Gonzalez接受英國獨立報的訪問
http://sport.independent.co.uk/tennis/article2643090.ece
An email conversation with Fernando Gonzalez: 'I try to stay calm, as I used
to go a bit crazy at times'
Ready to face stellar talent at Queen's; Feeling less green on grass of SW19;
Travails of travel to follow Colo-Colo
By Paul Newman
Published: 11 June 2007
Before 2005 you had a poor record on grass, but you will be a real contender at
the Artois Championships at Queen's Club this week and at Wimbledon in a
fortnight. What changed?
Because we didn't grow up playing on grass it's difficult for us south
Americans at Wimbledon if you turn up three days before. I decided the way to
give myself the best chance was to play at Queen's. The first year (2005) I
really enjoyed the tournament and went on to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals
You end up spending a month in London if you play the full grass-court season
and I love it.
You joined the world's top 20 in 2002 but it wasn't until last year that you
reached the top 10. This year you have played in your first Grand Slam final
(at the Australian Open) and broken into the top five. How much credit for this
success goes to Larry Stefanki, who became your coach last year?
I knew I needed to make one or two changes to my game, but my main goal in
appointing Larry was just to improve, not to change. I'd been working without a
coach and decided that if I was going to appoint someone I wanted one of the
very best. I knew Larry had worked with John McEnroe, Tim Henman and Yevgeny
Kafelnikov - and they all did well with him.
In the past you had a reputation as a flamboyant player with a huge forehand,
who would go for his shots but also made mistakes. In what ways have you
changed since working with Stefanki?
I've lost weight and I'm in much better shape, physically. I feel lighter on
the court and I can run for longer. Sometimes you can lose power when you lose
weight, but I don't think I have. I'm getting more first serves in and playing
with more slice, trying to change the dimensions of the game. My backhand has
improved a lot. I just keep it simple, whereas I used to try to do too much
with it. I don't panic any more when the ball comes to my backhand. I know I
can play a long point from that side now. My volleys and my returns are also
better. Mentally, I'm more relaxed. If I have the chance, I go for my forehand,
which is still my best shot. I just try to find the right opportunity and stay
calm, because I used to go a bit crazy at times.
Is your new style less enjoyable?
Maybe it's less fun for the fans, though I still go for big shots on my
forehand. Maybe it's more fun for me because I'm winning more matches.
Is your game now more suited to grass?
Yes. I try to get to the net more, though I also feel more confident about
playing from the back and waiting for the right opportunity. I also think I've
improved my return of serve. I got to the quarters at Queen's and the third
round at Wimbledon last year, but most importantly I was playing really good
tennis.
What is the best match you have ever played?
I played some of my best tennis at the Australian Open this year, particularly
the semi-final against Tommy Haas (won 6-1, 6-3, 6-1).
You lost 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Roger Federer in the Melbourne final. Did you feel
you ever had a chance?
I was 5-4 and 40-15 up in the first set. It was only one set, but if I'd won
that it could have been very different. But Roger played really well.
When did you start playing?
When I was four or five. I enjoyed it immediately. At school the worst
punishment they could give me if I misbehaved was to say I couldn't go and play
tennis. Being a professional player was always my dream.
Who was your tennis hero in your youth?
Boris Becker. I don't recall his first Wimbledon win because I was too small,
but I remember his finals against Stefan Edberg. He was the most charismatic
player of that time.
How many grass courts are there back home in Chile?
None. The first time I saw a grass court was in 1996, when I played a junior
tournament at Roehampton. When I played at Wimbledon, the Centre Court made a
huge impression on me. It was so green, so perfect, like a carpet.
Where did you learn the game as a teenager?
When I was 13 my family moved to Miami to help me with tennis. I went to work
with a Chilean coach there.
Are you now based in Chile?
Yes, but I don't have much time back home. I came to Europe in April and I
won't go home until after Wimbledon.
Do you miss Chile?
Yes, but these days I cope better with being away. I hate long flights and I
don't go home as frequently as I used to. I think twice about spending 16 hours
on a plane both ways in order to spend a week at home. I used to do that just
to spend three or four days at home, but not any more.
You're a big football fan. How often do you watch your team, Colo-Colo, back in
Santiago?
Whenever I can, but not as often as I would like. For two years I used to watch
them every weekend. The last time was when I was back home in December.
You always have great support wherever you play. Chileans can even be more
vocal than Argentines or Brazilians. Why?
Chileans are very patriotic. They love the idea of supporting Chileans playing
around the world, representing their country. Everywhere you go there seem to
be some Chileans.
At the 2004 Olympics you won bronze in the singles and Chile's first gold medal
in any sport in the doubles, alongside Nicolas Massu. Was that the biggest
moment of your career?
Along with the Australian Open final, yes. It was incredible to watch the news
on the television and see the Chilean president talking about our achievement.
We had a fantastic welcome when we went home. We went to meet the president and
then we appeared on a balcony and there were thousands of people cheering us.
They had been waiting for hours.
這篇訪問蠻不錯的,雖然都是一些簡單的問題,但是可以更加了解Gonzo的狀況.
主要訪問的還是關於草地季的問題,在05年以前,Gonzo的草地成績很糟糕,可是他試著去
適應,並且多參賽來增加經驗,還有教練的幫助,改變了打球的方式,他覺得可能會讓球迷們
沒辦法看到他過去瘋狂的打法,但是讓他更冷靜一點,去思考打球的策略.
也提到了智利沒有草地球場,還有一些智利球迷,常不常回智利家中的問題,也有足球,
他是家鄉Colo-Colo俱樂部的球迷,雖然能看球的時間不多,他還是很常關心.上一次去看
比賽是去年十二月了.
還有一些今年澳網和04年奧運的問題.
另外這是Gonzo球迷的英文Blog 資訊更新還不錯 (因為他的官網好像沒有英文版)
http://fernandogonzalez.wordpress.com/
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