Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Steve Johnson of the United Staes during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, last year
Widely regarded as the greatest clay-court tennis player in history, Rafael Nadal turns 30 today. Hear it from the World No. 5 on winning and losing at the game of life
"I'm lucky enough to do what I like for work - not everyone's that fortunate."
"I am not the most courageous guy in the world outside of the court."
"Even if I have already peaked, I have to believe I can improve. I wake up every morning, and go to practice, with the illusion that I'm going to get better that day."
"I think tennis is only a game. You can lose. You can win. After that? In life, there are much more important things than tennis."
"You fight, you try your best, but if you lose, you don't have to break five racquets and smash up the locker room. You can do those things, but when you've finished, nothing's changed. You've still lost. If something positive came from that, I probably would do it. But I see only negativity."
"If you don't lose, you cannot enjoy the victories. So I have to accept both things."
"I'd rather lose an argument than get into a long discussion in order to win it."