J. OUANNA/F. González

7-5, 6-3, 7-5

An interview with:

JOSSELINOUANNA

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. You were pulling faces here, and what happened to you?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, you know, my hamstrings were hurting alittle. I used
some cream that I appliedon the muscles, and it seems to work well. But
during the match, it was okay. I didn't suffer. It took me timeto get into
the match.

I was feeling better physicallyduring the third set, but there's no
connection between this and the fact thatI lost the match.

Q. What about playing against one of the best world players on thissurface?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: I was a bit frustrated, because during thefirst two sets I
didn't really feel I was into the match. But then I could have won the third
set, sothat's why I'm slightly disappointed with the third set.

Yet, you know, my coachwas not disappointed. He said, all inall, the match
was good, correct. Theresults were 7-5, 6-3, 7-5, so not bad. I was not in
extremely good shape, but yet, the score is good.

So I think I still have to progress, but I'mon the right tracks.

Q. Peopleusually say that Josselin doesn't know he's a good player. What do
you think about that?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Now I realize I can beat players likeGonzález, but with
time, I'll probably win more victories. With these two rounds I'll realize a
numberof things. I'm okay. I lost today against this player, but look atthe
results. Not bad.

Even though it was notlike I was playing like mad, I can still gain more
trust.

Q. That's a nice tournament for you. What about your feelings? Couldyou try
and sum up the situation?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: It's going to be a positive start. If months ago people told
me I would beatthese two players, that I would play two matches on the
central court, Iwouldn't have believed this. My anklewas hurt. I didn't know
where I wasstanding physically speaking.

Physically I'm doingwell, and even my tennis, it's okay. I'll have good
memories of this year, this tournament. And this is it. It's going to be
major matches for me, alwaysgood matches and a good tournament for me.

Q. What about the past 48 hours? Howdid you manage to overcome all these
articles in the papers, the interviews?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, I don't usually buy the press or readthe press, the
L'Equippe newspaper, for instance. I'll listen to the radio more. I was very
much into the tournament. What counts for me is the next match toplay. This
is it. A big court, I wanted to do my best. That's all I did.

I didn't sleep enoughat night, that's true. After my matchagainst Safin,
that's normal. It waslate when we ended. But yesterday eveningI could have
rested more, perhaps.

Q. Do you think there's anything happening, perhaps with the sponsors?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Frankly, I don't know. I don't know. I wouldn't say I'm in
the dark. Idon't know what's happening around me, but, you know, I'll go home
every singleevening, and that's all.

Some people are here tomanage these things for me, and it's better. I didn't
really realize this. Iknew that, of course, I would have a number of people
asking me questions if Iwere to go far in the tournament. Butwhat I'm
interested in is to finish the tournament, and then I'll see. We'll see later.

Q. What about Monfils, Tsonga, and others?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: No, that's over.

Q. What about playing doubles? Isthat okay?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, sort of. No, it was a bit difficult for me. This
defeat, and then doubles, and thenantidoping tests in between. I didn'thave
time to eat between the two.

It was not the bestthing for me to enter the doubles this way. The team is
excellent, and Jo was not - you know, he was a bitpissed off with what had
happened the day before. So it goes very quickly, you know.

Q. You know, what people say about you is that you are shy. You don't speak
much is what they say. I don't have the impression it's the case.

JOSSELIN OUANNA: No, no, no, no, I'm not that shy, not thattimid.

Q. What about your development?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, it's okay. I don't have any relationship problems.
It's the people who say that, and who knows? Well, I don't speak much. I'm
not very talkative. That's true. It's not because I'm shy. I don'tknow. I
don't know.

Q. What about the next steps in the season? Have some things changed?
Whatabout your status or position?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: Well, you know, in terms of my rankings,they're not going to
change much, so I'll have to start again with thechallengers. I'll have to
play well inthese challenger matches and do my best, and do this and this
only.

Q. Will it not be too difficult for you to go back to this level?

JOSSELIN OUANNA: No, not really, because I'll be in the top100, I think. So
if I win one tournamentI'll be in the 100, and then that's when my program
can change. Well, maybe the first tournament is going tobe difficult, but my
mindset is okay. I'll do my best not to play too many challengers.