Rafael Nadal Quotes – The Inspiring and Funny Side of Rafa

Rafael Nadal has not only mastered the rules of the game, but has changed what tennis means in itself. He has inspired millions around the world with his resilient performance that has brought the fighting spirit in him. The Mallorcan is known for his never say die attitude, which has inspired many budding players.

This, coupled with supreme confidence in himself and the ability to adapt to the game, makes him among the top contenders for every tournament he steps into.

Owing to these qualities, Nadal can boast of some unique achievements, like being able to defeat Roger Federer in their very first match, which Nadal played when he was just 17 years old. Also, winning the French Open the first time he participated in it, and eventually winning it for four consecutive years, adds to a pretty impressive sporting resume.

The Balearic has influenced his fans with his inspiring quotes. However, he has come up with many other laughable lines over the years as well. Here is the list of all the famous Rafael Nadal’s quotes.

7. Nadal’s humbleness while celebrating a victory

“Humility is the recognition of your limitations”

A true sportsperson celebrates their victory with humility and accepts their defeat with grace. Rafael Nadal is one such player; he has been graceful in his defeat, but that does not stop him from trying again and craving the taste of success.

Whilst doing so, the Spaniard respects the sport, the circumstance and the opponent. For instance, he celebrated his 2009 Australian Open victory with humility, praising his opponent Roger Federer as a great champion.

“Sorry for today. I know how you’re feeling right now. It’s really tough. But remember, you are a great champion, you are one of the best in history and you’re going to improve the 14 of Sampras,” said Rafael Nadal after beating Federer in that Australian Open 2009 final that left the Swiss maestro in tears.

6. Rafa’s goal theory

“I always work with a goal, and the goal is to improve as a player and as a person”

The 19-time Grand Slam champion’s success is hardly limited to one surface. In addition to a 2010 Wimbledon crown, he’s also the most successful player of the decade at the US Open with four titles (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019). His maiden victory in New York made him the first man to win Grand Slam crowns on clay, grass and hard courts in the same year.

“My goal all my life is the same: to keep improving and feel myself playing better next year than what I felt this year,” Nadal said after his first triumph in New York. “Being a better player doesn’t mean you’re going to win more than you did because winning or losing is part of the moment and part of the confidence.”

5. Enjoy the sufferings

“I learned during all my career to enjoy suffering”

The 12-time French Open champion was sidelined from the ATP Tour for seven months due to a serious knee injury in 2012. However, he made a remarkable return and one he savors is winning the French Open 2013.

“I learnt during all my career to enjoy suffering, and these kind of matches are very special,” said Nadal. “You don’t have the chance to play them every day.

“So when they happen you suffer, but I really enjoy these moments. I really enjoy suffering, because what’s harder is when I was in Mallorca last year and I had to watch these matches on the TV.”

4. Giving his best at every point

“I play each point like my life depends on it”

Anyone who has even remotely followed Nadal’s game will know the kind of intensity he brings to the tennis court.  The sheer brutality of his groundstrokes can wear down the very best this sport has ever seen. The Spanish raging bull plays every point like it is the last point of the match and he is match point down.

It doesn’t matter if it is an ATP 250 tournament or a Grand slam match, a final or a first-round. Nad plays every single point with the same mentality, the same attitude – never relaxing, never removing his feet off the pedal.

Also Read: Funniest Tennis Quotes Said by Players

3. Nadal’s secret of success

“The secret of success is probably the passion and the love for what you are doing”

After his semifinal victory over Matteo Berrettini at the US Open 2019, Nadal opened up about the secret to his lasting success.

“The secret is probably the passion and the love for what you are doing,” Nadal said. “It’s impossible to have a successful and very long career if you really don’t love what you do.”

2. Nadal pokes fun at a sleeping reporter

“It’s not interesting today”

Rafael Nadal teased a journalist who appeared to fall asleep during his post-match news conference at the Australian Open 2019. Nadal noticed that the journalist had his eyes closed and began to nod in his direction while laughing.

“It’s not interesting today,” Nadal said with a smile.

When he woke up, Nadal continued the ribbing. “I know you were closing your eyes to be more focused on what I am saying,” he joked.

1. What happened has happened

“What happened in Monte Carlo happened and what happened in Barcelona happened. And what happened in Madrid happened. And here we are. We are in Rome.”

Rafael Nadal had an unusually unspectacular start to the clay swing in 2019. He saw defeats in the semifinals of Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid, to Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas, respectively. However, Nadal wasn’t going to let those disappointments impede his Rome performance. He rapidly and hilariously stated let the world know this during his press conference at the Rome Masters.