mandy01
G.O.A.T.
This is again the translated version
Do you believe in higher powers? In God? Do you pray before important matches?
No, not much. Rather not. I am Catholic and in the past I often went to church with my parents. But I don't pray much, I am not spiritual and I am quite relaxed when it comes to these matters. So it was funny for me, when in Paris, I suddenly had this feeling: somehow it will be easy and I will win this tournament. So many times, I was nearly there and failed, just like Agassi. I felt that maybe a higher power is there. But, otherwise, I actually, rather do not believe in it.
You said in Paris: the weather has to be this way. That sounds like providence.
Yes, precisely. Against Del Potro, for example. I was not really into the match. And suddenly it became cooler, there were clouds, and I realized: the ball does not jump so fast anymore and it helps me. I do not know whether I just tried to see something positive, but it was like a small sign.
And when Mirka is sitting in the stands with folded hands, is she praying?
I do not think so, I think she simply sits there.
How is it now, five days later? Do you tell yourselves every half an hour: Hey man, I am a Paris champion!?
Not really (laughs). It was a very intense phase with many thoughts. And suddenly, I am again the normal Roger, whom I always am. Roger, who is just happy and has nothing to do. Then, sometimes I forget what I've achieved. But since Paris, I have not seen many friends yet and also didn't read many of the e-mails. If someone says to me: How was it? It is insane, now you have done it and you can enjoy it. Then, everything comes back to me and it is cool. It's an unbelievable feeling, and even if I do not do think about that every half an hour, I sometimes tell myself: Wow, now I am Roland Garros champion!
Because of your matches, many of your fans worry, go through some anxious moments, have sleepless nights. How do you deal with your nervousness? Would you take tranquilizers before a big match?
No, I don't do this, I also take painkillers only if necessary. Last time I took them, was when I had severe back pain at the end of the season (2008 ). Usually, I am very calm before my matches. I would say: out of ten matches, I am really nervous possibly once, and twice I feel slightly nervous. The other six, seven times I am completely relaxed. In Paris I was extremely nervous before the match against Monfils. Maybe it was because I really didn't feel my game against Tommy Haas or just because it was against a Frenchman.
Your popularity has reached a new point. There are people who took exception to the fact that no one from Federal Council was in Paris when you wrote sport history. You also?
No. Mr. Merz has congratulated me. He has written to me. And in recent years, the representatives of Federal Council were often at the tournaments. Micheline Calmy-Rey was once in Paris and Samuel Schmid at Wimbledon. For individual athletes, it is not the rule that Federal Councilors come. It is not like a National Team, where the National Anthem is always played. But I am very relaxed about that. If they come, I'm happy, if not, it is also not a problem.
Speaking of National Anthem: many people have criticized you, that you cried after you lost at the Australian Open. In Paris, there was an impression that you were fighting back tears, especially during the National Anthem.
I try to never cry in a public, because it is a bit embarrassing for me. I know that the TV people wait exactly for this moment, so they can show it on a big screen. So, I am happy if I can, at least, hold back tears can, until I am in the locker room. Especially after defeats. In Paris, I was actually very relaxed after the victory. But when the National Anthem was played, which rarely happens in my sport, I could no longer hold back tears. That was just a very proud moment.
How big is in reality the satisfaction to show it again to all the critics and doom-mongers?
Well... (thinking) I am not a person who wants to prove everything to everybody. I wanted most of all to prove to myself that it wasn't that bad. However what really surprised me was that all of a sudden many thought that they knew better. I don't mean only the media. Many people wrote to me or tried to talk to me: you have to change this or that, you are stubborn, not ready to make a change. (LOL @ the bolded part)I just say: what are you really talking about? Last year I tried working with Jose Higueras, we worked well together. Then I tried with Darren Cahill. I work with Severin Lüthi, all the time I meet people with whom I speak about tennis. I am open for many things. That's why I was surprised to hear such things. This was quite unpleasant. When you don't win tournaments all the time it's logical that everybody can criticise you. And when you play well, everybody becomes silent. That's what I don't like in tennis sometimes. You can always be very close to being the best and very close to being the worst.
Now people are once again singing your praises.
The fluctuations in perception are extreme. I think this also has a lot to do with the ranking. I understand that Nadal wants to use similar system to golf, where the results of the last two years count. Tiger Woods was injured for eight months, but none was panicking. He was still No.1, so no problem. If I was out for eight months, I would fall far behind in my ranking. On the other hand, there is always a story in tennis, because everything is changing so fast. Now, after Paris, everybody will say: he is one of the best and we always knew it. Sometimes this dramatization is also funny.
What do you think of the worldwide discussion whether you are now the best of all times? Do you sit back and enjoy?
I enjoy it and I am proud if positive things are written about me. Especially, after months in which many people were doubting me. I have 14 major victories and all four titles in the different Grand Slams. Paris was a historical moment in tennis. Now I am certainly one of the best. The question is how we evaluate who is the best? We may not know, even in 100 years, who was the best. But I am quite proud of all my records: 20 successive Grand Slam semifinals. 237 weeks as World No.1. These are quite good arguments. If you want to count as one of the best, you need to have dominated tennis. And I was doing that for a fairly long time.
