MR. 81
Rookie
http://www.elpais.es/articulo/deportes/Federer/mucho/completo/elegante/elppordep/20060530elpepidep_1/Tes/
I think it's a great interview.
The guy is definitely classy, he is 100% sincere about his feelings for Federer.
For those who don't understand spanish here are some excerpts:
"'...when I face him (Federer) I always have the feeling that he is better than me. He's more aggressive, volleys better, serves better, has more offensive resources... I have to take my game to its limit and be mentally strong. My only chance is to make him desperate, make him feel that he'll have to win the point several times, that he'll have to do more than against anyone else, and try to take him to a situation more extreme than what he is accustomed to. At that point, anything can happen. Until now I've been lucky to be better than him when reaching that particular point (or that he has missed more)."
"'...he is a great player on court and an excellent person outside of it. I have a good relationship with him, but for me it's easier because I'm beating him lately. But he is human. We have seen him throw his racquet, become angry when he is about to loose, against Nalbandian, against Almagro, against me in Montecarlo, when he threw a ball into the sea. He's got charachter. But he is number one. It's logical if he beats me."
"'...he is more complete and more elegant than me. He's got all the strokes. But he is also older. The key is trying to copy him. When someone does so well it has to be your reference to improve. He is also colder and doesn't show his emotions, specially when he wins. Maybe that's why he is so good. But I prefer to be more hot blooded, show more my emotions."
"'...I give myself 3 years to try and win it (Winbledon). To play well there you must have good sensations on the court, understand grass tennis. On clay you must have a very defined style of play. Not on grass. You must learn to move better, serve better, go forward or backwards...get used to sliding balls. I understand clay and concrete. I'm missing the grass. But when I retire, I want to have a calm conscience and know that I have done everything in my hand to play well there. It's a special tournament and I feel great about playing there."
"'I've never thrown a racquet to the floor. I've been tempted several times but I have always taken control of myself. My uncle Tony has educated me in that way since I was a kid.''
''I decided to play with my left hand because there was no other way. I was hitting with two hands both forehand and backhand, even changing hands for one hit or the other. He decided (Tony) that the time had come to use just one hand. He chose left because I also used left to play soccer. I accepted because I also thought it was the best choice. I felt comfortable.''
''My goal in life is to be happy. To have a little boat so I can go fishing and...little more. I don't need the best phone, nor the best computer, nothing of that. I don't need that.''
'''My main goal is to improve and feel happy. Right now I have few chances to become number one because I've had to compete against the greatest player in history. In any other time I would already be number one because of the points I've earned. And that makes me feel great. But it is true that one day I would like to be number one.''
I think it's a great interview.
The guy is definitely classy, he is 100% sincere about his feelings for Federer.
For those who don't understand spanish here are some excerpts:
"'...when I face him (Federer) I always have the feeling that he is better than me. He's more aggressive, volleys better, serves better, has more offensive resources... I have to take my game to its limit and be mentally strong. My only chance is to make him desperate, make him feel that he'll have to win the point several times, that he'll have to do more than against anyone else, and try to take him to a situation more extreme than what he is accustomed to. At that point, anything can happen. Until now I've been lucky to be better than him when reaching that particular point (or that he has missed more)."
"'...he is a great player on court and an excellent person outside of it. I have a good relationship with him, but for me it's easier because I'm beating him lately. But he is human. We have seen him throw his racquet, become angry when he is about to loose, against Nalbandian, against Almagro, against me in Montecarlo, when he threw a ball into the sea. He's got charachter. But he is number one. It's logical if he beats me."
"'...he is more complete and more elegant than me. He's got all the strokes. But he is also older. The key is trying to copy him. When someone does so well it has to be your reference to improve. He is also colder and doesn't show his emotions, specially when he wins. Maybe that's why he is so good. But I prefer to be more hot blooded, show more my emotions."
"'...I give myself 3 years to try and win it (Winbledon). To play well there you must have good sensations on the court, understand grass tennis. On clay you must have a very defined style of play. Not on grass. You must learn to move better, serve better, go forward or backwards...get used to sliding balls. I understand clay and concrete. I'm missing the grass. But when I retire, I want to have a calm conscience and know that I have done everything in my hand to play well there. It's a special tournament and I feel great about playing there."
"'I've never thrown a racquet to the floor. I've been tempted several times but I have always taken control of myself. My uncle Tony has educated me in that way since I was a kid.''
''I decided to play with my left hand because there was no other way. I was hitting with two hands both forehand and backhand, even changing hands for one hit or the other. He decided (Tony) that the time had come to use just one hand. He chose left because I also used left to play soccer. I accepted because I also thought it was the best choice. I felt comfortable.''
''My goal in life is to be happy. To have a little boat so I can go fishing and...little more. I don't need the best phone, nor the best computer, nothing of that. I don't need that.''
'''My main goal is to improve and feel happy. Right now I have few chances to become number one because I've had to compete against the greatest player in history. In any other time I would already be number one because of the points I've earned. And that makes me feel great. But it is true that one day I would like to be number one.''
