Le parole di YANINA WICKMAYER
– Dopo la squalifica che hai subito alla fine dell’anno, senti di essere stata giudicata ingiustamente per quello che è stato associato alla tua persona e al tuo nome?
“Sì , un po’ lo penso. Penso che ci sia stata un po’ di ingiustizia a riguardo. Ma ormai è successo e ho dovuto affrontarlo. Credo anche che l’unica maniera per affrontare questo problema e stato ricominciare ad allenarmi di nuovo e cercare di essere forte in campo e giocare bene. Penso di aver fatto un buon lavoro a questo riguardo”.
– Pensi di aver dovuto provare qualcosa, visto che gli organizzatori non ti hanno dato una wild card ma hai dovuto giocare le qualificazioni?
“Ma, a dire il vero no. Penso di non dover dimostrare niente a nessuno. Ma penso di aver dimostrato a me stessa che sono in grado di giocare nel tabellone principale e di vincere anche dei match nel tabellone principale. Questa è la cosa più importante. Sono felice di come ho giocato le ‘quali’. Ho dimostrato di essere solida in campo. Sono veramente soddisfatta di come sto giocando. Sono contenta anche dei due match che ho appena giocato. Non ho nessun spirito di vendetta”.
Le parole di RAFAEL NADAL
– Davydenko ha dichiarato ieri che non vorrebbe mai essere famoso come te o come Federer. Tu come ti senti ad essere così famoso?
“Mah, penso che o sei famoso o non lo sei. Non è questione di volere o di non volere, o lo sei o non lo sei. Punto!. Non ti sembra? Io mi sento bene, amo la mia vita. Mi sento fortunato ad essere nella condizione in cui sono. Il mio lavoro è la mia passione, cosa posso volere di più. Non tutti possono avere questa fortuna. Quindi mi ritengo una persona fortunata”.
– L’anno scorso hai giocato una prima parte di stagione eccezionale. Molte persone pensavano che potessi realizzare il Grand Slam. Poi hai avuto qualche infortunio. Quest’anno, prima dell’inizio del torneo, molti si sono chiesti cosa avresti fatto, avendo perso contro molti giocatori nei primi 10. Come hai affrontato questa cosa? Eri giù di morale. Hai letto qualcosa di questo?
“Non mi sono connesso ad Internet. Di solito non leggo molto quando parlano di me. Ma no…”.
– E’ difficile per te?
Cosa è difficile?
– Un anno fa eri un “re”, mentre quest’anno hai subito parecchie sconfitte. Ci si fanno molte domande su di te…
“Tu fai domande. Mi ritengo felice e soddisfatto di quello che sono riuscito a fare in questo sport. E sono ancora felice per quello che sto facendo adesso. A 23 anni ho vinto 15 Master e 6 Grand Slam, è molto più di quello che mi aspettassi. Quindi ognuno può dire ciò che crede, ma i miei titoli sono a casa e nessun può portarmeli via. Sicuramente, ognuno può dire ciò che crede ma io ho sempre fatto tutto ciò che era in mio potere. Ed è anche vero che ci sono molti buoni giocatori. Ma sia, io ho sempre fatto tutto con le mie forze e nessuno può chiedermi di fare di più, visto che ho fatto tutto quello che potevo”.
Le parole di ANDY RODDICK
– C’è un motivo particolare per il tuo modo divertente di dialogare con il giudice di sedia? Sembri molto più loquace rispetto ad altri giocatori.
“E’ solo un modo divertente di porre le domande (sorride)…”.
– E’ divertente, al pubblico piace.
“Non lo faccio per intrattenere il pubblico. Lo faccio perché agisco come sento. Non lo faccio solo in campo. Io faccio quello che sento. Probabilmente risale alla mia infanzia… ma ci sarebbe troppo da parlare (ride)”.
– Sei pronto a farlo fino ad arrivare ad umiliare un giudice di linea?
“Non intenzionalmente. Ma, sai com’è, spesso certe discussione finiscono per prendere quella piega. Ma se mi rendessi conto che quello di cui sto discutendo non ha molto senso, lo capirei e non arriverei a tanto”.
