Anna Kournikova Et Al: What They Said, Really Meant and Definitely Did Not

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Anna Kournikova, Yuvraj Singh, Graeme Swann, Rafael Nadal and Ravi Bopara all star in this set of quotes from the world of sport.

Anna Kournikova looks forward to settling down.

Yuvraj Singh tweets up a storm.

Graeme Swann makes his preferences known.

Rafael Nadal is not the Rafa of 2010.

And Ravi Bopara is willing to cut throats.

Kournikova Wishes for Children—Own or Adopted

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What she said:

"I absolutely want to have children, whether I have my own or adopt .I love taking care of people."

Anna Kournikova, former tennis diva and trainer on ‘The Biggest Loser’  television show outlines her future plans.

The stunning Russian is still with longtime boyfriend and pop superstar, Enrique Iglesias—son of the legendary Julio Iglesias.

Marriage isn’t a priority, though.

"[Marriage] isn’t important to me. I’m in a happy relationship – that’s all that matters. I believe in commitment. I believe in being open and trusting each other and respecting each other completely."

Kournikova’s interview appears in the Oct. 18 issue of Women’s Health magazine.

What she really meant:

“Yeah, I don’t mind gaining a few inches around the waist—for this cause.”

What she definitely didn’t:

“No prizes for guessing who the disciplinarian is gonna be (when we have kids).”

Yuvraj Singh Lays Down the Law

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What he said:

“The problem in India is if some one says a rooster has given an egg, it will become news!! Whether it’s true or not it doesn’t matter."

Yuvraj Singh is livid that bookie Mazhar Majeed named Harbhajan Singh and him among the cricketers he had ‘access’ to.

Majeed and Pakistani fast bowler, Mohammad Asif, are on trial in a London court facing spot-fixing charges in a betting scam.

The News Of The World broke the sensational expose with footage of meetings between intrepid reporter Mazhar Mehmood and the crooked bookie.

Yuvraj tweeted:

"And who is Majid!! Absolute rubbish! Don’t no (sic), never met!”

The next tweet compared Majeed to a rooster practically terming his ‘lie’ a cock-and-bull story.

Harbhajan Singh was equally furious speaking to reporters in Nagpur:

I don’t know who this person is, I have never met him. We will definitely take some action against him. I don’t know whether it will be legal action or whatever.

But I will definitely bring it to the BCCI’s notice, and I’m sure they’ll take the right kind of action against these kind people who are trying to spoil the game.

What Yuvraj Singh really meant:

“Sensationalism first, fact-finding later. That’s the name of the game.”

What Yuvraj Singh definitely didn’t:

“This rooster (Mazhar Majeed) laid some golden eggs for us (Harbhajan Singh and me).”

Rafael Nadal Is Retrospective

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What he said:

“The Rafa of 2010 had something more special than Rafa of 2011.”

Rafael Nadal introspects on his performance this year comparing it to his impeccable 2010.

Nadal said:

“Win or lose depends on small things. These small things I did better in 2010 than 2011.”

On Djokovic:

When I talk about improving or being a better player, it doesn’t mean making big changes in my game, it’s always just the small things, you just do them better, try to do them better.

This year Djokovic won three Grand Slams, he didn’t lose many matches. I don’t believe that he changed his game unbelievably. He did some small things better than a few years ago.

What he really meant:

“The Djokovic of 2011 is something special, too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“With Djokovic taking up permanent residence in my head, you’d expect me to return serve like him—circa 2010.”

Graeme Swann Provides Skipper Material

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What he said:

“I lose my rag fairly easily, so the captains I’ve enjoyed playing under are the ones who don’t get flustered in the middle even when the pressure is on.”

Graeme Swann expounds on his reasons why Kevin Pietersen was not the right choice for skipper of the English cricket side.

Swann wrote—in the Sun:

There is no doubt Kevin Pietersen is a really fine batsman but he was never the right man to captain England.

Some people are better leaders of men and Kev, for all his talent, is not one of those natural leaders.

The English off-spinner further elaborated that he needed someone “who can calm me down.”

Swann said—of Pietersen:

“At one point in India, his leadership was reduced to screaming ‘F****** bowl f****** straight’ at everyone.”

Swann contrasts Andrew Strauss’ leadership saying “he is one of those guys who demands respect.”

The No. 1 Test bowler in the world commended Strauss:

He always says the right things and his word is never questioned.

If you were in the trenches, you’d pick him to be in charge and his captaincy is founded on leading from the front. He can be hard-nosed, too, if necessary.

What Graeme Swann really meant:

“You can rest assured asking me to ‘F****** bowl f****** straight’  got me to do anything but that.”

What Graeme Swann definitely didn’t:

“Just give us a ‘F****** skipper’—as long as it’s not me.”

Ravi Bopara Gets Real About His Place in the English Side

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What he said:

"It’s a cut-throat business.”

Ravi Bopara believes that the competition for spots in the English cricket team is ruthless.

Bopara claimed:

"You’ve just got to keep playing well whenever things are in your favour, and make sure you nail it."

The English all-rounder of Indian origin has been in and out of the English squad, failing to carve a niche for himself.

What he really meant:

“Tell me about it. I play county cricket—a bloody sacrifice—and yet Eoin Morgan is selected ahead of me despite waltzing off to the IPL.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“That’s why they term the willow—a blade.”