Plus, Roger and Andy are 27 &28 not 23.

Although, Xisca (coolest name ever!) strikes me as a very confident young woman who doesn’t need to be showered in praises. She also has a toughie quality and a no-nonsense vibe about her, yet at the same time she comes off as being doted on a spoiled (no doubt by Rafa himself. SQUEE!) Perfect balance. After all, as we’re seeing more and more, Rafa is extremely thoughtful and poetic. I’m sure when he is being honest and complimenting her what he says is oh-so-special and romantic. I just love how he can be a complete tease, crack jokes, and yet have (as FreakyFrites put it perfectly) “very finely tuned B.S. meter, especially for a guy so young.”

Great interview FreakyFrites! Thanks for sharing!
Like many who have posted here, I too am impressed and proud of him. I’m not surprised because I’ve always known how intelligent, shrewd, thoughtful and outspoken Rafa is. Even way back when he barely had a grasp on the English language he was witty, quick, and would express deep thoughts in just a few healvely-accented and broken sentences. <3

Just when I think I couldn't possibly love, admire and respect him anymore, he goes on ahead and proves me wrong.

Vamos Rafa! Just as you are!

Plus, Roger and Andy are 27 &28 not 23.

Although, Xisca (coolest name ever!) strikes me as a very confident young woman who doesn’t need to be showered in praises. She also has a toughie quality and a no-nonsense vibe about her, yet at the same time she comes off as being doted on a spoiled (no doubt by Rafa himself. SQUEE!) Perfect balance. After all, as we’re seeing more and more, Rafa is extremely thoughtful and poetic. I’m sure when he is being honest and complimenting her what he says is oh-so-special and romantic.

Great interview FreakyFrites! Thanks for sharing!
Like many who have posted here, I too am impressed and proud of him. I’m not surprised because I’ve always known how intelligent, shrewd, thoughtful and outspoken Rafa is. Even way back when he barely had a grasp on the English language he was witty, quick, and would express deep thoughts in just a few healvely-accented and broken sentences. <3

Just when I think I couldn't possibly love, admire and respect him anymore, he goes on ahead and proves me wrong.

Vamos Rafa! Just as you are!

That quality of self-reliance and independence and accountability…those qualities of a man is what makes him oh-so-attractive! (and I’m not just talking about the physical sense. )

He’s the type of gentleman who would be handy around the house (keep from thinking dirty ladies..) I could totally see him waking up in the wee hours of the morning to mend things and build things. He is a man’s man and a woman’s man. Absolutely perfect!

He can watch soccer and play video games. Then go out on a romantic dinner and watch a musical. Then speak out for justice and fairness and defend what and who he believes in, then flash a heart-melting, dimple-ridden, oh-the-angels-have-kissed-him Smile.

*siiigh* His answer was not doubt mature and honest. I feel that my comments are too silly after reading his interview. What a man and what a heart. His honesty, courage, courtesy , ability to be thankful and grateful, humble and conscious, to have ideals and stand by them openly and with assertiveness, to be tender yet strong, admit weakness yet not be weakened by it, are qualities that are only too rare in this day and age.

Here is another interview I just finished reading:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/17/rafael-nadal-interview-atp-world-tour-finals

This interview is excellent! Rafa is so thoughtful, poetic, introspective, reflective, aware and articulate…it’s so deep it will take me a moment to digest it all! I must read through it all again to even attempt to make an intelligent comment reflecting on what he has said and even then I might fail.

All of his comments and observations are remarkable. Even his comments on Federer. How many times have we hear/read comments on Federer, yet Rafa seems to sum it up in the most poetic fashion. He is so straightforward and just KNOWS who he is and what his ideals are and isn’t afraid to voice them publicly and voice them often.

How he talks about poverty and how he saw true happiness in the faces of people who have next to nothing…then how people who live good lives everyday and are blessed yet forget what it all means and are ungrateful and unhappy…

He is so open and honest. I love how you can feel him pondering the questions before he gives an answer that is true to his heart. He is not quick to answer or defensive, dismissive, impatient or fake..He’s simply Rafael Nadal. A 23 year old who understands more about the world than most full grown adults and who knows that there is still much he doesn’t know, but that he is trying his best to be the best human being and world citizen that he can be. Simply inspirational!

I am awestruck and impressed by this gentleman.
What an amazing human being.

I am breathless.

I just love this man. I love Rafa.

thanks ff.

It’s great that both Rafa and Roger are doing great things with their foundations and raising awareness about poverty and injustice all over the world. So many tennis players (roddick, sharapova, obviously Agassi) make charitable works a priority. It’s one of the things I really admire about the sport.

Well done and thanks again!