Interview with James Blake

TennisConnected’s featured columnist Rob York recently had a chance to interview American James Blake.

Struggling with a knee injury throughout the season, Blake has enjoyed a successful career that took him to the No. 4 ranking in the world.

Discussing his newly designed Fila line, while looking forward to being honored on the first night of the US Open, Blake’s positive outlook on the remainder of his career is a must read.

For the full Bleacher Report interview, click the link below.

James Blake interview.

Exclusive Q&A With Igor Kunitsyn

by: Nima Naderi

Reaching a career high rank of No. 35 in the world in August of 2009, Russian Igor Kunitsyn continues to carry the great and successful tradition of Russian tennis into the 2010 season.

Capturing his lone ATP World Tour career title in his native Moscow in 2008, Kunitsyn has also produced competent doubles results throughout his career by reaching three doubles finals.

Holding career wins over former world No. 1 players Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Juan Carlos Ferrero, Kunitsyn has also defeated the likes of James Blake and Tommy Haas throughout his 11 year career.

The 28-year-old Russian, who is currently ranked No. 107 in the world, remains diligent on recapturing his top 50 status by the end of the 2010.

Currently coached by Allen Fox, the 5′11″ Kunitsyn discusses his future goals, his thoughts of the Challenger circuit, and his dreams of capturing Grand Slam glory in the following interview.

1. Reaching a career rank of No. 35 in the world in June of 2009, what elements of your game are you currently working on in order to regain that level?

My baseline game has always been good enough to compete with anybody, especially on hard courts, but my serve was never consistent enough. When I started to play big events every week I felt that I needed to improve my serve. So that’s what I am working on the most.

When you reach top 50 you are forced (by ATP rules) to play on all surfaces. I definitely must improve my clay-court game; I need to learn how to create more pace [by] myself. If I [can achieve that] I will succeed [and] it will help me on other surfaces too.

2. How much did winning your first career title in Moscow in 2008 mean to you? Do you feel that you play your best tennis on home-soil?

Winning at home is huge for all players. I was growing up watching that event on tv and now I am one of the champions. It felt amazing winning in front of my family and friends, beating Marat in the final was dream scenario! I think most of the players do better at home and I am not an exemption, I always did well in Russia.

3. Do you find that there is a vast difference between playing on the Challenger Tour as opposed to the ATP World Tour? Are players generally more consistent, or do you find that the competition is quite similar?

The competition on the Challenger Tour is similar to ATP World Tour. Nowadays, all the guys play at a very high level and on a good day anybody can beat anybody.

I think [the] ATP should promote Challengers more, because [the] level of matches is great and it’s very enjoyable for the fans to watch.

4. Capturing a majority of your Tour wins on hard-courts, what variables of your game do you believe translate the best to hard-court surfaces?

I think I can use my quickness, return of serve, and [my] ability to play [my] all-around game much better on hard courts. It just comes naturally to me. Plus I can use my opponents pace very well off the ground.

5. Traveling the Tour year-round, who would you consider your best friends on Tour? Do you prefer to practice or train with any particular players?

I do spend a lot of time with Russian tennis players and [my] Davis cup teammates Igor Andreev, Dmitry Tursunov, MikhailYouzhny, and Nikolay Davydenko. I am also good friends with Ivan Ljubicic (we used to practice together with the same coach, Riccardo Piatti).

6. Growing up in Vladivostok, Russia, what would you deem the greatest challenge you had to deal with while growing up as a junior? Were the training conditions in Russia beneficial to becoming a professional tennis?

Training in Vladivostok was not easy at all. Indoor courts were very limited, so I could not practice as much as [the] other players. At the age of 14 I had to start travelling a lot to Moscow and other places to be able to practice with good players and play tournaments (Vladivostok to Moscow is an eight and a half hour flight!).

So I can tell [you] that growing up there was a big disadvantage for me. I also trained in Italy for a few years when I turned 19.

7. Currently having three players ranked inside the top 100, how would you assess the strength of Russian tennis at the moment? Are you impressed with any top ranked juniors coming up?

I think we still have a very good team. I hope Tursunov will recover soon and Gabashvili and I will come back to [the] top 100. It’s sad that Golubev and Korolev changed their nationalities. We could have been eight [players] in the top 100.

I can’t tell you much about juniors coming up. I have trained with Kuznetsov (he won junior Wimbledon last year), and I am very impressed with his game.

If he stays healthy my guess is that he will have a great future

8. Which players did you look up to as junior, and which players if any did you try and mold your game after?

I never had an idol but I always loved watching Sampras, Agassi and Kafelnikov. I tried to see something I could use for my game.