Le foto di questo articolo sono di Ray Giubilo
Q. Apart from the win, what did you like about your game today?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think I played serious match. I think I played the match what I need to play. Winning 6?2, 6?2, 6?2 is a really good news.
Q. You weren’t overextended?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I did well, no? I was playing, moving well in the beginning without mistakes, having with the control of the ball.
No, I think I played right way. Very good match, yeah.
Q. Did he surprise you sometimes with some of his shots?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, no, no. Everybody plays really well. No, no. I never feel surprised. Someday, yes. But, sure, everybody can play really well. And he’s young player, aggressive player. Sure, he can play really well.
No, didn’t surprise me.
Q. Do you think you played better than against Luczak the other night?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, well I played with more relaxed, no? Second round always is easier to play. You are more adapt to the conditions and everything. Always the debut is more difficult, no? I think I improved a little bit. I can still play a little bit longer, but that’s it.
Q. Davydenko told us yesterday he never wants to be really famous like Federer or you. How do you feel about being so famous?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I think you are or you are not. You want or you don’t want, that’s not an answer, no? You are or you are not. That’s it, no?
I feel okay, no? I like my life. I’m feel very lucky to be where I am. And, sure, I work in my hobby. So not everybody can say the same. So I feel very lucky person.
Q. After your knee problems last year, how close do you think you are to full fitness now?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, I am okay. I am very good. No, no, I don’t have any problem.
Q. Last year the first part of your season was exceptional. A lot of people thought you could realize the Grand Slam. Then you had injuries. This year before the tournament, there were many questions about what you can do, having lost against a lot of top?10 players. How do you deal with that? Were you sad? Do you read about that?
RAFAEL NADAL: I didn’t connect to Internet. Normally I didn’t read a lot about myself. But, no…
Q. Is it difficult for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Difficult what?
Q. One year ago you were a king, and this year will you win. Many questions about you.
RAFAEL NADAL: You made the questions.
I feel very happy what I did in this sport. I still having really happy with what I am doing. With 23 years old, having 15 Masters 1000 and six Grand Slams is more than what I expected all my life. So everybody can tell, but these titles are as home, so nobody gonna take me these titles.
Sure, everybody can talk, but I still working as much as I can to be in the top. And, sure, there is lot of very good players. But, you know, I always do all in my hands, and nobody can ask me more than when I do all what I can do.
Q. You were ranked No. 2 for so long, then got No. 1. Last year you won your Grand Slam title, losing your No. 1 ranking to Roger. Now you’re No. 2 again. What is more important, getting the No. 1 ranking or winning more Grand Slam titles?
RAFAEL NADAL: Anything gonna be perfect (smiling). Sure, no, for me right now my goal is try to be in third round of Australian Open. That’s my goal right now. We will see what’s happen.
First, about No. 1, you are No. 1 or you are not No. 1. Can’t be a goal. Is not possible have your goal to be No. 1 because if you’re not winning important tournaments, you’re not going to have any chance to be No. 1.
So my real goal right now is just try to be competitive in every tournament that I gonna play, and feel when I go on court I can win against everybody. So that’s my goal, no?
If you talk me about the ranking, I was for the last five years top two all the weeks, no? So be No. 2, No. 4, No. 5 doesn’t affect myself a lot. Sure, be No. 1 is a little bit different, but the rest doesn’t matter. Only thing is be competitive to win titles.
Q. You’re very popular here with the crowds. Do you find Australian crowds push you and you feel the love from the crowds other than your home?
RAFAEL NADAL: I always feel really well here, no? I played amazing matches in the past since the first time when I arrived here against Hewitt. Second time what I came back, I lost against Hewitt in five sets. And the crowd always was really nice with me, no?
The crowd here is special that they show a lot his emotions, and is nice going on court here. I just can say thanks.
Q. You seem to take a lot of time signing for fans.
RAFAEL NADAL: I did in all the place. If they support me or if they didn’t support me.
