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Highlights of Rafael Nadal's One-On-One with CNN's Christiane Amanpour

Rafael Nadal took time out from his ATP Cup and Australian Open preparations this week for a wide-ranging and candid interview with Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s Chief International Anchor. The 20-time major champion was in great spirits, holding court on the pandemic, his Big Three rivals, his motivations, plans for life after tennis, and the secret behind his on-court rituals. Here are some of the highlights of Rafa’s interview.

The Pandemic
Nadal said he looked at the big picture regarding the pandemic and credited Australia for providing a model for combating with the virus.

“The world is suffering, we can’t complain,” he said. "We can only say thanks to Tennis Australia, to the Australian community, to welcome us and to accept us to come because I know they have been under very strict measures for a lot of months. So, for us, it's good that we can at least keep playing tennis."

The Mallorcan said that the pandemic has hit close to home for him. “You see how many are dying around the world,” he said. “You see how many people are losing their father, their mum, without having the chance to say goodbye…That's what's happening in my country. Close people to me are suffering this situation.

Nadal said he understands how lucky he and other tennis players are, particularly at a time like this. “ I feel that we are privileged people today, having the chance to keep doing our jobs,” he said.

Rivalries and Motivation
Amanpour asked Nadal about his rivals and he insisted that he isn’t “obsessed” with eclipsing Federer in the majors’ title tally.

“The records are important, I’m a competitor, but I’ve never been obsessed with trying to be the best,” said Nadal, No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. "I did much more than what I ever dreamed in my tennis career. It would be amazing for me to win one more and to be at the end of my career to be the player with more Grand Slams, but that’s not the key for my happiness in the future. It’s not an obsession.”

The Spaniard said that he had good relationships with Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have motivated him to excel. “We did beautiful things together and important things for our sport," he said. "We push each other to be better. To have somebody in front of you that's doing a lot of things better than you, it gives you a clear way about what you need to improve to achieve your goals."


Plans
Amanpour playfully told Nadal, “I know you’re not going to tell me when you’re going to retire,” but was interrupted by the Spaniard. “I can’t tell you because I don’t know,” he said, laughing.

She asked him for his “vision” of life after competition, and Nadal said he looked forward to devoting more time to his foundation, the Rafael Nadal Foundation, and his academy, the Rafael Nadal Academy. And he mentioned that he looked forward to one day starting a family with his wife, Maria Francisca Perello, whom he married in 2019. “If kids come, then there'll be a change," he said when asked how married life has impacted his career."[It's] something that probably will happen in the future because both of us want it."

On the topic of children, Nadal said it was important for him and other athletes with large platforms to be role models. “For us, in my personal opinion, it's mandatory to be a positive example for society," he said. "It's important to send the right messages to the world and especially to the young people."

Rituals and Hopes
The CNN correspondent confessed to Nadal that she was fascinated by his on-court rituals and ticks, and the Spaniard opened up about why he likes to line up his bottles, not step on lines and so on. “In some way it’s stupid,” he said of his rituals, blushing just a little. “On the other hand, for me I am not doing this stuff in practice or normal life… It’s a way to make a difference between practices and matches. When I’m doing all these routines, I feel 100% focused on what I’m doing, no? The routines help you to be focused and more secure about yourself.”

Nadal, who will play an exhibition match in Adelaide against Dominic Thiem on Friday night, said he looks forward to competing in the ATP Cup and is focused on winning the Australian Open this year. “I like what I’m doing, I like the competition,” he said. “I know it’s not forever… I’m in the last part of my career because I have 34 ½ years... I feel very lucky to be where I am today and keep doing what I’m doing. I accept that and say thanks to life for these great things that have happened to me.”

The Aussie gives his opinion of each of the Big Four
The GOAT — Greatest Of All Time — debate sends fans and analysts alike spinning in circles. Is it Roger Federer? How about Rafael Nadal? Could Novak Djokovic eventually take that title?

Nick Kyrgios joined the conversation Monday evening following his first-round win at the Australian Open. The 25-year-old’s choice is clear.

“In my opinion, I believe Roger is the greatest of all time. With his skill set, the way he plays the game, I think it's pure. I actually think talent-wise Nadal and Djokovic aren't even close to Roger,” Kyrgios said. “Talent-wise, just purely based on talent the way Federer plays, his hands, his serving, his volleys, untouchable.

“Roger's chopped me a couple of times. Roger makes you feel like you're really bad at tennis sometimes. He walks around, he flicks his head, and I'm, like, ‘I don't even know what I'm doing out here.‘ Roger is the greatest, for me.”

