Day 8 - Guillermo Coria
Monday, June 2, 2003
Q. Have you been disturbed by the interruption?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No, not at all. I think Zabaleta was very confident. He was
feeling very confident. And I think that the fact that we stopped the match
favored me.
Q. It seemed to me that you chose many times to serve slowly on the first serve
. Did you get some problem with your first serve or what?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, it's true that the balls were quite heavy. And I did
find it difficult to serve fast.
But then you need to be on court to realize what it's like. It's always easy to
judge from the outside, but it's true that I was a bit nervous and that is why
I did not serve at my usual speed. Also, because the balls were a bit heavy.
Q. How fresh do you feel, and how do you feel you're going to be able to cope
having to come back and play for a third day in succession?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I'm feeling a bit tired right now, but I think I'll be
all right tomorrow. This is a match I've been wanting to play for some time. I
don't want to miss this opportunity.
So it's true that I'll be a little bit tired, but I don't think that this will
affect my tennis. I think that the will I have to play this match will
compensate.
Q. What kind of match do you think it's going to be, and why are you looking
forward to it so much?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I think it will be a very hard match, with a high rhythm
. I really want to play him, because he has always been my hero, and I faced
him on hard court twice. I couldn't do anything.
Now is my opportunity to play him on clay. So I hope I'll be able to take my
revenge after those two matches I lost against him.
Q. How would you compare your different playing styles with Agassi?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I think Andre Agassi is one step ahead of everybody else
. I'd love to be able to play like him.
But I think that my style will also depend on tactical decisions during that
match. Ideally, I'd like to play more or less the way Andre Agassi plays.
Q. How does prize money figure into your motivation for winning, or does it? Is
it a big factor, a little factor?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No, the only thing I really think about is the points I'm
going to get to continue improving in the ranking. Of course, money is
important, but the only thing I really think about is to improve my tennis and
to continue to win points in order to achieve my dream to be in the Masters
this year.
Q. I'm sorry to put this question, which I've put to a number of players. Have
you been tested for doping here in Roland Garros, and do you think it's a good
thing and the tests should be carried out more frequently?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I think it's very good to have this kind of testing
because I think that we can solve a number of doubts about some players not
being quite equal with the others. So I've had a number of blood tests this
year, and I think it's very good to know that we are in a healthy sport.
Q. Is this the first time that you've really felt you are in with a chance of
competing for a Grand Slam championship in the late stages?
GUILLERMO CORIA: I'm going through one of the best moments of my life. I hope
it's going to last. I'm going to think about the match tomorrow and I hope I'll
continue to move forward in this tournament, which would be absolutely
wonderful.What I've done up to now is wonderful and I'd like to continue.
Q. When you warm up, what is it that you're trying to do? What is it you're
trying to think about?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, when I warm up, I try to go through my mind, over
everything that I need to do. Sometimes I lose my concentration and I try to
encourage myself. I try never to let go psychologically. To win a match like
the one I won today, you've got to be constantly fighting.
Q. You were pretty much controlling the match. But still, after the first two
sets, the score was level, 2-all. Was there any moment, because it was really a
hard and very, very heavy games, was there any moment your confidence was
shaken or you really thought that Mariano might surprise you?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I knew this was going to be a difficult match, and even
if you're winning two sets to love, you still have to keep running and fighting
the way I did because Mariano is a player who will never give up. When he's
behind you, he'll take a lot of risks.
It's true that he put a lot of shots in the court at the important moments,
which is why the match kept going, and I was never in control of the entire
match. And I think in the fifth set, when we were equal, the first who broke
the service of his opponents would have every chance to win this match.
That is why I was really fighting for it, because -- and thank God I won this
match.
MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. Was this the most difficult match you played in your career up till now?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, the most difficult match and the longest. It was a very
difficult match. Initially, I was in the lead and then Mariano was. But I'm
really delighted that I eventually won the match, because physically I managed
to go through this very difficult match and sometimes I didn't really succeed
in placing my shots the way I wanted to, but I continued to fight.
I'm really delighted because at some point, this match had become extremely
difficult for me.
Q. Do you think the difficulty of this match can affect you tomorrow against
Andre Agassi?
GUILLERMO CORIA: No. I think that you really have to go through these matches
and enjoy them because you don't have this kind of match every day.
I won a very difficult match. I'm in the quarterfinals in the French Open. I've
got to keep in mind where I've arrived, and I must not relax. Because if I
relax, tomorrow it will all be over. So I have to go on court with the same
ambition and enjoy myself and think about what I need to do tomorrow to try and
use this opportunity that I have to go through quarterfinals, into semifinals.
