Rafael Nadal (Manacor, 1986) is a Spanish professional tennis player who is currently considered world number one according to the ATP ranking.
Rafael Nadal Parera (Rafa Nadal) is possibly one of the best Spanish athletes in history, being a reference within sport and outside of it, since his human quality has been proven on countless occasions.
Unforgettable phrases and reflections from Rafa Nadal
We all know the sporting aspects of this great tennis player, but his private life has always been a mystery for many of us. Would you like to know a little more about his way of being and his principles?
In the 80 best quotes from Rafa Nadal that you will find below you can learn a little more about this great figure of international sport.
1. Nobody remembers the victories, only the defeats.
The media and fans can be very cruel when luck is not on our side.
2. My worst rival is the next one.
We must face each rival one at a time and giving our best in each situation.
3. To see what can be improved, what has been done well and badly, you must have the necessary attitude and a cool head, and be open to analyze things and look for solutions.
In tennis, technical aspects can decide each match, tipping the balance on one side or the other.
4. I’m only twenty-five years old and it seems like I’ve been playing for a hundred.
When we compete at the highest level, the physical and mental demands are very high.
5. And that’s what I need, to play. I need to compete.
Competitive sport is a lifestyle that Rafa Nadal knows very well.
6. After so long without competing, being here is truly more than a dream.
When you recover from an injury, all you want is to get back into the limelight.
7. Achieving what you have dreamed of makes you happy, but above all, it makes you happy to remember the effort used to achieve it.
Achieving our goals is something we all dream of, including Rafa Nadal.
8. It is a psychological blow to lose three finals in a row, of course, let’s not fool ourselves, but in life and in a career there are low and high moments.
Rafa Nadal knows very well that he will not always be able to be at one hundred percent of his physical and mental capacity.
9. All of us who play sports know that we go out to win or lose. You have to accept both things.
Anything can happen when we compete against the best in the world in any discipline.
10. Attitude is fundamental in life.
The attitude we show towards life can take us very far.
11. Winning here was another goal, but in the end it is just another game too.
Even the longest path begins with a single step.
12. What makes me most satisfied is the evolution, overcoming a complicated situation and being in the semifinals without having played the best tournament.
Our greatest rival will always be ourselves, against whom we fight the toughest battles.
13. I have always trained at the highest level, at the maximum intensity, and this makes me feel more prepared in the most difficult moments of the matches.
Preparation is essential when we face a difficult challenge.
14. The mental part is very important, because in the end bad moments always come and you have to be prepared to accept them and thus overcome them. It’s like life, in which you have to accept the good and bad moments with the same calmness.
Psychology is something very important in sport, knowing how to overcome problems is very complicated on many occasions.
15. I have always had a theory that the most important thing is to be happy, enjoy what you do and be mentally fresh.
The search for happiness is something fundamental in the lives of all people.
16. I don’t know if I’m the best or not, I’m not the right one to say it.
Rafa Nadal has always stood out for being a humble athlete with his feet on the ground.
17. I played a very, very good first set and the feelings are getting better. Win or lose, that’s the most important thing.
As a strategist, Rafa Nadal has always known what he should do at all times.
18. The first moment I felt like I could win was three minutes before the game started.
In order to win we must first visualize the victory, analyze our opponent and go after him.
19. Of course, golf is not a physically demanding sport like tennis.
Other sports like golf are much gentler on anyone’s physique.
20. But I admire the mentality of the sport more than the physical aspect, because physical performance is much easier to practice than mental performance.
Rafa Nadal knows that psychology is a fundamental aspect in any sport, knowing how to focus and practice our best game.
21. I have learned to enjoy suffering.
In order to achieve victory we must first undergo the preparation it needs.
22. I am valuing what we are doing more than ever. I am very happy after making a great effort and very excited to win such a historic title.
Personal fulfillment is something that we all pursue in life, we must fight for our dreams.
23. It is an honor to equal the record with someone like Borg. Next year I will try to come here and surpass it, but now it’s time to enjoy this trophy, which is not small, which is not easy to achieve. Any comparison with him is an honor.
We must enjoy each victory as if it were the first, because at the end of the day they are all unique from each other.
24. I really like sports. Especially soccer, it’s my favorite sport. My uncle played football in Barcelona for nine years and played in Spain in three World Cups.
Rafa Nadal’s uncle was also an elite athlete and played for FC Barcelona for a long time.
25. The basic thing is to believe in yourself and try to give your best every day. I have had bad times and one ends up overcoming them.
Confidence in ourselves is something that we must all possess in order to improve ourselves every day.
