[訪問]Gustavo Kuerten 2004/05/29
Day 6 - Gustavo Kuerten interview
Saturday, May 29, 2004
Q. Did you think when you went on court today, there was any way you'd be
able to play at such a high level against such a great player?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Well, I thought would be difficult and I would have to get
everything for myself. But the same way I have good feelings about this court.
I have a lot of experience, you know, playing there. I can normally surprise
myself the way I play in this tournament.
So these things I think help me a lot for this game. I thought I was in a
great level of concentration in the court. My tactics was working very well.
I didn't had my game plan go any stage of the match. And I knew I needed all
of this to beat him.
You know, I didn't had the conditions to stay there for long. Maybe four or
five sets would be much tougher for me. I was feeling little bit weak by the
match was going, but I could make it up to finish on three. I think was my
only chance, and that's the way I face it. Luckily everything work just
perfect.
Q. What can you say about the people, about the crowd, shouting, "Guga,
Guga"?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: It's lovely. I mean, for me I think it helped to maintain
my level of the game all the time in a good level. And for him I think was
difficult, you know, to face playing against one guy that's playing really
well, inspired. At the same time, all the crowd involved, going for the other
guy. I think in both ways, I think it helped me a lot.
You know, I was able to the same way maintain my enthusiastic with the crowd
and keep my concentration and focus on the court. So that was a perfect
timing that I found during the match to play in a great rhythm.
Q. When was the last time you felt so well in a big match on a court like
that?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Well, I think, to tell you the truth, I was even more like
sensitive, with strong feelings when I played the first round there, this
fifth set, than today. The atmosphere that came on that small court, too, was
special for me. It wasn't that long that I felt so much this energy of
playing a game with this enthusiastic.
But today was I think -- I think required more from myself. I couldn't let
him grow in the game, give any opportunity. So I had to maintain a level of
tennis pretty high. For me was a tough job, but I think it worked fine at the
end, and you go out of the court with a lot of confidence after a match like
this.
Q. Talk about a couple of things within the game. Talk about how well you
served. You faced no breakpoints after your first service game in the first
set. Talk about how well you played to his backhand all day. He really
struggled with that.
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, it's like I said, I think tactically I really played
perfect from the beginning to the end. I could see just in the first game
when I got the break early on, and I was not let him play that comfortable at
all. I find a rhythm in my serve that was perfect, you know. Sometimes you
start to serve, playing the points, you feel that it become more and more
natural. That's not easy to find, but today I was feeling like this. I was
having the mixing up of my serves in the right time. I was going every time a
different direction, work with different angles in my serve.
I was playing with a lot of consistent, too. I didn't made too much unforced
errors, didn't give him too much free points. And for me was the way I was
like -- I put in my mind I have to play like this. Maybe is not the way I
like to play all the time. Sometimes I have to play a little more safe than I
used to. But I think tactic was probably the main difference in this game,
the way I could find a way to play him and neutralize a little bit his weapons.
Q. Could you explain what it is about playing at the center court here at
Roland Garros that makes you feel so comfortable or at home, your feelings
about this place, this court?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I can't explain (laughter).
I think it's something special for sure. I was just after the match talking
the live TV with the French. I was trying explain the guy. It's still
becoming more and more special for me, you know, even over the years.
I think the way I start was pretty strong in '97, coming from nowhere and
winning the tournament. Then be able to win more couple of times. Even the
years I'm not winning but I having some good runs or some memories, strong
memories, from this court or outside courts. So I think it's still increase.
It's amazing how the connection, it's growing, you know, between me and the
public, going out there.
I think was the reason for me, you know, the main reason I'm here playing
this tournament. Otherwise I would be having my rehabilitation, working to
being in better form. But I knew this tournament means a lot for me, could be
very important. And I think I did the right decision right now.
This week really value a lot for me. You know, I couldn't ask anything else
from this tournament right now.
Q. After an ATP tribunal decided to clear Greg Rusedski on drug charges,
Lleyton Hewitt said that nevertheless there is a drug problem somewhere out
there. What is your position about drugs in tennis? What do you think of that?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I think I have two points very clear in my mind. One is I'm
sure all the tennis player been test a lot, because I'm one of the guys. I
make more than 10 tests all year.
And the second strong opinion I have is that drugs can help you in tennis,
but you not make you win for sure. So I don't think the guys would take that
much risk to not have the hundred percent sure that they going to be better,
not like other sports. Let's say you sure if you have better condition, you
going to be faster, that's going to improve your time or whatever. So in
tennis, it's not only like this.
I don't see, you know, that drugs are around tennis too much. And hopefully
I'm right.
Q. Did the fact that you were playing the No. 1 in the world help you to
raise your level of play like you were saying to him, "I've been the boss
here for some years, so I'll show you that I can still be the boss"?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I think that's the circumstances help me a lot. Like I
was saying the other day when I won my second round - was not so many people
here in this room, now it's much more (smiling) - but I think I knew I would
face a much better challenger than like the first round when I was playing a
guy, you know, young guy with nothing to lose. He was just out there playing
a great tennis. I was much more scared to win than today.
Today was play maybe in the other position, you know, much more relax. I had
all these motivation there to play the best guy around, the No. 1 of the
world, in my favorite tournament. That bring normally my best when I face
this situation. I try to get -- to be there in my best feelings, my best
moments. Normally, I can step up and make this happen.
But for sure today was one of these day that you cannot ask for anything else
in your game.
Q. You said today your only chance was winning in three sets. How would you
rate your physical condition? Do you feel fit enough to play a five-set match?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yes. I think my physical is not going to change, you know,
from the first match or to the end of the tournament. I have a problem that's
going to take me a long time to go away from this.
I think I still in a condition that I have to face every match by itself
because the way I feel is just I have to do the right way of playing, you
know, with not spending too much energy and playing as relaxed as I can. I
think maybe what can help, it's right now I'm playing much better than in the
beginning of the tournament. So hopefully I can run less, I can dominate the
points a little bit more, and like this I can playing longer.
But if I had to face a five-set match, I'm sure it's going to be very tough
for me.
Q. Considering your very special moments you spent on this court, have you
already thought of starting learning some French?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: My French is perfect (laughter). I'm kidding. I have to
learn more. But it's not so bad.
Q. Concerning the tennis evolution since you played the first time here in
Roland Garros, do you think it's more physical, more technical, always the
same? What are you thinking about from one year to another year?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I think the men's standings are really maybe in the top
level it can get. I don't know if it can get farther than this. Maybe a
little bit more. But I'm seeing younger and younger guys getting ready early,
really physically amazing, you know, ready to play the game.
The game physically are on the top of however I was seeing so far. You cannot
give this gap for anyone else. You have to be really fit and working a lot in
the fitness. Then you need to be talented, smart tactically and everything.
But I think the physical, it's becoming more and more important every year.
Q. Considering the reaction of the crowd, the victory over the world No. 1,
was there any thought of going back to what you did in 2001 and drawing the
heart?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yes, I think it's -- for me, I should be drawing hearts all
the time I step out on the court by the way this tournament's been treat me.
I had the time back in the locker room to appreciate it again, these great
moments I had on the court.
At the same time you have, you know, the heart just appeared to me as nothing
from one second to the other at that time. But was probably a mark that it
really shows what means for me to come out here and play this tournament.
Q. Was there a temptation this time?
GUSTAVO KUERTEN: It's always been, like I said, especially right now. When
you go to the second week, I think every time I step out the court I have the
feelings, you know, to go out and make this heart.
--
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