J. OUANNA/M. Granollers

7-5, 2-6,3-6, 7-6, 6-1

Aninterview with:

JOSSELINOUANNA

THEMODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. (In French.) Well, I guess you must be very happy. That sounds a bit of a
stupid question, butwinning a first round in Roland Garros must be very
important for you having toplay the playoffs so often?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Yes, it's very important, and then there wasstyle, as well.
I've never played amatch in five sets. I was afraid I wouldgive in, but he
did. A victory in fivesets, that's perfect. Now I have a bitof time to
freshen up, because I'm not playing until Wednesday. His ranking is not that
high, but he is from Spain,on clay, so big difference.

Q. The court must be very fast here.

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Yes, the balls are very fast. The courts are very fast. And
with the heat, it makes it even faster. And I think that was an advantage to
me. Because with regards to my serve, my forehand,I mean, these are
conditions I like, and I practice here all year-round.

Q. In Lyon, you played well in the Grand Prix. You're the same generation of
Tsonga, allthese guys. Think about it.

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, yes. You know, as I say, we all have our way of doing
things, and if I haveto take more time, I will. Maybe I'llnever reach their
level, but I try to do things match after match, tournamentafter tournament.

Q. (Off microphone.)

JOSSELINOUANNA: End of the fourth set, I changedthe way I returned, and that
allowed me to save my energy, and thatdestabilized him with regards to his
serve. So then I was more aggressive, and I was in the position to lead
theexchange. So that's something I'll tryand do more often. I'll try and be
moreaggressive during the game. It's goingto help me waste less time.

Q. Is it the longest match you ever played?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know how long itlasted, but I think
that's one of the longest, because usually on the hard surface,it can be a
tough match, but it never lasts long.

And as it's my first match in fivesets, yes.

Q. After second and third set, you really looked exhausted. How did you
manage to turn the situationaround?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, I was drinking a bit too much, so thisis why I had
difficulties in serving. This is why I called for the doctor. And then there
was the sun. Itwas more difficult for me to serve on one of the sides. And
then in the fourth set, I started servingbetter, and there was the way I
returned, which I changed as well as it helpedme save some of my energy.

I was not that much involved in theexchange. I was winning right on myreturn
or he was playing well, and that was it.

Q. When you had this beautiful tournament in Lyon, Jerome Potier,
yourtrainer, your coach, said you had mental barriers, and little by little
youmanaged to overcome these barriers. Canyou tell us about these barriers?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, it was lack of self-confidence. I think the first
thing was in Rennes. I played my first challenger tournament. I reached the
quarterfinals, and I ended uplosing. And last year I won one. This year I
didn't play many. I won one in Saint Brieuc, and I think -well, you know,
that's also the way I play is I need to do things, and then Iknow I can do it
on a regular basis. Andthis helped me. And also, winningmatches on the tour.

Q. When was this tournament?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: End of last year.

Q. Your next round is you're playing Safin.

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, so far, I've not thought about it. I don't know. I
don't know. It's true that heis approaching the end of his career, but he's
still a very good player. He played very well this year. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
played him recently, and Italked about him. He has a problem
ofself-confidence, apparently. He missesmore shots than in the past, and
probably physically he's not at his best, so Ihave a card to play and I'm
going to try and play that the best I can.