Kyrgios

Kyrgios, who has beaten each member of the Big Four — Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray — highly respects them all, but he views their skillsets in different ways. To the Aussie, “styles make fights in tennis”.

“All great in their own way, obviously. I don't think we have ever seen someone maybe so dominant in their period of time as Novak, like he went on that 60-match winning streak or something really crazy,” Kyrgios said. “Me personally, I played them all. I actually think Andy for me was tougher than Novak to play. I mean, I have only played Novak twice. I have played Andy six times and I'm 1-5. Nadal, I actually think, I match up quite well against Nadal. I can serve big and play kind of the right style of tennis to be successful against him.”

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Kyrgios has played Nadal more than any other member of the Big Four, with the Spaniard leading their ATP Head2Head series 5-3. Three of those clashes have come at Grand Slams (Nadal leads 2-1).

“Rafa, you will never see someone so dominant on one surface ever. I don't think we will ever see that amazing accomplishment on clay, the best clay courter of all time,” Kyrgios said. “It's funny, because I think Roger is the greatest of all time but not the greatest of the era because his head-to-head against Rafa is not great. But it's a tough one.”

The 2015 Australian Open quarter-finalist is certainly aware of how tough it is to beat these legends of the sport. During his post-match press conference Monday, he even pointed to a match that was on court in which Djokovic beat former World No. 25 Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

“I’m just watching him play Chardy and Chardy doesn't even believe that he can win,” Kyrgios said. “When you reach that status, you must be pretty good.”

World No. 1 earns his ninth Australian Open title, 18th Grand Slam trophy
Novak Djokovic extended his lead in the 'Big Titles' race to three on Sunday when he defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 for the Australian Open title.

The World No. 1 now owns 59 'Big Titles', moving three clear of Rafael Nadal, who has 56, and five ahead of Roger Federer, who owns 54. A 'Big Title' is a trophy at a Grand Slam championship, the Nitto ATP Finals, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament or an Olympic singles gold medal.

Djokovic has now won at least one 'Big Title' in nine of the past 10 seasons. The Serbian, who earned his 18th major crown Sunday inside Rod Laver Arena, is now within two trophies of Federer and Nadal on the Grand Slam titles leaderboard.

This is a record-extending ninth Australian Open title for the Serbian. Nobody else in history has claimed more than six trophies at the tournament.

Djokovic continues to lead the pack in 'Big Titles' win-rate at one title won per 3.3 events played (59/194). Nadal has triumphed once for every 3.4 tournaments played at this levels (56/191). Only two other players have converted more than once per five events: Roger Federer (4.4, 54/237) and Pete Sampras (4.9, 30/147).

Read More From Melbourne
Dominant Djokovic Seals Record-Extending Ninth Melbourne Crown
Melbourne Masterclass Draws Djokovic Nearer Federer, Nadal
A Look Back At Novak's Nine Aussie Open Titles

Current and Former Champions' Big Titles Won (Records Since 1990)

Player Grand Slams Nitto ATP Finals 1000s Total^ (Avg)
Novak Djokovic 18/63 5/12 36/116 59/194 (3.3)
Rafael Nadal 20/60 0/9 35/120 56/191 (3.4)
Roger Federer 20/79 6/16 28/138 54/237 (4.4)
Pete Sampras 14/52 5/11 11/83 30/147 (4.9)
Andre Agassi 8/61 1/13 17/90 27/164 (6.1)
Andy Murray 3/50 1/8 14/100 20/161 (8.0)
Boris Becker* 2/26 2/6 5/51 9/84 (9.3)
Thomas Muster 1/29 0/4 8/53 9/87 (9.7)
Stefan Edberg** 3/28 0/4 4/45 7/79 (11.3)
Gustavo Kuerten 3/33 1/3 5/67 9/105 (11.6)
Jim Courier 4/38 0/4 5/71 9/114 (12.6)
Marcelo Rios 0/26 0/1 5/56 5/84 (16.
Marat Safin 2/41 0/3 5/87 7/133 (19)
Michael Chang*** 0/50 0/6 7/86 7/144 (20.6)
Andy Roddick 1/46 0/6 5/75 6/129 (22.5)
^ Includes Olympic Games gold medals and tournament participations
* Becker's four other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
** Edberg's three other Grand Slam titles came before 1990.
*** Chang's one Grand Slam title came before 1990.

Did You Know?
Djokovic is just the second man to claim nine singles titles at a single Grand Slam championship. Rafael Nadal has won 13 Roland Garros trophies.