N. Gasquet - 27 June
Wednesday, 27 June, 2007
Nicolas Gasquet (FRA) defeated Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Q. Were you surprised at how good a match you played?
RICHARD GASQUET: No, I’ve played some good matches so far this year. I kept
my focus when I was on service and that never lapsed. I made him volley, made
him return, I didn’t lose my serve and I never lost my concentration.
The key for me was holding service – that was what I was most worried
about. I knew that I would be able to break him, I was just worried about
my serve being broken – coming to the net and being passed. But I think
the statistics say that I won 93% of points on my first service, so there
you have it.
Q. Was that your best match this year?
RICHARD GASQUET: No, it was good, but I played well at Monaco, Australia,
Estoril… Grass suits me, though. I wanted to win today and I felt good
out there.
Q. Were you surprised at how easy it was?
RICHARD GASQUET: I didn’t think I’d win in straight sets, but I was
the favourite based on the rankings. I thought it’d be a tough match,
I knew he’d send down a few aces but I didn’t get carried away when
he did. Nicolas is great on grass – good serve, good volley – and if
he carries on like this, his ranking is really going to improve.
Q. Was concentration so important because you were wary of your opponent?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, right from the off, I wanted to come out on court
and be the boss. I didn’t want him to lead or to break me. I didn’t
miss any break points. There were a few I didn’t take in previous
tournaments, and when you take your break points, that changes the
whole face of the match.
Q. Did you feel on form straight away? Did you feel at home out there
on Court 18?
RICHARD GASQUET: Straight away, and that was important. The conditions suited
me, and the court. These are all little things, I know, but it felt right out
there. The ball felt right coming onto the racquet. There are so many factors
to take into account, but today it all felt right. It was a great match.
Q. You were a lot less nervous that during the first set against Ulihrach?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, I was up for it. I was favourite but the result
wasn’t a foregone conclusion. It just felt right from the beginning.
Q. Can you feel it in your arm when you’re less tense?
RICHARD GASQUET: Sure you can feel it. My preparation had gone really
well. I knew, in fact I know that I can play well, so I felt less nervous
and I was able to hit the ball well.
Q. The French contingent here in Wimbledon is fantastic, 15 French players
in Round 1 and now 12 in Round 2. Why are the French so good on grass?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yeah, we play better than on clay courts. I don't know
why, because for sure we grew up on hard courts, not on clay like Spain
or Argentinean players. We play on hard courts, and that's why we are
better on that. On grass physically, Spanish and Argentinean players
are really, really good, so in five-setters maybe they can be better
than us sometimes.
Q. Is it to do with because you are taught a way to play on a hard court
when you are young that enables you to be able to play on any surface?
Is that the secret do you think?
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, if we want to play in Roland Garros we have to grow
up on clay courts. I played on clay courts at 12 or 13 before I played on
a hard courts, and in Spain you play at six, seven on clay courts, and you
do a lot of physical education. In France you just did it less.
Q. Do you personally feel as though you are in the best shape that you
have been in physically, mentally and technically to do well at Wimbledon?
Because you have a tremendous record on grass.
RICHARD GASQUET: I feel good on grass. I like to play on grass courts.
I don't know, because I can play good on clay court, too, so that's not
a problem. But maybe there are less players on grass court, less
Argentinean or Spanish. Less players play well on grass.
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