26. Tank tops give you real freedom of movement and keep you cool at games, but I thought it was time for a change.
Comfort is essential when we practice any sport and much more so in elite sports.
27. I am lucky because my family is well-off. My father has his own glass business.
Rafa Nadal’s family has a good economic situation, this situation has been able to help Rafa in many aspects of his life.
28. If the knee is doing well, what reason is there for it not to be successful? For eight years I have been between first and second in the world. I dare to think that in seven months I have not forgotten to play tennis.
Rafa Nadal’s qualities to play tennis are indisputable, even coming off an injury, Rafa is a fearsome rival.
29. In tennis when you are young it is good to look for a suitable environment, companions who can compete with you and live with you.
Training in tennis, as in many other aspects of life, is essential.
30. I like fishing. Not real fishing. I like the tranquility of being at sea. Is different.
Rafa Nadal has always had a very special relationship with the sea, as it has always lived very close to him and gives him peace of mind.
31. Tennis is a tough sport. There is a lot of competition throughout the year and you play alone.
Tennis is one of the most complete and demanding sports that exist. The technique, precision, speed, and resistance that its practice requires are aspects that are very difficult to achieve for anyone.
32. Privacy is fundamental and I believe that the law in this sense is not well focused, harassment by paparazzi should be more controlled. However, I must say that they have always respected me and I have led a very normal life.
We must learn to separate the world of sports from the private lives of athletes.
33. I’ve been learning English on the road since I started when I was 15, so it’s a slow process, but making some progress.
When we compete with the elite, the use of English during competitions is essential.
34. My parents’ divorce made a major change in my life. It affected me.
The family situations that Rafa Nadal has gone through in his life have taken a toll on his way of being.
35. My motivation is tomorrow, just one day at a time, right?
We must go step by step and always giving the best of ourselves.
36. I really appreciate this life, the things that can’t be bought. You only live once. I’m happy here and I usually avoid anything that’s a risk.
Happiness comes from the little things in life, it is not necessary to be rich to achieve happiness.
37. I always work with one goal and that is to improve as a player and person. That’s the most important thing of all.
Seeking improvement is something that has always motivated Rafa Nadal.
38. I am not the most courageous person off the court. Being alone in the dark is something I don’t like.
Behind the cameras Rafa Nadal becomes a much calmer and more relaxed person.
39. It’s just a tennis match. In the end, that’s life. There are much more important things.
Nadal knows very well that the important things in life go far beyond sport.
40. You fight, you give your best, but if you lose, you don’t have to break five rackets and punch the locker room. If there was something positive about those things, I would probably do them. But I only see negativity.
Negative attitudes are something that are always visible in the world of tennis, but Rafa Nadal knows very well that they do not bring you anything positive as a player.
41. Losing is not my enemy… the fear of losing is my enemy.
The fight against ourselves is something constant in our lives.
42. It is never time to look for excuses.
We must not take refuge in excuses, we must give one hundred percent and not regret anything.
43. There are many moments during a match when you are tense, fighting with yourself. Tennis is a lesson in self-control.
Strategy in tennis is fundamental and we must always keep a cool mind.
44. When you get older, if you are healthy, there is no problem. If you are not healthy, then go home.
There will come a time for all of us when our body tells us enough is enough and we must listen to it.
45. When I’m in the fifth set and I’ve been playing for many hours, I end up enjoying the feeling of seeing how far I can go.
Physical and mental resistance is something of vital importance in tennis, Rafa Nadal knows this very well.
46. ​​When you want something badly, no sacrifice is too big.
The desire to achieve our goals is what pushes us to achieve them.
47. I play every point as if my life depended on it.
Giving one hundred percent on every point, in every set, is something that differentiates Rafa Nadal from any other tennis player.
48. No matter how great your dedication, you never win anything on your own.
To obtain a victory, we always depend on a large number of people, our family, trainers, etc.
49. What sets tennis apart is respect for one’s opponent, one’s conduct on the court.
Tennis should be a gentleman’s sport and we should not lose our temper on the court.
50. If you want to belong to the best, you need good technique and, perhaps even more important, a good eye. If you see the ball earlier, you have more time to think about how and where to return it.
Even eyesight is tested in a tennis match.
51. Either I’m blind or fixing matches for betting doesn’t exist. When I go to tournaments I see people who want to win. If there is a problem in this sense, it is in lower level tournaments.
In this quote Rafa Nadal talks to us about how, from his point of view, it is impossible to fix a tennis match.
52. I would rather lose an argument than get into a long argument to win.
Rafa Nadal prefers not to waste time with discussions that will lead to nothing.
53. People have ups and downs and I have been very regular, but the day will come when I will go down and I will not return. I don’t know if it will be this time, I hope not.
