experience?

RAFAEL NADAL: 2005 I played very well, no? I have big chance for go to quarterfinals. I lost against Hewitt. Last year probably was worst year. I play bad tennis.

This year I am arriving well, practicing well, and I had some matches in Chennai. So I hope will be fine for Monday.

Q. Are you feeling confident?

RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I am. I say, no? I practice very well, very good the week before. In Chennai, I play some tough matches. It's important to win like semifinals. Is always important match for confidence.

Well, is first important tournament of the season. Well, always is new. Is not always new, but seems like new every year, no? Well, gonna be interesting. I gonna try my best, no? I think I am prepared.

Q. What is your expectation for this tournament?

RAFAEL NADAL: Play good. That's my expectation.

Q. Do you think Roger's illness, the fact he hasn't played any competitive matches, will be a benefit for the rest of the men's competition here?

RAFAEL NADAL: I will tell you in two weeks.

Q. It certainly doesn't hurt the competition, though, does it?

RAFAEL NADAL: Depends, no? Because if Roger play one match, two matches, that's enough for him, no? Normally maybe he don't have a lot of problems in the first rounds, so he can get the rhythm in these first two rounds. And later, that's fine.

Q. Last year I remember you played a very exciting match against Andy Murray, a five-set match. You perhaps have seen that he won in Doha. Do you think he may have the sort of year that Djokovic had last year?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we will see, no? I think is not good speak about that for him. For him, too, no?

Well, he start the season very well. My opinion, if he last year don't have the injury, maybe he gonna be in Shanghai for last year. He wasn't in Shanghai. Disappointing for him, he has important injury in Hamburg.

I think he gonna have his chances for have unbelievable year, no? But is early to speak about that, no? I think he has everything for be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the world.

Q. What did you do in December?

RAFAEL NADAL: Practice - a lot. Too much (laughter).

Q. Training, too? Hitting balls? Playing sets?

RAFAEL NADAL: 8:30 to 9:30 physical performance. 9:30 to 1 tennis. 3 to 5 tennis. 6 to 7:15 physical, and after I sleep. I always go to sleep at 1:00 in the morning, something like this. I don't know, this year in December, at 10:30 I was in the sofa watching the TV only five minutes, later sleeping every time, every day.

Q. Did you get any chance over Christmas to have a little bit of time off, to just relax as a normal person?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I spend the Christmas with the family, dinner. Well, after the family dinner, I go out a little bit with the friends. Well, a little bit more than a little bit (smiling). The next day is day off, holiday.

Q. As far as the draw goes, are you happy with it? It looks like you could play Moya?

RAFAEL NADAL: Who is playing against Carlos Moya?

Q. That could potentially happen in the quarterfinals.

RAFAEL NADAL: I would love to be in fourth round against Moya, no? I am focused about first round now.

Always is the same. You always ask me the same and I always answer the same.

Q. Is there any aspect of your game that you've worked on in December that you feel like you needed to improve to take that next step?

RAFAEL NADAL: I think in one month is impossible to improve a lot. That's my opinion. But in one month you can work for continuing improve during the competition, no? You have to improve, not new things, well, for example, if you are going to volley more than before, well, you can volley very good in the practice, but for improve you have to do in the match, no? That's an example. I don't gonna be serve and volley right now (smiling).

Q. Is there anything that you can do in the December month to prepare for the conditions here, for the heat?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, in Mallorca the weather is not the same for sure in December, no? Was tough year in December. Some days terrible cold. But I practice a lot, no? I practice hard. So week before I was in Chennai. It's hot. Similar like this. A little bit more humid. That's good preparation. And I arrive here Tuesday night, so I have some days for adapt.

Q. Do you like it to be hot? Do you prefer if they keep the roof open when it's hot?

RAFAEL NADAL: Today is perfect. Two days ago, too much. 42 degrees is too much. I practiced.

Q. Is 40 degrees in Mallorca completely different?

RAFAEL NADAL: Mallorca, it's not 40 degrees.

