Saturday, June 1, 2002

S. GROSJEAN/V. Spadea 6-2, 7-6, 6-7, 6-4

Q. Are you now the king of Boca Raton or do you
have to beat Andy Roddick first.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It was a tough match because
Vince play very well. I thought he going to be tired
after five sets on Thursday, but he play well and I
had to fight to win.

Q. We used to think of you as being so shy. Today the
crowd, you really got into it today. What happened?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, I had to because he was really,
really close at the end. I need the help of the public
to win because it was really close. Vince was playing
very well. That's help me a lot, you know, big motivation.
I play better at the end.

Q. You have so many shots, so many different weapons to
use, do you sometimes think you have too many weapons,
that it's hard to make the choice so you wind up making
some foolish error instead of the right shot?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. You know, when I'm playing well,
I play with my forehand, I turn around my backhand and
play with my forehand. But today Vince played, you know,
pretty fast, hit the ball well. It was tough for me to,
you know, play my game. You know, at the end I had to
fight to win, try to go to the net a little bit.

MODERATOR: French questions, please.

Q. What was most difficult today? Was it the fact that
he was inconsistent or is it your fault? Did you have
some things that were missing?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, in fact, I lacked concentration
at some moment. I was up 5-2. I lost my intensity, my
concentration. At that time he started hitting harder. I
was able to win the second set, but it was difficult to
stay into the match after that. He was a bit irregular,
and he made me lose my concentration, and I had problems
finding it again. And he started playing well in the end
also.

Q. What is most satisfying about your match? Is it because
you won without playing your best tennis?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: What is very satisfying is to win matches
although you're not playing your best tennis. But what is
great also is to feel you have the whole crowd behind you -
and also being in the second week is a very good thing.

Q. Talking about the crowd, your relationship with the crowd,
do you believe it's a hundred percent satisfying here? Is it
motivating for you?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I think it's due to the fact that I'm also
playing the Davis Cup. As soon as the crowd is behind me and
encourages me, I start playing well. I go more to the net.
This is the way I have to play. I really asked the crowd to
help me, and that's super.

Q. Does it help? Did it help you win points against Spadea?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: On important points, the crowd is very
important. When I can feel the crowd behind me, it helps me,
mentally gives me an edge. It's difficult for my opponent also,
so it's positive both ways for me.

Q. Are there any limits on what you can do on clay now?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I don't know. I absolutely don't know
(smiling). As soon as I feel the need of the crowd's support,
I use it. I ask them with my hands to support me, and this comes
naturally.

Q. Knowing you have been injured, you haven't been playing very
much, do you have enough reserves to last a long time?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: We'll see on Monday. It's true, I didn't
play much before coming here. I didn't have a real preparation
on clay before this tournament. But I'm eager to play well here.
I want to feel the crowd behind me. And this gives me energy,
stamina. It's good for me, practicing, to keep on playing matches.

Q. Before entering the second week, you have one day's rest. What
are you going to do?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I'm going to do biking with a friend. That's
all, then I'll go back home.

Q. You have the same treatment for your thigh?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, it's always the same thing, yes.

Q. After a match like that, do you feel something?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Not really. Let's say my thigh is a bit more
tight, but no real pain. The match was long, and I was tired in the
end. But he was tired also. I think it's normal. We played almost
three and a half hours.

Q. Talking about his game, what gave you the most trouble? He
attacked your second serves.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: He was difficult to play. On second serves,
he was very aggressive. He was coming into the court. On his service
games also he was taking many risks. I had to go into the court on
his second serves. He made me play badly sometimes because he was
often making mistakes so I had no rhythm. This was giving me problems
during his game.

Q. About Malisse, next match, your next opponent. What do you know
about him? Did you play him in The States, I think?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, in The States. I don't know where. I played
him in Davis Cup a long time ago, I think. After that, I don't remember
playing him, after the Davis Cup. He's a young player. He has a lot of
talent. He beat Henman. Today I think he won against Portas, am I right?
So I believe he's well-adapted to clay. It's going to be a difficult
match and I'll have to play better than today.