Q. Roger had a tough match yesterday against Andreev. Did that surprise you about how tough that match was? Do you prefer to have these tough matches initially so you get challenged and build on that momentum?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I prefer win straight if is possible, no (smiling). No, but I didn’t surprise. Everybody plays really well. Maybe you are more surprised than the players, because the players know every match is really difficult.
Del Potro lost a set, too, the first round. Everybody can win everybody, and the level is really close. In one match, everything can happen.
Q. Normally there is an applause for the winner of the tournament, but maybe tonight you deserve it.
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, it was a great match. It was very emotional for me on the court at the end because there was so much intensity. To play this kind of match in the second round, for me, after two years off in a Grand Slam, it’s just the kind of situation that I needed.
The crowd gave me so much. So respectful at the end. It was a special night tonight. That’s why I probably came back on the tour, was to live this kind of matches.
Q. Was it also a special forehand, the one you missed in match point?
JUSTINE HENIN: Yeah, I think it’s there that we can see that I miss the competition a little bit. When I missed that, when she came back to 5?All, I thought about Brisbane and the opportunities I got over there. Already playing well, and got the opportunity to finish the match and I couldn’t, because my nerves wasn’t probably solid enough.
And today I thought it was going to happen again. I really thought in the tiebreak I wouldn’t be strong enough. And when I got the opportunities, and the way I finished on serve and volley, I mean, it was the best I could dream of.
I felt, All right, let’s go for it. It was brief. But that’s what I needed. I was almost cramping at the time. Physically I was a bit exhausted at the end so it was the good thing to do.
Q. In such a tight match, what was perhaps the difference between the two of you?
JUSTINE HENIN: You know, we both fought very hard. It was great fight. I think maybe my game at the net. Maybe I took the opportunities a little more, you know, attacking. It was the key. I mean, both of us, we tried to hit the ball very hard, long.
I’ve been able to play a lot down the line, which I think was a little of a surprise for her. She doesn’t like it that much. But she tried to do the same thing. So there was a big fight.
But we both have been pretty solid. And I think maybe the difference was just at the end, you know, to play well on the important points. When I had to save the set point in the tiebreak, I had to be really aggressive and attacking the ball. And I think that made maybe on a few points, but important points, the difference.
Q. Is your problem now going to be recovery?
JUSTINE HENIN: Of course, yeah. Of course. And I don’t have any answer now how I’m going to recover in the next 36 hours or so. Well, I’m feeling very happy tonight. Of course, we’re going to work a lot now on the recovery, a lot of image, drinking a lot, just trying to get ready. Everything’s going to be bonus for me.
Even if I have ambition to go as far in the tournament, today was important for me to win in the tournament because it was my first top?10 player and I needed that match to get a little bit of confidence and to feel that I’m really back.
Even if I’m not feeling yet at my best level, that I can improve a lot with the intensity and concentration, especially, I’ll need more tournaments for that. But I’m glad about what I’m doing here, of course.
Q. Talking about little bit of confidence. Don’t you have much now?
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, now, of course, it’s great feeling. It’s magical to win this kind of match in this kind of atmosphere. Yeah, I’m concerned about tomorrow, when I’m going to wake up, how I’m going to feel. I said the other day I wasn’t feeling old. Well, I’ll see tomorrow morning (smiling).
Q. Do you feel now you basically can match it with everyone out there?
JUSTINE HENIN: It’s difficult to say because, I mean, today I’ve been able to compete. I’ve been able to compete against Kim in Brisbane. If we talk about consistent in a whole Grand Slam, well, I don’t have any answer now.
I just try to enjoy my game out there. I think I’m already at an amazing level for not having played 18 months, and the draw was pretty tough. But it’s the kind of thing I need for my confidence. Now we’ll see.
I go step by step. Every match is a bonus that I can play here in Melbourne. If I stay healthy, that’s the main important thing.
Q. How are you handling the expectation everyone has on you at the moment?
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, there are expectations. In another way everyone knows also I need competition to really come back at a very good level. What I showed is that I’m still probably a real fighter. But I’ll need more time to feel really comfortable and play well on the important points and to be able to make the difference.