Q. Not 40 ever?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I was in the players, not lounge, but when we were having lunch outside, because inside was no table two days ago, I think. Yeah, two days ago. In Mallorca, that's never happening, something like this. If you have cover, not in the sun, always a little bit fresh air anyway if is the summer.

But here, it's terrible.

Before arriving in Australia today, Rafa had a chat with the journalist from the Hindu.com website when he left chennai eariler this week. This is what Rafa had to say:

On 2007 and this year’s Australian Open: "I’ve always played pretty good there. I made it to the third round in the past and also had a fourth-round match against Hewitt (Lleyton) before. Last time I made it to the quarterfinals (lost to finalist Fernando Gonzalez). Maybe I did not play great in that match, but it was not a bad result. I just try to play 100 per cent to my potential. I had a good 2007. I won Indian Wells and some important tournaments. I have a chance for a very good tournament (Australian Open)

On his chances of winning Wimbledon over Roger Federer’s of winning Roland Garros: "I think Roger has more chances to win Roland Garros than I have to win Wimbledon. He has made it to two finals, and has played very well on clay and won so many titles. Grass is a short season, so it’s difficult. You have just one chance to try and do well on it, and there is no time to practice. I don’t know what’s going to happen this year, but I will keep fighting and giving my best."

On general concerns that the grass is slowing down at Wimbledon: "Everybody says it, but I don’t know. From the first time I started playing there, nothing has changed. On his serve: I think I’ve improved my serve. There is a marked improvement. Even the second serve is good. But I will continue to improve" On his chances of becoming No.1: "I don’t know if I ever will. I will keep fighting for it, and will try to reach there.

On the one question asked by the press that he’s tired of answering: Everything about Roger. On the hardest thing about being a professional tennis player: I love the competition, but travelling and spending time away from home is hard sometimes."

Rafa Nadal said on Sunday he is fit and ready for the Australian Open despite suffering a defeat in the ATP Chennai Open final.

Rafa to fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny 6-0, 6-1 in a quick 58-minute final. The 21-year-old called for a trainer midway through the second set, but afterwards insisted he was not injured. "I am fine, there is nothing wrong with me," Rafa told AFP. "I called the trainer because I was feeling a bit tired."

"I look forward to going to Melbourne and training hard for the Australian Open. It is a tournament which interests me a lot." Rafa reached the quarter-final at the Open last year and is looking forward to progress beyond the fourth round in Melbourne.

Rafa looked exhausted after his marathon semi-final against compatriot Carlos Moya on Saturday which lasted three hours and 54 minutes as all three sets went into tie-breaks. It was the longest three-set match since 1993 when Andrei Cherkasov beat Andrea Gaudenzi in the quarter-finals of the Tel Aviv Open over the same duration. Nadal admitted returning to the court less than 24 hours after the gruelling encounter against Moya was tough.

"I was a bit tired, but Mikhail played unbelievable tennis and deserved to win. He was the better player today." "But I am not very worried. I think I played quite well in this tournament and am happy to have reached the final in the first one of the season."

"The good thing is I leave this tournament without any injury. It has been a good start to the year for me. I have had good practice."

On Sunday, Rafa didn't have much luck holding his serve or any of his three service games in the first set, which Youzhny won in just 24 minutes. Youzhny then broke Rafatwice -- in the fourth and sixth games of the second set -- before wrapping up the match on his own serve. It was Youzhny's fourth win in seven matches on hard courts against Rafa and earned him 68,800 dollars and 35 ATP race points in the season-opener in this southern Indian city. Rafa won 37,350 dollars and 24 points.

The Russian, who lost in the second round in his only other Chennai appearance in 2001, won his fourth ATP title."This victory is a present from Rafael," said Youzhny. "He could not move today, he could not play. Maybe he was tired after last night's match against Moya." "I did not think it would be so easy. I thought he would come back strongly in the second set but once I broke him in the fourth game, I knew I only had to ensure I did not make mistakes."

"I improved with every match in this tournament and I hope I continue the same way at the Australian Open," said the Russian, who has never progressed beyond the fourth round in Melbourne.

