G. MONFILS/A. Roddick

6-4, 6-2, 6-3

An interview with:

GAËLMONFILS

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. You were faster than the night.

GAËL MONFILS: Well, I knew we had something like one-and-a-halfhours or one
hour and 45 minutes. Well,a bit more before dark, a bit of a stress on me,
but I'm happy I made it.

Q. You had problems with your shoes. You were moving your legs, stretching
your legs. What about this?

GAËL MONFILS: My shoes were new, and I had tightened theshoe strings too
much. So it wascompressed, and it was really bothering me during the first
two games.

Q. Roddick said he was really impressed by the fact that you served well
atimportant moments, and that you were running all over the court.

GAËL MONFILS: Well, I'd like to thank him for this. I didn't serve as
strongly as usual, but Iwas more steady. I think sometimes Iwould serve at
200 kilometers, between 189, 195, 200. I felt good.

I wanted to hitstrongly my first serve and hit the ball when it was very
important points towin the point or to have break points.

Then in terms of court coverage, as usual,you know, when I'm fit, that's part
of my game.

Q. Youare fit. What about your knee?

GAËL MONFILS: Oh, yeah, that's the hell. My knee is like, oh, shit, it's
hell. But I gained power. All day long I think about my knee. When I'm on the
court, though, I don't thinkabout it. I have my strap, and that'ssomething
good for my knee.

And then I can recoverwell, and then ice, ice, Zamar and Zamar and ice and
Zamar and ice. This is it.

Q. Was that something you were thinking about during the match? That is, you
didn't want to play tomorrow, onTuesday?

GAËL MONFILS: Well, of course. You know, that was really a pain in theneck.
You know, tomorrow, what about theconditions tomorrow? And then it'sanother
night. You will think about itthroughout the night.

And then maybe the nextday you don't feel as good, you don't feel fit. And
then what next? Maybe I wouldhave liked to win again tomorrow, but that's
wasted energy. There's no point in wasting energy.

Okay, it could have been yet an extra day,even though Federer had more time
to rest, but this is it.

Q. Gaël,you were injured, and I have the impression that you're really in a
bubble,that you're really well-focused, maximum level of efficiency.

GAËL MONFILS: Of course, of course. This helps me a little, but I have to
becareful. It's like the firstrounds. If I want to play my best tennisat the
highest level, I have to take care of my knee all the time, almost allthe
time.

So that's true. I'm really well into this tournament. I spend a lot of time
on my knee to someextent. So this helps me, yes, to someextent.

Q. What about Federer for the next round? Not bad.

GAËL MONFILS: Well, yes, but I never try and think aboutthis before. I think
I'm ready. I hope I'm ready. I have to take my revenge. I hope I can make it.

Q. I have the impression that now there's a communion with the public, andyou
need this. You need the support ofthe crowd.

GAËL MONFILS: Yes, of course this helps me a lot. This is something that
gives me loads ofenergy and wings. I have wings. You know, the crowd is
present. I try and respond to the crowd on thecourt. That's great. I really
seized this opportunity.

Q. What about Nadal? Now that he'sout, do you think that this opens up new
avenues for you or do you just focuson your next opponent?

GAËL MONFILS: Everybody talks about this. I don't give a damn Nadal or no
Nadal. You know, he's just a player like anybodyelse. There are many matches
to beplayed as far as I'm concerned.

So okay, he wasdefeated. Bad luck for him, becausethat's all. He was not in
any case thenext player against me, so I don't give a damn.

Q. I work for Swiss radio. I needmore details. The next opponent will beRoger
Federer. What about your gameagainst him? Do you know him well?

GAËL MONFILS: Well, you know, if you knew me, I never sayanything about my
game, tactics, or my opponents before. It's always a mystery. You know, it
was a great match he played. That's all. I never want to unveil anything
before the match. You know, the French are all defeated.

Q. You don't want to unveil your tactics. What do you think about the future
match? Are you happy? Are you not? Could you tell us something? Please tell
us something.

GAËL MONFILS: I keep on saying the same: It's going to be a great match.
I'll be ready. That's it. Ready. It's going to bepleasant. Great match. I
hope I'm going to be ready.

Q. He was almost defeated today. Have you watched the match or not? Do you
know what's happened?

GAËL MONFILS: Well, you know. He was on TV. There was a 5 to 3 match point,
big hit, but then afterwards I don'tknow. I switched TV on, and it was abreak
point. It was in the third set.

Q. Were you not surprised?

GAËL MONFILS: I have not watched the match. I don't really know. But, you
know, the way he did it, it waslike, I'm going to kill you. I'm goingto kill
you.

And then what I saw isjust winning forehand, and I said, Okay, forehand. Look
at this. Look at the points he's won. Idon't really know.

What I saw, you know, these points I saw, hewas like incredible. A killer.

Q. Therewas such an atmosphere on the Philippe Chatrier Court, but also an
interesting atmospherein the Lenglen Courtto support you. Do you think that
thecrowd is going to have mixed feeling, or will they all support you?

GAËL MONFILS: Well, I hope they're going to supportme. I'm French. We're in
France. The French crowd is with me, but they loveFederer. I hope they'll
support me morebecause I'm French. I hope they supportme.

Q. Do you have a secret so that the crowd is with you?

GAËL MONFILS: No, to be myself. To stay who I am, to remain who I am, and
tofight for my opportunities. I'm French. Be the best player.