But I have an impression that most people already consider you the best of all times.
I will certainly not say: I am the best of all time. I have simply too much respect for the history of tennis. But I think it's nice that people discuss it. But I say it again and again: let me finish my career first and then you can compare me to others. Sometimes it is judged too hastily. Okay, there are many parallels between me and Sampras. But I may play for another ten years. Or maybe just for one year.
Don't scare us.
No, no fear (laughs). I know I will not (play only for one me year).
How many Grand Slam titles will have you when we conduct another interview in six years?
I hope that I will get some more. I always say: a year with a Grand Slam title is a good year. It also helps me that I have many fans all over the World and I can always play on Centre Courts.
What is the biggest compliment for you: genial tennis player? excellent ambassador for Switzerland? down-to-earth person?
All the compliments are nice. I am particularly pleased when people tell me that they like how I dealt with success, that I have remained the same person. That I didn't let the success go into my head. That pleases me also. If one has so much success over years, that is not natural. So, I am proud of it.
In Paris almost all your competitors also hoped for your victory. What makes you so popular?
I feel the mood in the locker room is like that for quite long time. About 80 % players hope that I win. I was also chosen by other competitors as the fairest player for five successive years. I was the No.1 for four, five years and the others could say: he is a nice guy, but it is not fair that he beats us all the time. When I came on the tour, many said: you are too nice, you cannot achieve success. I thought: should I suddenly start acting silly? This could not be the aim. I am glad that I have proved to the contrary.
Your parents and your wife, Mirka are often in the limelight, but you sister Diana is rarely seen. How is your relationship with her?
It is good, everything is OK. I am pleased when she visits me. She was in Paris on Whit Sunday (30.05), but she could not come for the final. You cannot always travel everywhere. At Wimbledon, she was practically at every final. We keep in contact and I am happy about that. Unfortunately we rarely see each other. She still lives in Basel and has a nice friend. My parents have more time, since they help me with the Foundation, with all inquiries. Because they no longer have a regulated daily routine, they can stay much longer, are more flexible. Thus they can accompany me more often to tournaments.
Do you like this?
This is what I so desired. It was a dream of my parents that I will be a good tennis player. And it would be a shame, if now, when I am at the top, they would say: we have seen often seen you play, just do your thing. One should also enjoy success.
Do you believe in higher powers? In God? Do you pray before important matches?
No, not much. Rather not. I am Catholic and in the past I often went to church with my parents. But I don't pray much, I am not spiritual and I am quite relaxed when it comes to these matters. So it was funny for me, when in Paris, I suddenly had this feeling: somehow it will be easy and I will win this tournament. So many times, I was nearly there and failed, just like Agassi. I felt that maybe a higher power is there. But, otherwise, I actually, rather do not believe in it.
You said in Paris: the weather has to be this way. That sounds like providence.
Yes, precisely. Against Del Potro, for example. I was not really into the match. And suddenly it became cooler, there were clouds, and I realized: the ball does not jump so fast anymore and it helps me. I do not know whether I just tried to see something positive, but it was like a small sign.
And when Mirka is sitting in the stands with folded hands, is she praying?
I do not think so, I think she simply sits there.
How is it now, five days later? Do you tell yourselves every half an hour: Hey man, I am a Paris champion!?
Not really (laughs). It was a very intense phase with many thoughts. And suddenly, I am again the normal Roger, whom I always am. Roger, who is just happy and has nothing to do. Then, sometimes I forget what I've achieved. But since Paris, I have not seen many friends yet and also didn't read many of the e-mails. If someone says to me: How was it? It is insane, now you have done it and you can enjoy it. Then, everything comes back to me and it is cool. It's an unbelievable feeling, and even if I do not do think about that every half an hour, I sometimes tell myself: Wow, now I am Roland Garros champion!
Because of your matches, many of your fans worry, go through some anxious moments, have sleepless nights. How do you deal with your nervousness? Would you take tranquilizers before a big match?
No, I don't do this, I also take painkillers only if necessary. Last time I took them, was when I had severe back pain at the end of the season (2008 ). Usually, I am very calm before my matches. I would say: out of ten matches, I am really nervous possibly once, and twice I feel slightly nervous. The other six, seven times I am completely relaxed. In Paris I was extremely nervous before the match against Monfils. Maybe it was because I really didn't feel my game against Tommy Haas or just because it was against a Frenchman.
Your popularity has reached a new point. There are people who took exception to the fact that no one from Federal Council was in Paris when you wrote sport history. You also?
No. Mr. Merz has congratulated me. He has written to me. And in recent years, the representatives of Federal Council were often at the tournaments. Micheline Calmy-Rey was once in Paris and Samuel Schmid at Wimbledon. For individual athletes, it is not the rule that Federal Councilors come. It is not like a National Team, where the National Anthem is always played. But I am very relaxed about that. If they come, I'm happy, if not, it is also not a problem.
