Massu: "I played my best tennis"
10/14/2003
Q. It's been an interesting match, spectacular one. Do you think so?
NICOLAS MASSU: Yes. With Guga, everything is going to be spectacular always. I was concentrated throughout the match. I played my best tennis. I think in order to defeat Guga, one has to give his best. Today I did it. I hope to continue like this.
Q. You saw the crowd, people from Chile. Do you notice it?
NICOLAS MASSU: Yeah. Our country is always united when someone plays - Argentina, Brazil, Chile. This is not the first time I felt this on the court. These are outside factors that motivate a player.
Q. How do you feel on the court physically?
NICOLAS MASSU: Well, no problems.
Q. Your serve, especially during the first part of the match, was an
important weapon. How do you feel about that and how do you feel about the
surface? Is it quite difficult for you?
NICOLAS MASSU: Gradually I'm feeling better on the surface. Every match I
play, I feel I'm a little bit more comfortable. It's not that I don't like
the surface. The thing is that I have little experience with it. Because in
Chile, this type of court doesn't exist. So either you feel good on it,
comfortable, or you feel bad. Up till now, I'm feeling well. It's not that
fast. It's similar to a hard surface. On the other hand, at the beginning I
started serving well. My serve was good. But Guga's serve is
really impressive. Every time he serves, it's very, very hard to return the
ball. I think I served well. During the second set I was a little more
tired and he started serving a little worse, the same as me. We were tired.
After one hour of playing, the legs are not the same as at the beginning.
Q. 1 hour, 48 minutes was the time of the match. We saw your technique today
in the match. The crowd was excited.
NICOLAS MASSU: Yeah, for me it was very exciting, too. It was very important
to defeat Guga. In tennis, I think everyone has his own way of playing. Guga
plays with very strong and powerful shots. I used my serve, forehand and
so on.
Q. What about this court, do you think it will still be used in the future?
NICOLAS MASSU: I think that in order to become a champion, you have to play
on every surface, even though you like one better than another. Every
player's going to have a favorite surface. But in order to be a champion,
you have to choose to play on all of them. Maybe points are not as long.
Because of the altitude here in Madrid, the ball flies faster.
Q. Did you fear that you were going to lose at some point?
NICOLAS MASSU: 6-3, 2-Love doesn't mean you've won the match. Maybe 5-3,
5-2. But being just at the beginning of the set 2-Love, he had a lot of time
to recover. I never felt at that point I had the match, but I wanted to take
advantage of my serve and try to win.
I think I won most of the points from behind the baseline.
Q. Next opponent, who do you prefer?
NICOLAS MASSU: Roddick. I want to play against the best of the world, No. 1.
I have nothing against the other opponent, but I would like to play against
Roddick. That would be stimulating. Maybe he doesn't like the surface. Maybe
we should leave clay aside. If it's Mirnyi, fine. But if it's Roddick, I'd
rather play against him because at the moment, right now in the world, he's
the best player, especially here. I'd really like to play against him.
Q. Guga has been No. 1 for a long time. Do you think he's an idol who is
losing his charisma?
NICOLAS MASSU: Look, I see sportsmen. Every sportsman has his peaks, ups
and downs. Guga had an injury. It's difficult to recuperate. He's not the
same as when he won Roland Garros three times. It's not only Guga. There's
players like Corretja, Marcelo Rios who are not in a good moment right now,
and are used to winning. It's not easy for them losing. But sport is like
this.
I don't think he's down right now. He has the potential. He has a good head
on his shoulders. Maybe he's losing because of small details. Maybe he's
lacking confidence. He'll be up again soon.
Q. I guess you know already what's happened, the controversy about betting,
controlled results. What do you think about that?
NICOLAS MASSU: Yeah, well, I knew there were rumors going around. We're
not stupid, you know. We realize what's happening, especially when we are
together. The ATP is noticing it, it's realizing what's happening, that's
perfect. I find it brilliant because now we have to be careful. ATP needs
to find out who's doing this. They need to be sure. It's bad for tennis,
of course. If someone gets into the court and loses on purpose, finally we
are losing something - ATP players, everyone. I don't have a lot of
information. I know what you know. But I hope everything goes on well
because tennis has always been a clean sport. I hope it continues to be.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 61.230.102.188
※ 編輯: maria08452 來自: 61.230.114.225 (10/20 18:08)