Nadal knows very well that the time will come for all of us to retire from elite sport, it is the law of life.
54. For me, the experience of the Olympic Games is unique: what you live, what you live together.
The Olympic Games were something that undoubtedly enchanted Rafa Nadal, without a doubt one of the most relevant competitions worldwide.
55. Being number one doesn’t matter to me. There is no comparison between winning a tournament and being number one.
Rafa Nadal likes the pleasure of feeling the victory of a tournament or a Grand Slam, being number one is only a consequence of your previous victories.
56. I don’t live in a bubble, I live in Manacor. When I come back from tournaments, I come back to the real world.
The place where Rafa Nadal resides is undoubtedly a privileged place and possibly one of the most beautiful in all of Spain.
57. I have had to go to hospitals all over the world and I assure you that our healthcare is better than other countries that we consider far superior to us.
Healthcare is something that all Spaniards can be proud of, one of the best in the world.
58. Money does not buy happiness and I am happy living in Mallorca.
Money is something that can be very useful to us, but it will not bring us happiness in and of itself.
59. I am aware that I need to improve my tennis, but I am confident that I will go further.
Nadal has always been very aware of his limitations and has struggled to improve them day by day.
60. Yes, there are times when you momentarily stop believing. Sometimes you lose trust and faith. And anyone who says otherwise is lying.
We all suffer ups and downs in our morale, but we must know how to recover and continue fighting.
61. By paying taxes in another country I would have earned twice as much money, but by residing in Spain I have earned twice as much happiness.
Money does not buy happiness and Rafa Nadal knows it very well.
62. When a politician is in charge and does something well, others should say that it was done well. You cannot always be in a state of general tension.
We must recognize the positive aspects of others, a negative attitude makes any situation worse.
63. I don’t worry about personal motivation because I want to be up there longer, and I work for it.
Nadal has always known that motivation is a fundamental aspect in sport and he has always known how to give it the importance it should have.
64. Nothing is wrong with me, I just played worse, that’s the only thing that happens. It’s sport, it’s simple. There is no need to complicate things.
We all have worse days and better days, life goes on.
65. Now I have to be as calm as possible because my career is already done, everything that comes is to win.
Rafa Nadal’s career has been super prolific and from now on everything that comes will be positive.
66. Anyone could become a star, but everyone must be a human being.
We must keep our feet on the ground, Rafa Nadal is very clear about that.
67. Madrid is my team and of course I would like to be president of Real Madrid. But talking about that is a utopia.
Nada has always been a big fan of Real Madrid, he would certainly be a great president of this football club.
68. I’m still trying to get rid of some more obsessions, but we’re not going to solve the pants thing.
In tennis and in many other sports, manias are something that accompanies athletes throughout their careers.
69. Of course I think about having children. I would like to have a family. I am educated that way, I like it a lot and I have always had a very special bond with children, and I would like to have several.
At 33 years old, Rafa Nadal still does not have children, but it is something that he will know how to solve.
70. Let’s not pretend that success is a norm because it is an exception.
People get used to victories, but they will not always be present.
71. I wish the band-aid thing were also a mania, but it isn’t. It’s because of the skin.
Tennis punishes tennis players’ hands a lot, Rafa Nadal always uses band-aids to cover them.
72. Whether I play well or play badly, I have to play aggressively. I have to play aggressively.
Nadal has always been a very aggressive tennis player on the court, it is a trademark of the Nadal house.
73. There is no problem for me. The man was really nice. He told me: I love you, and then he kissed me.
Fans have always adored Rafa Nadal, as a tennis player and as a person.
74. I have this way of living sports. I like nerves as a player or as a spectator. My passion will never change.
Nadal has always felt sport very viscerally, in this quote he makes it very clear to us.
75. I already have enough quirks, but things are improving and I no longer touch my socks.
Journalists have always pursued Nadal’s manias and he has gradually corrected them.
76. I have no idols, heroes, nothing.
Not at all, his only ambition is self-improvement, he does not seek to imitate anyone.
77. Nobody is perfect, everyone does stupid things.
Indeed, as Nadal says in this quote, no one is perfect.
78. The only way to find a solution is to fight, move, run and control that pressure.
We must give our best version, put all our efforts and go out to win.
79. I love the beach, I love the sea. All my life I have lived in front of the sea.
Rafa Nadal’s relationship with the sea has always been very close, in Manacor where he lives he can enjoy this environment a lot.
80. If someone says I’m better than Roger, I don’t think they know anything about tennis.
The rivalry between Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer has always been enormous, but both tennis players are very different and at the same time great examples of what a tennis player should be.