Q&R avec Rafa

Q: Hi Rafa, You appeared to be having difficulties with blisters on you hand against Peter Luczak. What was the problem?

Patrick, Melbourne

Rafa: No, no, it's okay. Just a small blister on my hand. Nothing to be worried about.

RAFA, I was absolutely inspired by the Hit for Haiti exhibition you, Roger, Serena, Andy, and all of the other wonderful tennis players participated in. You guys did such a great job!

We enjoyed watching you all interact, tease each other and joke around. It was so much fun!

Don't worry about your English, you did great! You made so many fantastic jokes that you made me laugh and smile throughout!

Gabriel, Melbourne

Many thanks. It was Roger's initiative and I was happy to be asked to be there helping out. I also had a great time.

RAFA, you have accomplished SO much in your career but you have yet to win a mixed doubles title. Do you think that it will ever be possible for you and Serena Williams to play mixed doubles together?

She has yet to win a mixed doubles title in Australia and at the French Open and you would be a PERFECT doubles partner for her.

Z Young, Saudi Arabia

I think this will be difficult since I normally don't play doubles at slams.

HI Rafa. You seem to have very good endurance, able to stay strong and fast even towards the end of a long match. What do you do to keep fit? Running? Weightlifting?

James, Melbourne

I do practise a lot and that helps endurance.

HAVE you ever been snow skiing? I'm sure you would be very good at it!! You're such a great athlete.

Chris Kluge

Not much snow in Mallorca. But I have been skiing. Not a good one.

GOOD luck in Australia, Rafa!

I enjoyed the Hit for Haiti and wonder if you might play doubles this year with Novak Djokovic.

Teresa Bridges

Maybe. Last year we were going to play together in Cincinnati but I had this stomach problem and decided we couldn't there.

HI Rafa, I noticed you are a couple of metres away from the baseline when you play. Is this not an obvious giveaway to the other players on how to play you?

Celia B Allum, England

I would like to be closer to the baseline and I am trying so that I can play more aggressively. But it is not easy as they push you back there!

I KNOW the holidays are over, but do you sing Christmas carols in Spain?

Jane, North Carolina

We have our songs. They are called canciones de Navidad

WHEN you go to play a match, how many racquets do you take?

Patrick Bajen, 12

Six.

ARE you ambidextrous? Can you use both left and right hands?

Marty H

Not to play tennis. I am left-handed for some things and right-handed for others, such as writing.

ALTHOUGH Monday was a rainy day, how do you feel with the heat in Melbourne? Is it something that disturbs you in practising or playing?

Mathilde, France

If the heat is extreme it disturbs everyone. Also the rain. :-)

HI Rafa, I just wanted to know how your forehand developed over the years to what it is now. Did you always have the relatively extreme grip and the whipping action, or did that come over gradual improvements? Thanks mate.

Tim H, Melbourne

There is always a component of development but you can watch videos and see that it is the same principle with different strength.

DO you re-watch your matches more when you lose to analyse what you did wrong or more when you win to analyse what you did right?

Cedrine, London

Sometimes I do.

RAFA, I was watching you practise just before the Open and I have to ask how you developed so much pace on your forehand.

I am a coach and the kids just love you so much. Perhaps I can get them to practise some more with some motivation with you!

Thanks, you're awesome

Julie Dybendahl, Queensland

The important thing is that they have fun and learn. Thanks for the comment and good luck!

RAFA, loved the Hit for Haiti and was really impressed with how well all the tennis players got along. Is it usually that friendly outside of playing time?

Bronwyn Sugden, Melbourne

The ones we were playing with have a good relationship.

HOLA Rafael, knowing you're a big fan of soccer and Real Madrid, if you had to choose one trophy for them to win this year, which one would that be?

Edgar Ortega, Sydney

Looking at the way Barca are playing and knowing where they are, any title would be good. But clearly the Champions League would be amazing since the final will be played at the Bernabeu!

SO you are a Gemini (the sign of the twins). Do you believe you have two personalities?

June, USA

Nope, not at all.

HEY Rafa, I would really like to know, if you weren't a tennis player what would you be doing?

Jake Bilardi, Melbourne

Not sure, but I would have loved to be a professional soccer player.

RAFA, you are an awesome player and I just can't get enough of you.

Is there anything you wear or carry that you believe brings you good luck?

Cansu, Melbourne

NO, not into that ... already have too many other 'routines'.