Grosjean content at Wimbledon
Grosjean content at Wimbledon
Monday, June 28, 2004
Life sits easy on the shoulders of Sebastien Grosjean. He loves being in
London and is in the fourth week of his annual visit to the city. Away from
Wimbledon, where he is a quarter finalist for the second year running, he has
been watching some football in Euro 2004, listening to jazz or maybe some
other music.
The 26-year-old was born in Marseille (and, naturally, supports the city's
football team Olympique) and has based himself in Boca Raton, Florida, since
1999.
Tennis was not Grosjean's first love. His first sport was skiing in the
Southern French Alps. But when he did turn to tennis a major career was
beckoning. In 1996 he was ranked top in the world in both singles and
doubles as his talent dominated all comers. No player had achieved that
double for nine years but Grosjean did it comfortably and collected all
kinds of titles as his development continued impressively.
Grosjean made his Grand Slam debut in the French Open in 1998 and was a
semifinalist at Roland Garros three years later. He has also been into
the last four at two other Slams, Wimbledon and the Australian, and by
2001 became the first French player to end the year in the top ten since
Cedric Pioline in 1993.
If you ask Grosjean if he speaks to other French players who have a good
record on grass he smiles and says 'no.' He relies on the information coming
from his coach Thierry Tulasne who, unlike his charge, had no great record on
grass. He played Wimbledon twice, winning one match, but has made up for that
as Grosjean surges on.
Grosjean clearly likes the challenge of tennis in the English summer. Last
year he was runner-up in the Stella Artois championship and a semi-finalist
at Wimbledon and having repeated the first feat there is every chance that
he will repeat his Wimbledon semi-final as well.
"I stay focused on my game and what I have to do and that's it," says
Grosjean of his approach as the demands increase at Wimbledon. "I am here
to win the tournament so I will be focused on my next match.
"My serve is better than on clay, it is a little bit faster. I use a slice
serve and I return well, that helps me a lot on grass. Grass is a surface I
love to play on. You know, just to play my game."
Last year Andy Roddick was the only player to beat Grosjean on grass. They
have already met in the Stella Artois final this month. The only time they
could meet at Wimbledon would be in the final.
Written by Barry Newcombe
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