Here's the translation of the interview for @VamosRafaCat, who asked for the whole thing. :D
I hope this isn't too error-strewn, and helps a couple of people. :)

(I am in no way, shape or form a professional at translating stuff. If I got something wrong, or it came out differently than I intended, I agologise profusely. If you're better at this stuff than I am, please point out my mistakes to me!)


Mr. Nadal, your nephew Rafael has played here in Hamburg Rothenbaum for the first time in 2003 at the age of 16. Twelve years later he's a 14 times Grand Slam champion and the best clay court player of all times. Did you think this development was possible?

"When Rafael was young I always though he could become a good player. But I'd never have imagined that he would win 14 Grand Slams and nine French Opens. I used to watch Björn Borg, who won Roland Garros six times and was an outstanding player. It's incredible that Rafael won the French Open three more times than Borg."

The last 12 months haven't been easy for Rafael. What were your impressions during these times?

"In life you need to accept when you're having problems and aren't playing well. The truth is that Rafael wasn't consistent enough and played only a few good matches. Some tournaments have eroded Rafael's confidence. In Indian Wells he couldn't capitalise on three match points against Raonic, lost, and subsequently had problems in Miami. In Madrid he played a very good tournament up until the final, but in the final against Murray his performance was very bad. During his match against Wawrinka in Rome he lead 6:2 in the tie break and lost. All this didn't help his confidence. It led to more pressure and caused new problems."

Rafael talked openly about mental struggles. How did you work on them?

"First of all you need to accept where you're at and know exactly what you need to improve. If you're low on confidence, it's not easy. You can improve your forehand and backhand, but working on the mental part is more complicated."

Rafael is often criticised, and occasionally warned, for taking too much time on serve. What's your opinion on the time rule?

"Rafael takes too much time. That's his fault. But it's incredible that nothing happened earlier. Since the ATP board changed the rule, he gets a warning in almost every match, sometimes even two."

Do you think this interpretation of the rule is fair?

"On one hand we need to ask ourselves why this happened in the first place. The rule was changed at the suggestion of a couple of players. On the other hand we need to ask ourselves what kind of game we'd like to watch. Do we want a very fast game without any angles, or do we want to see a kind of game where there's more strategy and the players think about their shots? That's something the ATP needs to concern itself with. I think the spectators prefer the longer rallies. But in some regards the umpires aren't as strict as they are about the time between points. I've often seen players use profanity and not be warned. Rafael always conducts himself correctly on court. It's unbelievable that he is warned more often than players that curse and throw their racquets. In Estoril, for example, Nick Kyrgios hit a ball out of the stadium and, after having been warned two times previously, should have been disqualified. Yet nothing happened."

The WTA allows on-court coaching. Lately there have been discussions about it on the ATP tour as well. Boris Becker supports the idea. What is your opinion on the topic?

"For me, it's not that important. The following, however, is bad: Every player usually has a coach that he pays a handsome salary. You take them with you to Australia, but in the important moments he isn't allowed to say or do anything. In every sport there's evolution. In tennis, there should be as well. Tennis today isn't comparable anymore with the tennis of the past. I wouldn't necessarily go on court for coaching, but I don't like that everyone in the stadium is allowed to talk and shout something at the player except for his coach. I can applaud and shout 'Vamos', but I can't say 'Move your legs'. That's unbelievable."

The Spanish federation has had a few problems lately. Many players have spoken up against the committee. What happened, exactly?

"We experienced difficulties with the president, who had troubles with finances (the president of the federation Jose Luis Escañuela was first suspended due to lack of cooperation on financial matters and later stepped down.). There has been an investigation about it. Then there were problems with Davis Cup captain Gala León García. The players weren't comfortable with her. However, this wasn't due to her being a woman, as she often said. Both these people didn't speak very favourably of the players. That's why almost all of them, unitedly, declared they didn't want to continue under their leadership. The players have no problems with Conchita Martínez."

With the new president and Davis Cup captain, will Rafael be available for Davis Cup again in the future?

"If Conchita says she needs Rafael for Davis Cup, then Rafael is going to be there."

Do you think men's tennis will face difficulties once Rafael and Roger Federer retire?

"Yes, that could happen. The current situation really is very special. But it has been before with Björn Borg and John McEnroe or with Boris Becker in Germany. In 2005 there was an outstanding Federer. Then he was joined by young Rafael. The two had this special rivalry, comparable in football terms with Madrid and Barcelona or Manchester and Liverpool. Federer with a very beautiful game and technique, Rafael with good mentality and physique. They were a good combination for tennis. And then, another great player joined them in Novak Djokovic. That the three of them battled each other for almost all the big titles was good for the sport. You knew before the tournament that you would see a good or even special final. One only needs to look at how many times these three have played each other. Among the next generation I don't see anyone as good as Djokovic or Federer. I don't know if Kyrgios, Kokkinakis, Coric or Zverev will be the next really great competitors. It would, at any rate, be great for the sport."

Roger Federer will be 34 in a few days and is still No. 2 in the world. Do you think that Rafael will still be able to play at as high a level as this in five years time?

"For Rafael, it will be a matter of motivation and mentality if he still wants to win everything. Again and again I've heard people say Rafael would have a short career. He was already on the tour at 16 years old, he has won at least one Grand Slam tournament per year for ten censecutive years, he's been in the top 100 for 13 years. If Rafael wants to, he will be able to play at a high level as a 34 year old as well. It's not only Roger Federer, though."

Tommy Haas, for example.

"Exactly. Tommy Haas has faced so many struggles and still plays at a high level. In 2013 he almost qualified for the World Tour Finals at 35 years of age. Then there's David Ferrer, who at 33 is playing almost as well as he did in the past. Wawrinka, at 30, is better than ever. Times have changed."

Is equaling or bettering Roger Federer's Grand Slam record still one of the big goals?

"Our goal always was to do all we can and be the best we can possibly be. That we won 14 Grand Slams is incredible. We're not thinking about 17, that's far away. But I know that by next year at the latest Rafael will be strong enough again to win more Grand Slam titles."

What advice would you give to young players that strive to become professionals?

"I generally like ball sports that require the player to use strategy and think on the court. Today, tennis already allows you to be a good player if you have good shots, especially a good serve. The next generation of players will have to be very aggressive, but of course the control mustn't be lacking either. If you make too many errors, things become difficult."

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