Such a poignant, revealing interview. How does the French do it? Here's the article translated to English.
Some choice quotes:
Rafa On...
A landscape that creates the dream
I was 4 years old when my father raised me on a fishing boat to take me to the other side of the island. The land to the sea .. There is nothing more beautiful. When I stopped tennis, I buy a boat to spend the rest of my days. This will be a motorboat. I love the speed.A meeting that you hope
Roger Federer. Small, I was a dream: I was at the foot of a huge mountain and I looked at the top. When I beat Federer in January, in Melbourne, in the final of the Australian Open, I felt excitement animal. But then I felt an emptiness and a loneliness indescribable, as if I had no other purpose. For me Federer is still the No. 1 worldwide. I want to meet again on the court. I know it can beat me.A revolt
Success will not change my life. My room is still the same, my friends are guys I met at school, my girlfriend is a friend of my sister. Holidays in Monaco or St. Barth I'm not interested.
OMG, he has a sister?! And he lives on the same FLOOR? AND SHE DOESN'T MAUL HIM???!!! How could you look at that boy and go, "Not for me." ?? What is this world coming to?
ReplyDeleteDoes he have any brothers? If so, do they want to move in with me?
Oh natch, gross! She's his SISTER! He's dating her friend, lol!
ReplyDeleteRafa's sister:
http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sistagt7.jpg
He doesn't have any other sibling.
i HEART this interview big time. can you imagine tennis mag doing anything like this? eh, NOT.
ReplyDeleteLove this interview! Rafa's intellectual depth and sensitivity are totally underrated by the American press - obviously because of the language barrier.
ReplyDeleteDon't know if it's the magic of google translate, but I find the interview really poetic. I like thinking of Rafa making that transition between the land and the sea. . .strange and beautiful images.
Really lovely stuff.
I know it's kinda sick, but exactly the same thought has struck me, Natch. How can ANY woman be close to that guy (like sleep in the room next to him and share a bathroom with him!) and NOT want to do...eh, certain things with him?! But I suppose, if I was his sister, I'd probably just find him annoying and ugly.
ReplyDeleteGod, I love him. This French interview makes up (almost) for the crappy French tennis crowds.
ReplyDelete***ADMIN- SPAM***
ReplyDeletehe has no idea what beauty Aussieland has to offer and I would be honoured and lustful to show him around (Aus that is).
ReplyDeleteI'm going to AO in 2010 and afterwards spending some time down the great ocean road, vic. The scenery is breathtaking! Especially if Rafa is in the picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!