[訪談]Verkerk (中)
Q. Has any of this actually begun to sunk in yet, your achievement here?
How do you approach these games?
Are you staying very relaxed about everything still?
MARTIN VERKERK: I mean, I always try to compete and play my best tennis at that
day. If you fight for the match and you lose, you did everything you can.
So, I mean, for me it's unbelievable that I can tell you, everybody says,
"You're so relaxed when you were in a tiebreak," or when it was 4-love,
serving, hit the ace, hit two winners with my backhand and forehand,
but I was not relax at all. I didn't feel my legs. I was really tired at
the end.
On matchpoint, some things are going through your head like your whole life.
I mean, because I saw also the ground, you know, like the challengers.
I mean, I was struggling. Two times I wanted to quit with tennis because
I was mentally not good. I have the talent but not the fight.
Now, all the moment, with one serve -- not one serve, but you're on
matchpoint, you think you can just make it, this is change in my life.
It was already change to be in quarterfinal, but to make a final of a Grand
Slam, I don't know what's gonna happen with me. I always will be the same,
that's what I know, relax. I mean not be arrogant and everything.
But I hope -- still I hope people are not making it bigger than it is.
I mean, it's pretty big, to be honest, but I hope they relax a little.
Q. Those tears at the end, where did they come from? Was it because of all
the struggles you've been through? Were you surprised that they came out
like that at the end?
MARTIN VERKERK: I think it's not so good for me to talk about why it came,
because I think then I'm gonna cry again (laughter).
But I try to explain it little around.
It's like this, you have your family with you there, your coach. I mean, if
you go two times that you want to quit the game because you think you're not
mentally strong enough, your father who puts in -- who was my sponsor for a
few years, Nick, who puts his life in me, my coach, and all those things,
with one, with this result, I change my tennis life around from a nobody to
probably somebody who achieved something in tennis.
I mean, it's also -- I have to all respect for Coria that he came to me,
give me a hug, come to the net, showed that he has respect for it. I have to
say that Coria, he's for me a big, big sportsman, that shows that you
understand the game and you understand how it should be.
Q. Could you tell us what was your feeling after matchpoint and now what is
your feeling?
MARTIN VERKERK: When I lay on the ground?
Q. Yeah.
MARTIN VERKERK: I don't know. I was like crying and, you know, all emotions
what I just explained. Your whole life goes by, the hard work, the cramping
on the court at practice, the running because I'm not really enjoying
running because...
I prefer just to hit the ball and let the other guy run (laughter).
But in practice sometimes you have to run. So everything. Just your tennis
life.
Q. But now you realize?
MARTIN VERKERK: Yeah, I realize it now because, yeah, normally -- it was normal
for me when maybe the Dutch press was here. Now the whole thing is full.
So you know you did something. Like the television, like you read the papers.
Your family, your friends, they make it like unbelievable. I mean, it is
unbelievable. I don't like to say it, but it's unbelievable.
For me, it's a miracle. Not miracle, but it's a big thing.
Q. These are the same strokes you had a year ago, two years ago, three years
ago. What happened to make them as effective as they are now?
MARTIN VERKERK: Hours and hours on the court. Like practicing hard. Talk about
tennis a lot. Yeah, I mean, I was like 180 in the world one and a half year
ago when I started with my coach. Now I'm probably Top 20. When I win, I may
be higher.
Yeah, that's because of the hard work and the practice that you do.
Q. I know you've got a pretty big match first, but how are you looking forward
to playing on the grass?
MARTIN VERKERK: (Laughing). I go on my clay shoes to the grass this year.
No, no, I've never played on grass, so it's gonna be -- it's gonna be a big
problem, or I just hit serves (laughter). I mean...
I think if I serve like this, it's difficult to break me on grass. But I
think I'm pretty -- I have to sit low on grass, and that's the thing I
really don't like. I mean, I don't -- I even don't know how it is. I mean,
I don't -- I hear sometimes from Sluiter, a friend of mine and a tennis
player who lost it, it's gonna be different.
But I always thought I cannot play on grass because it goes too quick. But
if you have a serve like this and my volleys are improving, you just have to
break one times, one time in a set. I mean, it's not so easy to break, but
I don't know.
Maybe I lose first round and I cannot hit a ball in it. Maybe I do well.
I can really not say anything about it because I never hit one ball on grass.
Q. What is your program on grass before Wimbledon?
MARTIN VERKERK: That's not so good. I play club matches next week (laughter).
I signed that one year ago when I was not, you know, so high ranked. And I
do that because if you say something, I do it, and it's a nice team. We try
to be Dutch champion (laughing).
Q. What is the club you're playing for?
MARTIN VERKERK: Hilverheide. It's in Hilversum. The level is good. There are
some good players (laughter). I cannot explain it right anymore (laughter).
No, there are some guys ranked around 100 or 150, so it's gonna be tough
again. But the toughest thing will be, whatever happens Sunday, I have to
play on Tuesday. And Thursday, I have to play two times. Otherwise I cannot
-- the weekend is the play off, the semifinal and final to be Dutch champion
with our club. I have to play two times, otherwise I cannot play.
Normally this week I was playing club matches.
So I'm really happy to be here (laughter). So I have to play those two first
, I have to play Tuesday, Thursday, maybe a doubles still.
But what I want to say with Rosmalen on grass, starts on Monday. They're
playing on Sunday, if we make it, I play the Dutch final Sunday on clay, two
matches, and play on Monday on grass. So it's not the best preparation you
can have, but I still have my serve so (smiling)...
Q. Back into this match, third set, eighth game, six breakpoints.
MARTIN VERKERK: Yeah.
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