Day 7 - Gustavo Kuerten
Sunday, June 1, 2003
Q. This was a very, very important match today. It not only gets you into
the second week of the tournament, but against a dangerous player. Is it
the sort of victory that can change your entire emotional makeup toward
winning this tournament?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Well, I think it's not that it's going to change because
I think as far as I won my first match, you know, things start to feel a
little more comfortable in myself, more focusing into the match. Already,
even before this match, I was already with good signs of confidence and
believings in myself.
But it was a great win, I think maybe my best match so far on these last
months. I think I was like testing in all -- in everything, you know, I
need to go from now on. I had to play aggressive sometimes, and then change
paces, and then be patient, serve and volley a few times. So I had to really
take everything from my game. You know, many things were working fine.
So that's a good sign of confidence from the next match that's going to
come. I really think that, you know, as far as you get to these rounds,
you really have to believe and get everything from your game to pass it
onto the next matches.
Q. What happened exactly yesterday evening? You had some problem with your
lenses?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: The problem with the sun was going away, and we do not see
anymore. Like for me was tough to see from the beginning of the third set.
It was late. I think, you know, if we play one or two more games, we're not
going to be any different. So that's my point when I ask them to stop.
It's not that maybe we finish or we have a chance to finish. We will play
for 10 more minutes and stop. For me, I don't see a reason for this.
But then we keep playing until really the limit. You know, the last game,
we both not seeing anything. So was -- nothing is fair to the players, not
be able to play their best.
Q. How do you approach your next match against Robredo? I think you only
played him once in Stuttgart. How do you feel approaching that match against
an opponent you're not overly familiar with?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I think for me this tournament has been very -- I've been
very caution about thinking slow, you know, step by step. I have not one day
any more to prepare and practice myself for the match. But I think I have to
practice a little bit different tactics, maybe to surprise him, you know.
I'm sure it's going to be a lot of balls coming and going because he's playing
in a great rhythm. Just beat Hewitt in the last round. I looking forward to a
tough battle, like today. At the same way, looking forward to play a great
tennis.
It's only 16 guys in the draw now, so I got to see this way a little bit and
be happy and satisfied with myself get to this far.
Q. Lleyton Hewitt seems to think he has a disadvantage on clay because he
didn't grow up on it. He played very well against you in Brazil in Davis Cup.
Do you think he'll win this tournament sometime?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Not sure.
Q. Does he have the game to?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Well, he's No. 1 of the world. I think he can play well and
beat any other player in any surface. But at the same way Sampras, the best
player ever, never won here. So maybe in 15 years you'll be sure if he will
win or not, but I cannot tell you (smiling).
For sure, he will try as me. I try to win other tournaments, other surface,
but sometimes we cannot be -- we cannot get everything that we want.
Q. Can you compare your backhand to Gaudio's?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I think it's a lot of similar things on the way we play
the backhand. Like today, you know, the tactics were very important. The way
we were playing, starting the point was most of the time crucial to see who is
going to win and lose the point.
So we know each other pretty well. We have like a similar game. Well, that's
the reason maybe to me to be satisfied maybe beating one of the favorites to
the tournament here, one of the guys that could have win it.
Q. Many players in the second week of a Grand Slam get very tense. In '97
when you won here, when Sergi Bruguera won for the first time, it was as if
there was no tension; it was come out and have fun. Can you do that again
this year?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I don't think so. I have not the same power that I had when
I was 20 years old (laughter). You know, I have other, better things. I have
to play smarter sometimes. I have to use -- I know how to use my game better.
But I cannot play the same way I was playing on that time - just hitting the
ball, no consequence.
I think every time you come here, it's a little bit different. At the same
way, it's not that I'm not enjoy, you know. I've been enjoy the match, but
just a different way of enjoyment, I think.
Q. I meant mostly emotionally enjoying it, not feeling any pressure at all.
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, as far as you win one tournament like this, you always
approach a little bit different, you know. You never going to come here and
not having these things or these extra pressure. But at the same time this
creates a little bit of adrenaline and motivation for you to play well. So
I think that's never going to be the same as this year as I came here with
nothing to lose and just playing my game to see what's happening.
Now I have more expectations. I know much more about me and the game.
That's changing a lot of things. But still, you know, enjoying emotionally
putting my heart, you know, my soul in the court, really fighting with
everything, but probably in different way, approaching differently the match
that's coming.
Q. We seem to be seeing a rich and deep generation of South American talent.
Of the young players, Coria, Nalbandian, who do you think has the best chance
to win a major tournament, not just the French, but any of the four?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I think, you know, everybody is around the Top 10 or into
the Top 10, they have some chance to win a tournament like a Slam, especially
these young guys that's still having many years in front.
Nalbandian played a final already. Coria, it's coming with a lot of
confidence. Maybe it's coming through this tournament. Has played quite well
in other ones.
I think there is a couple of guys who really have a chance and probably is
going to change about the moment they are playing with more or less
confidence. But at this point, I would say, you know, Gaudio now is out, then
Coria, Gonzalez, as well. They have maybe the potential and the opportunity
to take one of these.
Q. Do you prefer a place in Roland Garros where you have good feelings, maybe
a court, maybe the music room of the player lounge.
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, but now it's finish. They don't have. You should ask
them to come back (laughter). This year my favorite place was there, but now
it's gone. I'm waiting to see. Hopefully tomorrow they change and come back
here.
Q. Do you prefer a court, maybe the central court?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: The central, it's pretty charming. It's nice. I feel very
comfortable playing there. But I think the tournament by themself is more
important than a specific court. So I feel myself with a lot of motivation
in any court I play.
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