Day 5 - Carlos Moya
Friday, May 30, 2003
Q. You went through quite a fright today, didn't you?
CARLOS MOYA: Yes, absolutely. I went through a couple of difficult spots. It
was on and off. The first two sets went very well indeed, quite incredible,
then I sort of let go. But in the fifth set, I really wanted to come back.
That was pure will.
The positive aspect is that I've won the match. It has been very difficult.
It's been a difficult match. I have had to really come back. I won it, and
that's the important point.
If you want to go far, you're going to lose a couple sets at one point, and I
was lucky to be able to come back.
Q. Since '99 you have had ups and downs. How do you feel about this?
CARLOS MOYA: Well, I did a few very good moments. That's the important point.
The first few rounds in this tournament don't make you win the tournament, but
at least you haven't lost them. So I have survived the day.
The match wasn't easy, as far as I was concerned. I'm going to play Novak in
the next round. I feel confident. But the game has gone through a few doubts
today. I'm glad I won it, but I think that if I can play the same, if I play
that way in the following days, it might be difficult, but if I play as I
played the first two sets, I have a few opportunities.
Q. What is the reason for your losing your game? Technical? Physical? Mental?
CARLOS MOYA: Well, it can be a few things, and they interact. I think that I
missed a few important points, particularly on his second serve. In the fourth
set, he won his serve. I've had blisters on my feet for a few days. The fourth
set, progressively I began to feel pain in my foot. I think mentally that
affected me. I think I made this match a bit hard for myself. It's possibly
myself.
If I had won it in three sets, I wouldn't have had the problem with my feet.
It all began to turn around in my head, the pain in the foot. It all goes
together. It all became very negative. I began to think I couldn't win this
match.
Then I had a break in the fifth set. At that point I thought, "I've got to
give everything I've got and see what happens." It was really strength of
will. I really have pain in my foot now.
The truth is I wasn't expecting to win in view of the evolution of the match
and even the beginning of the fifth set.
Q. (Question in Italian regarding recuperation.)
CARLOS MOYA: Well, it has been quite difficult mentally, physically. It's been
a long match. But I've been through tougher matches. I'm really exhausted
mentally, more than physically.
Q. What do you think of the balls?
CARLOS MOYA: The balls are a bit heavy. I think that might have affected me
mentally. When your strength is 100%, there is no problem. But I did try to
hit the ball very hard, and I began to feel it, to feel the weight. I made a
few defenses. I think we were both affected, in fact.
I don't think these are the perfect balls as far as I'm concerned.
Q. Some say that Suzanne Lenglen is slower than the others.
CARLOS MOYA: We have discussed this with Coria and others. It's true that it's
a little bit slower than other courts. I think this should not happen because
it changes the conditions in which you're playing, according to the court
you're playing on. In such a tournament, it really makes things complicated.
Q. When you're one break down in the fifth set, what goes through your mind?
How do you react?
CARLOS MOYA: I'm not sure. In fact, I couldn't believe I was going to lose the
match the way it had started. I couldn't believe I'd gone so badly. I didn't
have many options left. Mentally I was feeling really bad. I had pain in my
foot. Eventually it all turned out right.
There's everything. There's the audience, the support of the audience. You can
see everyone. Suddenly you really want to give everything you've got. It's one
of those matches where, if you lose, you spend a few hours thinking about it.
It really affects you.
Q. You've seen elimination pretty close. Do you think having overcome that
danger, you can go far in this tournament?
CARLOS MOYA: Well, it's all a matter of confidence. I suddenly don't come here
thinking I'm going to win every match in three sets. If you really want to win
Roland Garros, you're going to suffer, you're going to have difficult moments
- good moments, as well. This is something that I've already gone through in
these three matches.
The good thing is I'm still surviving. So many have been pushed out by now.
There's 16 left. It's more a matter of selection - possibly not yet. But when
it's down to eight, anything can happen. The three first rounds are the rounds
I got through, and that's positive.
Q. Is that a record for defenses?
CARLOS MOYA: That's possible. How many is it? I did 14, he had 16. I don't
usually do that many defenses. Two in a set at the most.
I don't know whether it's the balls, the court, I don't know. He's not a
specialist -- he doesn't usually make a lot of defenses either. I don't know.
It's a bit strange. That's a total of 30 defenses in the match. I don't think
there's an explanation.
Q. What about the change in attitude of the crowd between the first day and
now? Do you think they just wanted to see a bit more of tennis?
CARLOS MOYA: I think possibly that's the case. When I was winning two sets to
love, the crowd started supporting him. When they started to think that I
could lose, they changed sides. I think they really wanted to see a good
match. I think it's a very good crowd. I don't think if they really enjoyed
the match, but they really participated, and that's good for the players.
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