Q. First, what sort of a night did you spend? You were in the lead by two sets
to love, then he won a set. The second question. This was a very long match,
including your nerves.
GUILLERMO CORIA: Yes, last night I was thinking about this match, which I
nearly won yesterday and I didn't make it. But I was playing Mariano, and he
always plays very well, even when he's not in the lead.
Mariano played well. It's true that I was nervous. This is a match that I
wanted to finish yesterday and possibly this was not the right decision. But
this will be an interesting experience for me, because I've won a very
difficult match.
Last night, it's true that I was thinking over what things were going to be
like today.
Q. Apart from what was happening on court, there was a very strong atmosphere
in the audience, in the crowd. How did you experience this?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I think we're friends, and the crowd, well... Sometimes
things are said that should not be said, but I remain focused and let it pass.
I think the crowd supports one player rather than another; that's normal.
Q. You are the Argentinian who has gone furthest in Roland Garros. Do you think
this will put you in position to play Davis Cup against Spain?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, possibly I have a better chance. But as all players
always think, there's a few months missing. The way we're all playing now,
anything can happen. Four months ago I didn't have much chance of being on the
team because other players were playing much better than I was. But today, I'm
doing better than them. Possibly, this can turn the tables around.
I have to think first about what I need to do, what I need to improve. I want
to finish this year the way that I've been playing now, and win a lot of points
in order to play the Masters. And then, of course, if I play for my country,
that would be a dream. It would be really good.
Q. Apart from the tension outside the court, on court it was as if you were
playing the match of your lives. What happened at the end of the match, because
you went to greet Mariano and he didn't seem too friendly? What happened?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, it's always the way things happen in a difficult match.
I think it was a friendly greeting; nothing happened.
Q. Well, you always remember the training events.
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, yes, I think that neither of us wanted to lose this
match, but I don't have anything against Mariano. I think that he greeted me in
the proper manner. He greeted his trainer, and everything went okay. No
surprise there.
Q. Andre Agassi was saying the other day that you're one of the greatest
players of the moment and that you won a fabulous tournament in Hamburg. How
does this affect your match tomorrow?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, my match tomorrow is going to be difficult. He has a
number of advantages, particularly since he's had an extra day to rest. His
last match was not very long. But I've won 10 matches in a row. That really
gives me a lot of confidence. I don't think I'll ever be in a better position
against him. So I hope that physically I'll be able to go through it and be
concentrated.
I know I can lose this match, but I'll do everything I can to win it.
Q. You hope you're going to be able to stand it physically. This means that
after five sets you've been making a lot of efforts. He's had an extra day to
rest...
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, as I said, he has a slight advantage. This has been a
long match with a lot of tension, and I've been working physically a lot. I
think that the changes I've brought to my physical preparation are bringing in
a lot of results.
I hope that I'll be able to go through the next match physically, because it's
true that I'm a little tired. But I hope I'll be all right by tomorrow. If
you're really concentrated, you forget about the pain, the exhaustion. I hope
for the best.
Q. They've announced rain for tomorrow. Are you hoping for this?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, they wanted us to play first because they were fearing
rain today. But we agreed, with Mariano, to play second. They said it was going
to rain all day, but that was not the case. I hope I'm not going to bring bad
luck to the weather, but it doesn't matter to me whether it's raining or not.
Q. (Inaudible)?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, that would be an extra advantage, but you've got to win
one way or another, whether the court is slow or fast.
Q. You were saying a moment ago that Agassi was your hero. When did this start?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, I used to see him play when I was a kid, with his long
hair. I used to like his attitude on court. I used to like his appearance, the
way he used to dress; he was different.
So from childhood, I only used to watch his matches. I have a lot of respect
for him. It was very difficult to play him because of that.
But now, I have better confidence, more maturity, and I will continue to
respect him tomorrow. I'll arrive on court as I always do, but I'll still try
to win.
Q. A few days ago you were training with Andre Agassi. Do you know what you
need to do tomorrow, what you must not do, particularly since he's your hero?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, no, he used to remember other matches and points, and I
know that this is important. I know what can bother him tomorrow. I hope that
I will arrive with only tactics in mind and not get distracted by anything
else.It's true that that training session was important for me.
Q. Mancini, your trainer, is one of the few Argentinians who knows how it feels
to beat Agassi. Did he tell you how he managed to beat him and how this can
serve as a reference to you?
GUILLERMO CORIA: Well, it's true he did beat him in Rome. Agassi was 18 years
old at the time. It was a very difficult match, very tough match and Mancini
was playing wonderfully. We don't always discuss tactics, but I know I don't
have a great advantage over him. I'm going to have to play very well, move him
to the right in order to increase my advantage because if I just try long
balls, that's where he plays best.
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