F. Santoro Interview - 24 June
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Andy Murray def. Fabrice Santoro 63, 64, 76
Q. Entertaining match to watch. Was it a good one to play in?
FABRICE SANTORO: Sure, it was a fun match to play in. I think we played
quite a good match, even if it was straight sets.
Q. How frustrating was it? You played okay, didn't you?
FABRICE SANTORO: I played quite well. I played better than I did in the
past few days when I was practicing. I think I had chances in the second
set, but I didn't take them.
When you're two sets down it's more and more difficult, even if nothing
was set in the third set. Because we played a good tiebreak, but it was
tough to come back.
Q. What did Andy say to you afterwards?
FABRICE SANTORO: We always had a good relation, even if we are 15 years
difference. He just said it was a lot of fun to play against me. He said,
yeah, it was a great match to play.
I just told him it was a special day for me to play on Centre Court.
Q. How far do you think he can go in the tournament?
FABRICE SANTORO: Nobody can answer this question. I don't know. I don't
know who he's going to play now.
Q. Malisse.
FABRICE SANTORO: Malisse is a tough opponent. He's a good player. He
reached the semifinal here five, six years ago. But I think Andy played
quite a good match today. He was moving well, returning quite good.
For sure he can do something well on grass because he's fast, he has good
hands, very big first serve. But it's impossible to answer the question,
to say if he's going to reach the quarters or lose next round.
Q. How did playing on Centre Court live up to your expectations?
FABRICE SANTORO: It was as good as I was thinking before to go on the court.
It was great. I was trying to enjoy every minute on the court. I was trying
to enjoy the match. I think I did it from the first to the last point.
Q. If there was one thing that you'll remember about it, what would that one
thing be?
FABRICE SANTORO: I think the most special thing is when you walk from the
locker room to Centre Court, because there is a big, big history in the
corridor. At this point you're conscious of what happened here, who walked
in this corridor in the past century.
Yeah, it's pretty big history here. Was a lot of fun.
Q. If there's one thing that you think Andy has to improve on, what do you
think that might be?
FABRICE SANTORO: I think in the next three, four years, he's gonna improve
every part of his game. Even he's going to improve his serve. His backhand
is good, but he's going to improve it. He's going to improve his forehand.
Because when you are 20, 21 years old, you can improve many things in a
couple of years and so quickly. When you look at the way Nadal is playing
now compared to three or four years ago, he improved a lot between 18 and
22. It's the same for Djokovic between 18 and 21.
At this period of your career, things can go so quickly if you work out
every day (snapping fingers). I know Andy wants to have a great career.
He's working hard. So I'm sure he won't be the same player in three, four
years.
Q. How come you get on with him so well? Where does your friendship date
from?
FABRICE SANTORO: I think because he has a lot of respect for my game, for
my career. I have a lot of respect for him, too, because these days many
players play the same way, hitting the ball so hard.
When I play against Andy, I feel this man is going to be different because
he has soft, very good hands. He's very smart, and I like these kind of
players a lot.
Q. Is Andy's game good enough to win Wimbledon this year?
FABRICE SANTORO: We were 128 players two days ago. Now we are 64. He's in
the 64. So it's improved. But it's tough to say. You know, he's not the
favorite. Federer won here the past five years. One more time he's favorite
in this tournament.
Then there is Nadal, Djokovic. Andy's probably in the next five players
who can reach a semifinal or do something big here.
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