Press Conference with AUGUSTIN CALLERI
Calleri vs. Nalbandian 6:4, 6:1 17.05.2003
Q: He wasn't very happy with the way he played all those breakpoints. Do you
think it was of the way you were playing, of keeping so much pressure on him?
A: I think I played a very high level tennis today. I tried to have the same
tactics as Fernando yesterday: to be very aggressive and hit the ball very
hard, because he doesn't like that when you put pressure on him and you don't
let him play his own game.
Q: Have you had much conversation about the four of you, about the significance
of the achievements of being in the semi-finals?
A: No, we didn't have a chance to talk, but I think that each one of us is
very happy to be in the semi-final of such a big tournament. And second of
all, I think for the country this is just something very very big, to have
four players in the semi-final of such a major event, because it never
happened in the past.
Q: Obviously all four of you are very talented. Are there any particular
aspects of the way you were brought up in Argentinian tennis, which has helped
bring about those things or is it just a coincidence that you're all come
through together?
A: It's more like a coincidence of all the sacrifices that each one of us is
doing. Not only the four of us, but also Zabaleta. And, it's our own
sacrifice to make it to the top, because we never really got much help from
the Argentinian tennis federation.
Q: So, there wasn't a junior programme that you're all the result of?
A: No, there is not really a junior tennis scheme in Argentinia. The only two
players that got some help in the past were Coria and Nalbandian, that was it.
No, I think that Gabriela Sabatini is trying to put something together to help
juniors back home, which I think is great. But, there is nothing like that. I
really don't know any Argentinian junior players coming through right now.
Q: Are you aware of the fact that the last Argentinian player that won here
was Guillermo Vilas and what would it mean to you to maybe follow his
footsteps?
A: Guillermo Vilas, of course, is the reference for Argentinian tennis. He
was No. 1 in the world. Since his era a lot of good Argentinian players like
Mancini, Perez-Roldan, Clerc and now there is this group of young players
coming through.
Q: You obviously didn't have the sort of help that players in a lot of other
countries did have as juniors, but do you think that the fact that the four of
you at the same time were perhaps pushing one another all the time?
A: Well, we do practise together as much as we can and when we have Davis Cup
ties even the players that are not in the team go there and practise together
with the team. But, you have to realise that tennis is a very individual
sport, so everybody thinks about his own destiny, his own future. The thing
about the support they give, yes, I am not happy with the way they are
treating the junior players.
Q: The point I was trying to make is that if there is an Argentinian pushing
ahead you want to keep up with it.
A: Of course, there is competition among ourselves, but now it's very healthy.
Maybe in the past it was not the same way, but now we all get along fine. Of
course, if I see somebody getting to the final of Wimbledon, then I want to
do the same. But now this rivalry we have is something very healthy.
Q: Where did you learn the German? Whenever I asked you in German you answered
in Spanish?
A: I understand languages because I travel and I hear a lot of different
languages. So, I know what they are talking about. Like on court, when they
asked me a question in German, I could understand what it was about.
這是說沒學過但聽的懂囉！真強！@@
Q: When you were a teenager was there any one thing you can think of which at
times showed you were aware you were a poorer nation than other countries? Was
there anything you wanted to do, but weren't able to do because there was no
money for you to do it?
A: No, I never really missed anything when I was growing up and playing
tennis, but it was always my parents that made the sacrifices for me and
nobody else. Nor the federation, not the sponsors. And that's the big thing
right now, because the sponsors are not involved. They are not helping the
junior players and that's very difficult if you don't have anybody to support
you. Now, the economic situation in Argentinia is ver difficult. If something
was 1 $, now its three times as much. And also some of the tournaments are
struggling and if they get cancelled there are less opportunities to play.
Q: But, there was never a case where you couldn't go to play say the junior
at Paris when you need to?
A: Maybe I didn't play juniors in Europe because it was very expensive, but I
tried to play all the South American tennis federation junior circuit and
always with my parents' help.
Q: Why made you pick up a tennis racket and not for example choosing soccer,
football?
A: No, I always played only tennis since I was 4 years old and I really didn't
take up any other sports. Of course, I liked to watch football, but it's
always been tennis.
Q: Are your parents keen on tennis?
A: Yes, my parents like tennis and they are both tennis players.
Q: Where and how did you learn your fabulous backhand?
A: Maybe it's something that God gave me.
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