Rafa Nadal eased into the semi-finals of the ATP Chennai Open on Friday, setting up a mouth-watering duel against Spanish friend and compatriot, Carlos Moya.

The top-seede had no problem winning against countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 6-2 in a quarter-final that was interrupted by heavy rain for more than three hours after just three games had been played.

Playing fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, a senior on the circuit, Rafa exhibited intelligence and did not strain himself or keep moving from one end of the court to the other. Most often, he forced his rival to commit mistakes.

Rafa played to a plan and needed just a single break in the eighth game of the first set. He also gained two breaks in the second set (5th and 7th) before winning the match. The organizers, not being adequately equipped with gadgets like a 'drier' and other implements to get the rain affected courts readied for play, have a tough task on hand to get one singles and a doubles match completed.

The victory kept Rafa on course for his first ever title in a season-opening event ahead of the Australian Open, the latest edition of which starts in Melbourne later this month. "The rain only delayed the match, it was not a distraction," said Rafa. "We see more rain at Wimbledon every year."

Moya, a two-time champion in Chennai in 2004 and 2005, easily disposed off unseeded Frenchman Florent Serra 6-3, 6-4 in the first quarter-final played before rains hit the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium.

Head to head, Rafa is 4-2 against his 31-year-old mentor Moya, including a victory in the Roland Garros quarterfinals last year.

World number two Rafal Nadal stayed on course for an early title in the new year as he stormed into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open on Thursday.

The top-seeded Spaniard outclassed qualifier Rajeev Ram, an American citizen born to Indian parents, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the season-opening 436,000-dollar event. "The scoreline makes it look as if I had it easy out there but the strong wind made it very tricky and hard to play consistent tennis," the 21-year-old said.

Then he continued his coments on how the score doesn’t often reflect the character of the match. “Always it is the same. Sometimes I win 6-2, 6-2 but I think that was a tough match. Sometime you think you are winning easier and you finish with a score of 6-4 6-4. So the score doesn’t indicate the nature of the game"

Rafa, who is ranked 250 places above Ram, also said that there is no motivation problem when it came to facing such lower-ranked players. “It is a big tournament in the first week of this year. Every match is important for my confidence. The important thing is to win and win without many problems,” the Spaniard said.

On his current form of play, Rafa said, “I don’t know if I am at the top of my game but I know that I am playing much better in this tournament than I did last time.”...."I am glad I came through. This is the first week of the season and I am trying to get into form. I am not looking at winning the title yet. I take it one match at a time."

In the quarter-finals, Rafa meets fellow Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who came from behind to defeat seventh seed Werner Eschauer of Austria, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3).

Playing his first singles match of the season, top-seed Rafael Nadal cruised to a 6-2 6-4 triumph over Mathieu Montcourt at the Chennai Open.

Rafa admitted that he played well only in patches while vanquishing Mathieu Montcourt of France 6-2, 6-4. 'Most of the first set and better part of the second, I thought I played well. But in the eighth game of the second set, I committed too many mistakes and dropped serve. I then had to play better to close the match in the 10th,' he said.

He said he had no fitness worries, but declined to look further than his second round match when asked about his expectations for the 2008 season. 'It is just the first tournament of the year and so, I cannot comment on how the season would progress for me. May be if you ask me after the Miami tournament (March 24-April 6), I will be able to say how the season is going for me,' he asserted.

As for his chances at the Chennai Open keeping in mind his performance, Rafa said: 'Every match is going to be tough and I have to be at the top of my game if I hope to win the title here.'He is slated to play qualifier Rajeev Ram (US) who beat Yuri Schukin (Russia) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (2).

Commening on the surprise defeat of second seed Marcos Baghdatis earlier in the evening Tuesday, Rafa said: 'I feel sorry for Marcos. He is a good friend of mine, but then, it can happen to me also if I do not play better tennis than I did tonight.'

On playing conditions in Chennai, Nadal was all praise. 'This is my third visit to Chennai and I have always enjoyed the conditions here and also the crowd.' Asked whether he had made any New Year resolutions, Rafael quipped amidst laughter: 'Resolution on what?'