Post Match Interview- 1st round
Q. After your great week in Hamburg where you made the final against
Federer, you came here of course with a lot of confidence. What is your
realistic goal here in Paris? How far can you go?
RICHARD GASQUET: (In French.) How far can I go? Well, I want to win the
second round, absolutely. It's difficult because all the players have
nothing to lose against me. I'm seeded. But I want to go at least to the
third round. The third round will be very tough. I know I can win the
second round if I'm really good. After that, there will be Nadal. This
is a big match. I'm not sure I'm going to win.
I already hope to win the second round.
Q. Did you know Bracciali? What do you think about his way to play?
RICHARD GASQUET: (In French.) I knew him already because I lost against
him two years ago, but it was different then. Of course, he's very
dangerous. He hits the ball very early. For me, it's very difficult to
play against a player hitting the ball so early and taking his chances.
He was serving very well.
He had the pressure. He was hitting and I was defending. I'm not used to
that. It was difficult. He played very good, and I really tried to fight
until the end. After I was able to pick up my game, and at the end of the
match I played very well ? fortunately for me.
Q. Are you looking ahead at all to the fight you might have with Nadal?
RICHARD GASQUET: (In French.) Of course, when I saw the draw, I was already
thinking about it. It's fabulous here in the French Open to imagine that.
He's a very nice guy, and I love his game.
But before that, I have to win on Wednesday, and it's not easy. I will have
to be solid and physical. But I do hope I will have the opportunity to play
against Nadal, of course.
Q. How do you feel about all the media attention you're getting here in your
home country?
RICHARD GASQUET: (In French.) It's true that there are a lot of expectations
on me, and I played well recently, so it's not obvious for me. This is the
reason why you're playing tennis, because you want to have people with you.
When you go onto the court, you want to have a big crowd in a great
tournament. It's absolutely great to have those conditions now.
Having the pressure means that people are talking about tennis. It's good
for the tennis. And they're happy when I win.
THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.
Q. I felt you were tense in the beginning of the match. Was it an impression
or was it true?
RICHARD GASQUET: It was true. At 6-3, I was not feeling good. It was not
easy in the beginning because he was playing well and I was far from my
best level, so I tried to fight back and do my best. I knew that at one
point he would go down a little bit, and that's what happened.
So during the third and fourth set, I played very well. I had a high level
of game. I had better topspin and was able to win many points that way. I
was very happy with the way I finished off the match.
Q. How do you explain that in the beginning of the match you were tense?
RICHARD GASQUET: Well, I had good results behind me from Hamburg. I really
wanted to continue here, so I put myself pressure for this match. There were
many people. It was the French Open. It was not an easy match. I tried to
move my legs. I'm very happy I pulled out from this match after beginning
the match in an awful way. The way I finished the match was beautiful
because otherwise I'm not sure I would have won.
Q. At the end of the first and beginning of the second, did you have a
letdown?
RICHARD GASQUET: Well, I was seeing that around me everybody was panicking.
It was difficult for me. I saw my coach and my father putting on faces
(smiling). For me, it was very bad. I was not feeling good. I can't say
otherwise. But then I started fighting and I played better and better. He
went down a little bit, so I enjoyed myself a little bit from then on. I
was very pleased to win.
Q. We saw you making gestures of joy more than against Federer. It means
this first victory in a Grand Slam was very important?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, it was a very important victory. It was very important
to me to win the first round in the French Open. I was almost as happy as
when I beat Federer in Monte?Carlo, although it was a very good victory
then.
Still I started the match very badly this time. When I lost 6-3, when he
had breakpoints, I was in a very bad situation. I was able to turn it around
for me. I was very pleased with that.
Q. We have the feeling the first game of the second set was very important
when you saved the two breakpoints. Maybe you were more relaxed afterwards.
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, I was more relaxed because I knew I had to win that
second set absolutely, and I should not be down a break from the beginning
because he was serving well, so it would make things difficult.
After, during the third and fourth, I was able to play beautiful shots. I
was very pleased with those beautiful shots.
Q. Is it more impressive to play in the French Open rather than Federer in
Monte Carlo?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, it's more impressive here because it's the biggest
tournament in the world. It's different from other tournaments. I was more
tense here than in the final in Hamburg or in Monte Carlo. Here is very
special.
Q. You are the same age as Nadal. Normally you would play against him in
the third round. How can you define his personality, his tennis?
RICHARD GASQUET: Well, first of all, both of us will have to win our next
match. It's not sure he'll win. I'm not sure I'm going to win. He's an
exceptional player. He plays very good tennis. He has no weaknesses,
almost none. There's nothing else to say. To win against him, you have
to be at your top level. It's a big match.
I have beautiful memories when I played against him last time, so playing
against him will be nice. He's very, very strong.
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