Speaking of National Anthem: many people have criticized you, that you cried after you lost at the Australian Open. In Paris, there was an impression that you were fighting back tears, especially during the National Anthem.
I try to never cry in a public, because it is a bit embarrassing for me. I know that the TV people wait exactly for this moment, so they can show it on a big screen. So, I am happy if I can, at least, hold back tears can, until I am in the locker room. Especially after defeats. In Paris, I was actually very relaxed after the victory. But when the National Anthem was played, which rarely happens in my sport, I could no longer hold back tears. That was just a very proud moment.
How big is in reality the satisfaction to show it again to all the critics and doom-mongers?
Well... (thinking) I am not a person who wants to prove everything to everybody. I wanted most of all to prove to myself that it wasn't that bad. However what really surprised me was that all of a sudden many thought that they knew better. I don't mean only the media. Many people wrote to me or tried to talk to me: you have to change this or that, you are stubborn, not ready to make a change. (LOL @ the bolded part)I just say: what are you really talking about? Last year I tried working with Jose Higueras, we worked well together. Then I tried with Darren Cahill. I work with Severin Lüthi, all the time I meet people with whom I speak about tennis. I am open for many things. That's why I was surprised to hear such things. This was quite unpleasant. When you don't win tournaments all the time it's logical that everybody can criticise you. And when you play well, everybody becomes silent. That's what I don't like in tennis sometimes. You can always be very close to being the best and very close to being the worst.
Now people are once again singing your praises.
The fluctuations in perception are extreme. I think this also has a lot to do with the ranking. I understand that Nadal wants to use similar system to golf, where the results of the last two years count. Tiger Woods was injured for eight months, but none was panicking. He was still No.1, so no problem. If I was out for eight months, I would fall far behind in my ranking. On the other hand, there is always a story in tennis, because everything is changing so fast. Now, after Paris, everybody will say: he is one of the best and we always knew it. Sometimes this dramatization is also funny.
What do you think of the worldwide discussion whether you are now the best of all times? Do you sit back and enjoy?
I enjoy it and I am proud if positive things are written about me. Especially, after months in which many people were doubting me. I have 14 major victories and all four titles in the different Grand Slams. Paris was a historical moment in tennis. Now I am certainly one of the best. The question is how we evaluate who is the best? We may not know, even in 100 years, who was the best. But I am quite proud of all my records: 20 successive Grand Slam semifinals. 237 weeks as World No.1. These are quite good arguments. If you want to count as one of the best, you need to have dominated tennis. And I was doing that for a fairly long time.
But I have an impression that most people already consider you the best of all times.
I will certainly not say: I am the best of all time. I have simply too much respect for the history of tennis. But I think it's nice that people discuss it. But I say it again and again: let me finish my career first and then you can compare me to others. Sometimes it is judged too hastily. Okay, there are many parallels between me and Sampras. But I may play for another ten years. Or maybe just for one year.
Don't scare us.
No, no fear (laughs). I know I will not (play only for one me year).
How many Grand Slam titles will have you when we conduct another interview in six years?
I hope that I will get some more. I always say: a year with a Grand Slam title is a good year. It also helps me that I have many fans all over the World and I can always play on Centre Courts.
What is the biggest compliment for you: genial tennis player? excellent ambassador for Switzerland? down-to-earth person?
All the compliments are nice. I am particularly pleased when people tell me that they like how I dealt with success, that I have remained the same person. That I didn't let the success go into my head. That pleases me also. If one has so much success over years, that is not natural. So, I am proud of it.
In Paris almost all your competitors also hoped for your victory. What makes you so popular?
I feel the mood in the locker room is like that for quite long time. About 80 % players hope that I win. I was also chosen by other competitors as the fairest player for five successive years. I was the No.1 for four, five years and the others could say: he is a nice guy, but it is not fair that he beats us all the time. When I came on the tour, many said: you are too nice, you cannot achieve success. I thought: should I suddenly start acting silly? This could not be the aim. I am glad that I have proved to the contrary.
Your parents and your wife, Mirka are often in the limelight, but you sister Diana is rarely seen. How is your relationship with her?
It is good, everything is OK. I am pleased when she visits me. She was in Paris on Whit Sunday (30.05), but she could not come for the final. You cannot always travel everywhere. At Wimbledon, she was practically at every final. We keep in contact and I am happy about that. Unfortunately we rarely see each other. She still lives in Basel and has a nice friend. My parents have more time, since they help me with the Foundation, with all inquiries. Because they no longer have a regulated daily routine, they can stay much longer, are more flexible. Thus they can accompany me more often to tournaments.
Do you like this?
This is what I so desired. It was a dream of my parents that I will be a good tennis player. And it would be a shame, if now, when I am at the top, they would say: we have seen often seen you play, just do your thing. One should also enjoy success.
