Day 14 - Mariano Puerta Interview
Day 14 - Mariano Puerta Interview
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Q. Fabulous performance out there. One of the most critical, if not the
most critical point was in the 10th game of the fourth set. Looked like
as if you might have had an opportunity on the last two to convert those,
there was the diving volley that you couldn't get over and then it looked
like you had a clean shot at a forehand cross-court. Can you comment on
those.
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) I had the possibility of going
into a fifth set. Unfortunately, it was not the case, but he must be given
credit because there were three points where he really went to get the ball.
I could have been a bit more lucky. One point was a couple of centimeters
away. I could still be playing now, in fact.
But it was a beautiful match all the same. I was ready to go into the fifth
set. I was one point away. Nobody took a fifth set from him here. I'm very
pleased because in the fourth set, I relaxed. At a certain stage, I thought
that I had to leave the court. When I went off the court, I knew I had lost
against the best player in the world on clay. What could I do?
Q. On the breakpoint, hit the dropshot, raced in behind it, did you see him
coming?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) It's true. It's exactly true. I
wonder how he was able to get that ball. He has very strong legs. He moves
so well. He runs so fast. He surprised me a lot on this point.
I was surprised that he was able to get that volley on the set point. I was
so surprised that I had to throw myself on the ground to be able to reach
the ball.
Q. After the two weeks, and you played many more hours than Rafael because
you played a couple of very long five-setters, was it a little bit of
fatigue today or what do you think is the reason? You played a few stop
points (sic) which he reached easily. Was it mental fatigue or did you
feel good and he was just the better player today?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) I think in the end it's a bit
of both. I believe he played better than I did. He was much more precise.
He was complete physically. He had his game together. It is a little bit
like I had to adapt myself to his game. It's like if I had to feel
differently. It's been a long time. I hadn't played five-setters. Even
if I have a good practice and I'm fit, I still felt some tiredness after
that.
I'm not saying I lost today because I was tired. I was able to play three
and a half hours. If there was a fifth set, I would have been able to play
it. I had the impression that physically I felt better than he did for a
fifth set. I saw him have doubts at a certain moment, and I know that during
those two weeks we never saw Nadal have any doubts at all.
I think he was better than I was today. He played better. There's nothing
more to it.
Q. It's never good to lose a final. You wanted to win today. Are you still
not very proud to be the best Argentinian, much higher ranked, and you made
the final? Despite the loss, are you leaving here happy?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) Absolutely. I am very pleased.
Well, not as much as I could be. I'm very proud, though, that I was the
last Argentinian to be eliminated in this tournament. But it's true that
there are other very good players also. In fact, I'm very happy and very
proud of what I did during those past two weeks. I believe that in a
certain way I was resuscitated. I was able to achieve things that very
few people would have been able to achieve.
I expressed it on the court. It's true that today I didn't win the match,
but I won a fight against myself which was very difficult. If I had won
the tournament, of course I would be complete. I have to be realistic.
I don't want to be bitter living this tournament. In fact, I enjoyed
myself a lot, playing this final. I gave my best, all I had on each
point, and I lost against the best player in the world on clay. Therefore,
I have to be objective. I must be happy.
Q. To be a finalist in the French Open, what does it represent in your
career? What are your objectives for the future?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) In fact, playing this final
and having had such good results in a Grand Slam tournament will help me
to change my state of mind. Until now I was going to smaller tournaments
because I thought that I might be able to win them. Now I'm going to be
able to face excellent players, very good players. So I will walk into
the court with a different state of mind and I'll play differently against
those good players.
I'm very pleased with what happened to me. I feel that in a certain way
all the players cannot play a final in the French Open. This gave a lot
of strength to my game and a lot of confidence to manage the situation.
It gave me confidence outside of the court also. So I believe it's going
to change my goals for the future.
If I continue to play well until the end of the year, I'm going to play
more often, and it will be spectacular for me as a change. It will be
like achieving a dream.
Q. As part of that new attitude, is it time to get off the clay and get
on the hard court? You showed us today that you can take the ball early,
you showed us a lot of finesse and hand speed around the net. It's hard
to believe you haven't played more hard court tennis than you have.
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) About this, I think given the
way I've been playing, it's going to be difficult to play very well on
grass. But I believe I am improving as far as movements are concerned.
I can refine my game to play better on hard courts and indoors for the
end of the year.
For the time being, I must remain at the same weight as I am now. I must
move better and I must improve my volley and my serve. As far as I'm
concerned, I believe I will be able to have good results if I do these
improvements. Now, I think I can have results in the indoor tournaments
at the end of the year.
It will be more difficult on grass. Of course, I will do my best to try
to play a good tournament in Wimbledon this year, and for the next
tournaments also. But it's true that it's not easy for me.
Q. Could you tell me what about Rafael impresses you the most, among his
many attributes? Secondly, how do you think he'll do at Wimbledon?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) I think we are talking about
someone who is going to write a page in the history of tennis. He already
wrote that page in the history of tennis. Personally, I think he's going
to do beautiful things in tennis, like Chang did in his own time, or
Agassi. He's going to become a legend of tennis.
What surprised me most today is the strength he showed, specifically
in passing shots. There were several passing shots in the tiebreaker
in the first set, and he also hit passing shots when I had a set point,
and it could have gone to a fifth set. He impressed me a lot then.
The strength he has in his legs, the way he explodes when he steps into
the court to hit a passing shot. He obliges you to volley, and you have
to pass him twice. Also, he's very calm. He's cool. I think he has the
mental strength to beat records.
Today I read statements that he made yesterday that he wants to win
Wimbledon someday. I believe that if it's his objective, he will make
it. I think it doesn't matter how much he will have to work, even if
it's difficult, even if it's playing on grass, he will try; he will
commit himself. He succeeded in doing many things up till now already,
and it's very probable that he can have a good tournament in Wimbledon.
Q. With all the experience that you've gained in the last two weeks,
and now looking for the future, is it more easy or more difficult for
you to win here in Roland Garros?
MARIANO PUERTA: (Translated from Spanish) Obviously, I'm going to try
to work a lot to win this tournament, but all the players in the world
want to win the tournament. It's going to be extremely difficult to reach
a final a second time.
Of course, I hope to have a second opportunity because then I might be
able to play like I did today. Because the way I played today, if it had
been another player, I could have won. But against me I had the best
player in the world, and he played at a maximum level, and he played an
excellent tennis. I am surprised that he's able to play so well so young.
He's able to face very difficult situations. He reacts in a very natural
way.
Today he has no doubts. He never doubted during the game. Agassi sometimes
starts a final being very nervous here - in 1999, if I'm not wrong. Gaston
Gaudio last year started very poorly the first two sets. He was very nervous.
Well, today Rafael was very calm from the start. It's admirable.
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