Day 5 - Guillermo Coria
Friday, May 30, 2003
Q. Has this been an easy task? You have the possibility of meeting another
Argentinian in the next round. What do you think of all of this?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, it's true that I was a little bit nervous at the
beginning, but I am very much satisfied. First set had become a little
complicated for me, but I managed to solve it. I really managed the rest of
the match quite well.
I was, of course, delighted to win this match and to meet another Argentinian
because one of us, one Argentinian, will be through to the following round.
Q. Guillermo, what moment would Mariano represent in your career, meeting him?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, he started the year very well. He had a few more
difficulties. He had a lot of strength of will. He really gets results. In
Hamburg, he didn't play his best tennis, but he continued to persist. He's
really fighting here in Roland Garros. He's playing very good tennis. He's a
wonderful person. As you all know, he's the first person who advised me when
I arrived on the tour.
Q. Is it a good thing that you didn't play that many games for the rest of the
tournament?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, absolutely. That's a great advantage. Physical condition
is very important here in Roland Garros. We had a two-hour match today, but it
wasn't very tiring for me. That's perfect. I still have my full physical
condition.
Q. Still talking about the heaviness of the balls. What do you feel about it?
GUILLERMO CORIA: It's true that initially I had difficulties, but I don't
think it was the balls, I think it was me. I think that initially, the
beginning of the match was difficult, but I continued to play my game, to
improve it. I think I really managed to win this match easily.
Q. Why did you have difficulties at the beginning? Because you felt you were
the favorite? Did it have something to do with your game?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No, I think we're all a bit nervous when we arrive on the
court. It's true that the balls are a little bit heavy. You can't return them
like you can elsewhere.
I've gone through three rounds. The next match I think will be a good match.
From now on we're all candidates to actually win this tournament. I'm fully
confident.
Q. This has been the best tennis year in your career to date. What do you
expect from this Grand Slam tournament?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I expect to continue improving. I hope to continue
going through past the end of the week. I'm going to have a very difficult
match against Zabaleta. I will have to play my best tennis, to fight up to
the end. Again, it's another Argentinian.
I'm completely satisfied with my own game.
Q. You say you are doing well physically. What about your muscle cramping?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, yes, I am improving from that point of view. My muscle
is feeling much better. I'm feeling fine.
Q. A lot of players have said the balls were heavy. What do you think about it?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, this was rather fast as tournaments go, in terms of
balls. I don't know why they changed them. But then you need to get used to
them. But we've all played three matches. I think now all of the players have
gotten used to the balls. That's no excuse.
Q. What do you prefer, playing another Argentinian or somebody else, perhaps
someone more famous, Moya, Ferrero?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No, I don't think playing an Argentinian is a positive or
negative for me. I think you arrive on court in the same condition. We've
played in Buenos Aires before. It was a very good match - a little bit more in
his favor than mine, but then I managed to turn it around.
I think I'll arrive on court with full will to win this match and get through. I really want to go further in this tournament.
Q. It's clear that you have a lot of respect for Mariano. Are you looking at
what Agassi is doing?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No. You have to take things one match at a time. If you start
thinking about what will happen, about who you might play later ...
Q. But without thinking you might play against him.
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, he had difficulties against Ancic, but he's a fabulous
player. In the end, that opportunity went in his favor.
Q. Do you pay attention to statistics?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Which statistics?
Q. Previous matches played against this player or that. Zabaleta seems to be
lagging behind Hrbaty, El Aynaoui, yet he's beaten every single opponent.
GUILLERMO CORIA: I don't know if it's statistics. This is Roland Garros. We
both want to go further in the tournament. But, of course, when you're at the
top, you have greater confidence.
In Buenos Aires, it was a very different match. This will be completely
different for both of us.
It will probably be a very difficult match. All matches are different.
Q. From Chile, we follow your career very closely, but it seems that you have
an acceleration in this career. Do you intend to continue to advance?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, it's true. I remember Monte-Carlo, but I can't really
answer that (smiling).
Q. You are a River Plate fan. Would you like to follow them closely?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, by.
Q. What about Fernando Gonzales, you know him very well.
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, I started working with Fernando. I changed a lot of
things. He does fabulous work. He fights a lot to get his players forward.
Technically he's really fabulous, as was shown in the Nations Cup with Chile.
Q. Some people say you are the right-handed Marcelo Rios.
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I like comparisons, particularly with Marcelo, who
plays wonderful tennis. I think he's one of the most talented players on the
tours. So thanks.
Q. Are the balls in favor of Mariano or you?
GUILLERMO CORIA: I think both equally. I think neither of us likes them very
heavy. He's playing very well. I think it will be the same for both of us.
This is going to be a match where we both need to play our best tennis.
Q. Six years ago Mexico beat Argentina in the Davis Cup. Mexico has nothing
to do in world tennis today, but Argentina has great potential. What's the
difference which has led to this?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, some six years ago, I can't remember who was involved,
but it obviously wasn't the same players. Mexico was always a tough customer.
I'm not sure what exactly happened. But we have a lot of players today. It's
true we're playing very well.
I think Mexico has a number of good young players, and we hope to see them
improve.
Q. Is it difficult to think about the future, particularly when you don't
know how many sets you're going to have to play before you go any further?
Suppose you start thinking about the scenarios of semifinals, finals, how do
you feel physically about that?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I hope I'll be good. I've worked a lot. When I started
working with my new team, I think the results have proven it. My physical
conditioning is no longer a problem. I used to be afraid of my physical
resistance, but I've been playing very long matches in Buenos Aires, and it
hasn't been a problem. Same thing applies to Hamburg, Monte-Carlo. I'm feeling
perfectly all right today.
Q. What about the blisters?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I did have a small one today, in spite of the new
shoes. I think I need to consult this for the future.
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