Rogers Cup - Interviews
P-H MATHIEU/K. Beck
6-2, 6-1
An interview with:
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU
THE MODERATOR: Paul-Henri advances to his first career ATP Masters Series
semifinal. He is also the third Frenchman to reach the semifinals in the
Open Era here in Canada, the first since Fabrice Santoro in 2001, and also
Patrick Proisy in 1972. Questions for Paul-Henri.
Q. Could you tell us, how did you end up at Bollettieri's?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: I was in Bollettieri when I was 15. I left when I was
18. I went back in France, and I had the opportunity to be coached by
Thierry Champion. That's why I left.
Q. Why did you go there in the first place?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: Because when you are kid, is a dream to go in
Bollettieri, just to practice, to see the other players.
I think it's a good school.
Q. Do you feel like you're practically playing in front of a hometown
crowd here?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: Here? No, I mean, because the people speak French?
Q. Yes.
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: Yeah, I mean, all the French guy, I think we feel
good here because many people speak French. I don't know exactly if I
feel like a Canadian when I'm playing. But I know the crowd was with
me today. It helped, for sure.
Q. It looked like another relatively easy win against a tough opponent.
It looked towards the end of the match you were really waiting that
extra second on every ball to wait for Karol to move, then put it into
the open court. Was it your plan to wait a little longer?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: In the beginning, I knew he played two tough matches
so I tried to make him move and do not miss so much. At the end it was
difficult because he was going for everything, so I try to put the ball
in play and just keep him moving.
Q. He's been on the side courts the entire tournament. You started off
against Roddick on centre court. Do you think that made you feel more
comfortable?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: Yeah, for sure it helped me a little bit. When you
play on centre court in the first match, you know a little bit the court.
I knew the crowd little bit, so it helped little bit, for sure.
Q. Is the centre court a little faster?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: I don't think so. I play on the central court and Court
BN. It's fast, too.
Q. You've had a lot of injuries in your career. Are you healthy now?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: Hope so (smiling). No, I mean, I started playing good
in 2002. Right after that, I pull a muscle in abdominal, so I was ?? I
didn't play for four months, then I start playing again. When I was playing
good again, I got injured in my wrist, left wrist. I stopped for seven
months. It's exactly one year I start to play again, so I started in the
same period last year.
Is not easy to come back. You have to do everything from zero. You have
to play the small tournaments again, play the quallies. Is not easy.
Q. Once you get back to where you are now, it becomes easier?
PAUL-HENRI MATHIEU: No, because you want always to go better. I was 30
before, so I hope I can go more.
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