Day 12 - Albert Costa
Friday, June 6, 2003
Q. How do you feel physically today?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, during the match I was feeling good. So maybe at the end I
was a little tired, but as the other days, was normal. We were playing like
two hours and a half.
But physically I was feeling good, with power and everything. But Juan Carlos
played a great match. And I had good chances in the second set, too, but,
still, he did a great match.
Q. Do you think it was more difficult in your head than the physical after the
second set when you had a lot of opportunities and you don't win the second
set?
ALBERT COSTA: No, no, I think it was -- no. I was just trying, so, all the
time.
But he's also a very good player, and he did a great job today. He deserve
what he got, so...
Q. End of the marathon, isn't it?
ALBERT COSTA: Yes, it's the end of the marathon, apart from the fact that I
wanted to win here again. Sometimes you have to be realistic. Juan Carlos
played a fabulous match. I fought on every point, up till the end. He won the
match, as is his due. There's nothing I can say about it.
I had a number of opportunities during the second set, and I think it was 5-4
when I made a few double-faults. Then there was the tiebreak and I was in the
lead and then he made a few fabulous shots.
Of course you don't know what would have happened if I had won that second
set, but Juan Carlos just simply played better than I did.
Q. In your game, were you convinced that you could turn the match around after
your experience?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, yes, obviously. After I lost the second set, I knew it
would be difficult, but I continued to fight. I always hoped. I thought maybe
I can make it again. But I couldn't, because...
(Phone ringing.)
Were we talking about something?
Q. You were convinced you could turn the match around?
ALBERT COSTA: Yes, I was convinced if he let me have the slightest opportunity,
I would be able to take that opportunity. But he didn't give me any. I had one
in the second set; I couldn't make it. After that, it was extremely difficult.
Q. You said you came here with the intention of winning, but do you think
you've won something more than just five matches?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, yes. I leave with the feeling that I'm still competing
enough after a good season. After Miami, I was convinced I was doing very well.
After the Davis Cup, I was doing very well.
After that, I didn't really know how to play. I wasn't doing so well. But after
all of these struggles to get good results, eventually, the good results came
in.
It's quite clear that winning Roland Garros is very difficult. Juan Carlos
played better than I did today. But I have managed to demonstrate to myself
that I am still in.
At some point I was really beginning to think I'd lost my tennis.
Q. You said that you were ready, that you were ready to resist. How did your
legs feel today?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, my legs were doing pretty well. It's true that after two
and a half hours in the third set, I was beginning to be a little tired.
But I'm very proud of my resistance. This was a very intense match with a lot
of baseline exchanges - very intense, very fast, very hard. At the end, of
course I was tired. I'm sure he was, too. But he started a little bit fresher.
Q. Did you have the feeling that you were slow between points?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, I was trying.
Q. Was it tactical?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, he likes to play fast, and I don't. So I was also trying
to recover. Possibly, I needed it more than he did on this occasion.
Q. Without so many hours on the court, could this match have been any
different?
ALBERT COSTA: I don't think it means much to discuss that now. I think that
we've played each other, we've beaten each other on different occasions,
different tournaments, more or less important. I've beaten him three times.
He's beaten me three times. It's here this year, next year it will be something
else.
He deserved to win today. Possibly another day I will deserve to win.
Q. Juan Carlos has been trying to get that cup, the title, for four years. As
a champion, what advice would you give him?
ALBERT COSTA: I think if he plays with the same attitude as today, very
relaxed, I think he can do it. He knows that he has possibilities. The
important thing is that he believes in his possibilities to win the match.
Of course he will be nervous, as we all are, when the moment comes. But you
need to overcome that.
I wish him all the best. I hope he will be able to win the title, because he
deserves it.
Q. What did you tell him at the end of the match?
ALBERT COSTA: Well, precisely that, that I was wishing he would win the next
match, win the tournament
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