Once across the pond, Mutis flying free and …
呵呵，在Tennis版看到有人提這件事，去找了新聞來：
（這是Mutis在四月休士頓比賽時的報導）
講到了Mutis的怕飛機血淚史始末，以及去年幾乎決定放棄網球的事
蠻值得一讀的我覺得：）
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/1884777
April 26, 2003, 12:36AM
Once across the pond, Mutis flying free and easy
By MICKEY HERSKOWITZ
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
Two weeks ago, Olivier Mutis lost in the quarterfinals
at Casablanca, where Rick once told Sam to play it again,
meaning a tune called As Time Goes By.
From this exotic and romantic setting, Mutis (pronounced
Mu-TEECE) flew to the United States under pressure, to
continue the hottest streak of his career. The 25-year-old
Frenchman upset American James Blake on Friday in three
tough sets 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 to advance to the semifinals of
the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.
He will meet Andy Roddick, whose win over Brazil's
Fernando Meligeni had the crowd in a frenzy. It might
have been the artistic high spot of the week, but nothing
-- not the heat, not the prospect of facing the defending
champion -- could keep Olivier from feeling as lucky as
Lindbergh.
怕搭飛機的原因：
In springing what ranks as the premier stunner of the
tournament, Mutis had to overcome a serious fear of
flying just to get here. He has avoided long flights,
especially intercontinental ones, ever since he was
returning to France from Greece and his plane had to
make an emergency landing only minutes after takeoff.
His English isn't perfect, but he makes a gallant attempt
to be understood, and if he does not always succeed
his listeners can share the blame. What we think
we heard him say was: "During the takeoff, one engine
shut down. Everybody have the sensation that the
plane is going to crash. I think I am going to die.
"We are in the air maybe five minutes, and it smelled
really burnt inside the plane. We go like this (and with
his hand he indicates a steep dive). Something breaks
in my mind, it was a frightening thing to happen, but
the pilot returned (to the airport) and in the end
everything was OK. I was scared, you know, and I
sought help."
He paid for the services of a doctor, therapist or
hypnotist, we can't be sure which, "but it didn't help."
So his appearance this week in Houston represented
his return to the United States after an absence of
nearly four years. His father Jean accompanied him
to lend support. He monitored the plane's engines for
most of the flight, and every movement caused him
distress, but he had a happy landing.
A newsman pointed out that his win over the heavily
favored Blake had its scary moments, as well, but
when a player is in trouble on the tennis court they
don't lay down foam on the surface.
He was asked if he felt nervous, when he twice faced
match point in the second set against Blake.
"Yes," he said, brushing his hand over the cap he was
wearing backward. "I had two terrible match points
in the third set two weeks ago, when I played Arazi
in Casablanca and I lost. I am thinking it can't happen
to me again. It was on my mind, but today it ended good."
Even so, his loss to Hicham Arazi was his highest finish
on the pro tour.
"That was my first time in the quarters," he said, "now
I am in my first semis. I think I am in good shape tomorrow.
I can have patience with myself and make a good match
out of it. I have no reason not to feel happy."
In 1995, he won the junior singles at Wimbledon, but
played almost exclusively on the Challenger circuit,
posting a 1-7 record in ATP action before this year.
"Yes, this is the best," he said of his win over Blake,
"because I play in the pros five or six years, trying to
break out of the 200s, and this is the first guy I defeat
who is in the top 25. My best match, for sure.
"Last year I was thinking that it might be my last in tennis.
I didn't have the money to pay my coach."
At the end of the year, he was ranked 84th in the tour
standings, based almost entirely on his success in the
lower league.
"I took three months off and came back in February," he
said, "and I won three matches (a total he equaled this
week in Houston). I do my best, I win, I'm grateful, maybe
good things happen."
Three weeks ago, he had a match canceled by snow. This
day he experienced some of the Gulf Coast's famous
tropical weather. He was asked if he thought Blake grew
tired in their third set.
"He did not look tired to me," he said, "but I was thinking
about me. I'm not used to this, the hot day, the humidity.
I feel I am not in good shape. I hear my father near the court,
saying to me, `Come on, continue, play hard.' Toward the
end I have a cramp in my leg and I am nearly out of
energy, but it turned out OK."
-------------------------以下為Blake相關報導-------
In a twist of reverse psychology, Blake suggested Olivier
was helped by his own fatigue.
"Maybe the heat helped him," Blake said. "Maybe he was
too tired to worry about winning. He was just trying to
get through the match, and that may have kept him from
tightening up."
Some observers wondered if Blake's defeat might be due
in part to a lack of a killer instinct.
"I may look mellow," he said, "but if you had ever seen
the damage I've done in the clubhouse, to lockers and
water coolers, you'd know I'm a competitor. Playing
pickup basketball, or pingpong, guys say they have seen
that look in my eyes.
"They used to say the same thing about Shaquille O'Neal,
that he was too mellow, but on the court he changes."
Then he did a kind of double take and added, "Not that
I'm comparing myself to Shaq. I'm not sure we're from
the same species."
--
"L'avenir du rock a un nom : Muse" (Les inrockuptibles)
--
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