http://timesonline.typepad.com/rafael_nadal/2007/06/my-first-match-.html

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Debut in this year's event

Hi there (learned this one today) :-)

Well I finally played today and I am very happy. I was excited about starting
but to tell you the truth a bit nervous. It is normal to feel or to be
nervous before starting a big tournament like this. The first round is always
difficult and I had been saying it to the press here in Wimbledon. It is
normal that the first round is difficult, but I think I played well.

But I won't talk much more about the match since the media is reporting on it
and you can read all about it in the papers, radio or TV.

So, I woke up at 9.30am today and had my normal breakfast. Cereals with milk.
You know what, the other day I opened a bottle of milk (tetra pack) and it
was not good, I don't know how to say it, it was passed, it was bad, the
milk. I almost throw up. As a matter of fact if I think about it I really get
sick. :-( I think that Albert Costa or Toni, had coffee with it and they
realised. Every time I think about it I get ........

I also had some bread with Nutella. I love it. The other day I almost ate one
whole bottle!!! Today, and I'll tell you more, I bought three more!

I went to practice at 10.30 since I had scheduled to hit at 11 am. The house
is very, very close so that's easy for me. If I was staying in London I would
have had to wake up by 7 or 7.30 since the traffic to get here is quite heavy
in the morning. That's another reason why I think it was good to take this
decision again to stay here. OK, it is not good if you want to go out, etc,
but I also enjoying cooking this week, hopefully two :-)

So I had my practice and then I always have the same routine to just stay in
the locker room getting ready and only going up to eat something. Sometimes I
don't even go up and I have Rafa Maymo, my physio, to bring me something and
I eat it in the locker room.

I watched the Henman-Moya match in the locker room. I had to be ready since I
was next on court. It was pretty long and exciting that match and I saw that
there was a big atmosphere.

After the match I normally do little work with my physio since we normally do
that either at home or at the hotel. I did that today but before I had some
press work to do. After each match we have to go to press and do press
conference and a few other TV, radios and sometimes one-to-one interviews.
Today Benito, my press manager, had arranged with Nicola from the ATP that it
would be short and easy and I only did 3 TV after my press conference.
Sometimes I can be over an hour so it was good to keep it short. If I
continue in the tournament I know it will take much longer but I understand
this is the way. No problem. I actually thank them for the interest.

As I say, after that I went home and got some physio work done. Before that I
played some cards with Costa, Feli, some friends of them and Maymo. We have
been playing a very easy game called "el uno" (the number one in English). It
is quite simple to play but it is a lot of fun.

Feli, Albert and their friends and team went out for dinner and I had decided
I would stay and cook. Carlos Costa, my manager (in the picture), Albert
Molina who is another manager from IMG, Benito and Rafa Maymo were all eating
at home so I went out to Wimbledon to do some grocery (?). Is that the word
for shopping food? I guess so. I cooked with the help of Maymo and we did the
dish that I have been preparing all these days. Pasta with mushrooms, gambas,
some onion at the beginning and these crab sticks. Not bad, believe me.

Anyway I am going to bed now and finish the Godfather. Tomorrow I have some
more work to do.

Thanks all.

Rafa