But the way is still very long for me. I feel it. Even if people are expecting things, I don’t feel that pressure that much at the moment. I knew I could win. But when you don’t play for 18 months, you come back, you beat one of the best player in the world, I mean, you just go for it, and that’s what I did.
Q. You lost a match with Kim having match points. When tonight you missed the match point, you were down 3?1 in the tiebreak, you had probably cramping.
JUSTINE HENIN: Almost cramping.
Q. What were you thinking? Again?
JUSTINE HENIN: Yes, I thought when I missed that match point, when I was down in the tiebreak, I was feeling, Well, it’s going to be the same kind of situation. But mentally I just tried to stay focused on every point because I knew it was going to be a hard third set. It was already 2 hours and 45 minutes I think or so. So I was ready to give everything in that tiebreak, and that’s what I did.
But, of course, that match in Brisbane, it would have been hard for me to lose that way today because I played a very good tennis. It’s just that you have to make the difference when you have to. Finally I could make it at the end of the tiebreak. So that’s a good thing for me.
Q. Did you have a third set in you if you needed it?
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, I would have played third set, of course. But what’s going to happen? I mean, I think Elena was tired, too. Physically and mentally was also difficult. No, don’t think about the third set. I prefer not thinking about that.
Q. Can you remember ever playing a second?round Grand Slam match like this one?
JUSTINE HENIN: I mean, not a second round. I don’t think so. Maybe I had difficult matches, winning three sets. Probably it happened to me in the past. But not playing a top like that.
I mean, Davenport I think in 1999 at the French Open, it was 7?5 in the third. It was my first French Open. And I think it was the second round. But I was 17 years old at that time, so. 10 years later it’s a different kind of story.
Q. Any parts of your game that didn’t go as you wanted?
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, I’ve been struggling with my serve, with my toss. Lost a little bit of confidence in the last few days on that. It means that I still have to fix that. It’s been ups and downs. Especially I did a couple of double?faults especially at the beginning of the match.
But, no, generally I was happy that I took the opportunities and went a lot to the net. Mistakes, but a lot of winners also. And I think that made the difference, that I’ve been moving forward a lot. So that was a good thing for me.
Q. Apart from the win, what did you like most about your game tonight?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I really showed the crowd, the people was so exciting all the time. We played very good match.
I think I have many good things right for the next match.
Q. With the exception of the US Open which you won in five sets, how does this compare with the other five?setters you played?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I don’t know. The time was similar, I think. I play different player. Blake is too fast. He play very strong with his forehand. He never miss easy points, easy forehand.
It’s very difficult to keep trying, keep going. You have to be focused every point, every time, and try to take your chance. I had my chance in the last set.
Q. How were you feeling at the end of the third set? What were you thinking?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, just keep trying, you know. It’s a long match. Here playing five sets, you can lose last two sets and you still have with chance. That’s what happen tonight. I was trying every game with my serve. Then when I had the opportunity to broke his serve, sometimes I did, sometimes not.
But I think I have very good things to keep with me for the next match.
Q. You had the trainer out in the fifth set. Are you okay?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yes. Well, we play a very hard match. Obviously we both needed the trainer many times. But I’m okay.
Q. James did say that he wasn’t really happy playing two matches in two days. He would have preferred to play Monday night late. What were your thoughts?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, was tough for him play two days in a row, five?set matches. Of course, is difficult. Maybe I had a little lucky because I play on Monday not too long the match.
But he did a very good job today. I don’t know. The match goes with me. But he play very good tennis.
Q. James said the second?serve ace you had at 2?1 was possibly the turning point. Did you feel that as well?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Yeah, I was thinking to do my best serve, and I did. I had a chance to close the match in 6?5 serving. He play a great game. I miss all my first serves, so I was a little nervous.
But in the end I was so focused trying to break his serve, and I did in the last game, so…
Q. What do you think about your next opponent, Florian Mayer?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I play with him last year. He’s a good player, of course. He beat Troicki. Maybe he’s playing very good tennis. I hopefully be ready for next fight. I don’t know, maybe I can play three hours better for my physical.
Q. How is your wrist?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: I’m okay. Thank you.
Q. No pain?
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: A little bit. But I can play.
