Read Nadal’s Wimbledon Blog
Rafael Nadal has been keeping a Wimbledon blog for the Times Online - covering everything from fan questions (I haven’t seen any about the wedgie pick yet) to crazy paparazzi incidents to practice and even recipes. Yeah, I said recipes. Here’s some excerpts:
Fan Questions
Are you a rough sleeper, meaning you usually wake up with your sheets, pillows, and hair all messed up?
Brandy, Memphis
Rafa: Yes.
Hello Rafa, first of all good luck for Wimbledon, this is a question outside of tennis hope you dont mind. Just want to know about your famous Pasta creation (with mushroom and shrimps) if its not a secret, can you please tell us fans what main ingredients you use besides the mushrooms and shrimps. Is the sauce tomato based or cream, and what other ingredients you use.
From your two Australian fans Hatice and Belin. Thank you.
Rafa: Many thanks. No, no, no sauce tomato and definitely not cream. I put oil on a pan and then cook sliced onions. once they are well done I put the mushrooms and after all that the gambas. I also put crushed chilis to make it a bit spicy. Then I cook the pasta and mix everything together, Very simple but very good.
Why have you changed your pre-serve routine?
Doris from Hamburg
Rafa: I am just a bit faster not to get warnings.
I’ve read that when you’re at home in Mallorca you enjoy going to the beach. What do you like to do there? Surfing? Volleyball? Building sand castles?
Katie, UK
Rafa: Just swimming, maybe doing some sports and what I like most is to go on the boat.
My question is a little bit indiscreet. For sleeping, do you wear pyjamas, underpants or nothing?
Céline, Paris
Rafa: Underpants
Stalker Paparazzi
One thing that did surprise me yesterday was the eight paparazzi waiting for me at a restaurant. I didn’t tell anyone I was going out and when I arrived they sort of attacked me. I don’t know if this is the right word, but believe me it was strange. Too much. I am a person that always works with media, does interviews with them, works closely with them, but I don’t find it fair that when I have a few hours free, with my family, simply going for dinner, they persecute me and get those pictures that they sell. I am a public figure, I understand, but I don’t live off publicity. I live off what I do on-court. I work there. But I feel this thing last night was too much. I am not complaining since it is not my style, and I am not going to hide and not go out because there might be paparazzi but I just find it unfair. But as I say this is the way it is and hopefully society will one day go against this kind of people.
Defending ATP’s Good People
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!
On A Possible Knee Injury
Talking about that scare I really thought at that moment that I injured myself. I even thought about the ligament since I heard a crack. I was very scared, believe me. Then when Michael Novotny (the ATP trainer) and the tournament doctor came and checked it out, they told me it was normally OK and that I could continue to play. Scary moments when everything goes through your mind. Having to retire on the second game of the match in the 2nd week at Wimbledon is not precisely what you dream about. So the worries are big. But as I say everything is OK and hopefully tomorrow when I wake up the back part of the leg should be fine. I did a precautionary test after my press conference and I should be fit to play on Wednesday.
There’s tons more, some of it I am still trying to figure out (what the hell is “doing the dog at Roland Garros” ?) - check out the entire blog here.