9. What goals would you like to achieve for the remainder of your career? Is regaining a top 50 ranking the most important goal, or is advancing to the latter stages of a Masters 1000, or Grand Slam event a greater priority?

I think I have a lot to improve if I will succeed at that—results will follow. Whether it’s going to be a Grand Slam breakthrough or winning a few more titles, I will take it all!

10. Finally, if you could disclose one funny locker room story that the ATP fans are not aware of, what would it be?

I am not a good storyteller, you better ask Dmitry Tursunov, he is the best at that.

Exclusive Q&A With Ronald Agenor

Reaching a career high of No. 22 in the world in 1989, Ronald Agenor had a successful career which included winning three ATP World Tour titles, and defeating Andre Agassi on three occasions.

Collecting more than $2 million in prize money during his career, Agenor’s current mandate is to help, promote, and provide aid relief to the victims of the recent Haiti earthquake.

In this exclusive interview provided by Parsa Samii from GEM Tennis, Agenor relives his experiences on Tour, his current participation on the ATP Champions circuit, and his continued drive to bring awareness to the people of Haiti.

Exclusive Q&A With Marcel Granollers

Competing in his Davis Cup debut last weekend in Spain, current world No. 110 Marcel Granollers recently had a chance to stop by and give Tennis Connected an exclusive interview.

Granollers, 23, began his year by defeating current world No. 7 Robin Soderling during the first-round of the Australian Open for his biggest win to date. Capturing two doubles titles on the ATP World Tour in 2010, Granollers was victorious during the first week of the season in Chennai, India, with partner Santiago Ventura, which was followed by his second title of the year in Costa do Saupie, Brazil, with Pablo Cuevas.

Ranked No. 25 in the world in doubles, Granollers shared an intriguing look into his unique game style; his love for soccer, and why he believes having one coach is ultimately the best decision for a player.

Granollers is currently participating in a Challenger level event in Rabat, Morocco, as the No. 5 seed.

Interview by Nima Naderi:

Q. How much confidence did you take away from defeating Robin Soderling in the first-round of the Australian Open?

A. It was a very important match. It was the first time I expressed top 10 level and it was very important to become aware that I am able to play on a top 10 level. It gave me a lot of confidence.

Q. Capturing your first career title at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in 2008, what components of your game or confidence do you need to improve in recapturing that level of play?

A. I am a better player than the Marcel who won at Houston. I am a much more mature player with more game solutions then two years ago. For me, winning in Houston came as a surprise. It was the first ATP event in which I was direct acceptance in the main draw and I won it. During the weeks before Houston I had won many matches on Challenger level, and I was used to winning many matches in a row. That is what I have been missing lately, winning many matches in a row [to] arrive at the end of the week still competing. I need to get used to winning.

Q. You recently exited the world’s top 100 after being ranked No. 44 in the world (February 2008). Is regaining a top 50 ranking your priority for this season?

A. Yes, definitely. I believe that the strategy and the work that I did during the winter and these first [few] months [will] make the top 50 a natural and realistic goal for this season.

Q. Your game consists of very low take-backs on both your forehand and backhand groundstrokes. What would you attribute to your unique style of play. Did you ever encounter a coach trying to alter your strokes?

A. I did work on my forehand take-back last year with my former coach Galo Blanco. My take back on the forehand side is now shorter and a bit higher. This gives me much more power on the forehand side, and I can use the forehand more to come in and follow the stroke to the net. It has been a good change.

Q. Playing well on both hard and clay-courts, what would you consider your favorite surface and favorite tournament?

A. I don’t know what to answer. I also think that I play the same level on both courts, and so show also the results. I like both surfaces, and I think that it is necessary if you really aim to the high rankings nowadays.

Q. You currently have two coaches working with you (David de Miguel, Alex Calatrava). Do you find that having more than one coach aids in your overall improvement, or have you ever encountered a conflict of interest?

A. Well, I travelled only three weeks with Alex Calatrava, when David was busy elsewhere, I can’t really say that I have two coaches now. Sometimes when you work in Academies it happens to travel with different coaches, and on the mental side it can be helpful not to see always the same face every day at breakfast and on the court. At the same time one coach needs to have the leading role, and the others need to execute the program that the main coach gives. I prefer having one coach.

Q. How important has Davis Cup competition been to your career? Do you enjoy the team atmosphere of Davis Cup along side your countrymen?

A. Davis Cup is extremely important. Now, after my real debut ( I was in the team last year but didn’t play) I can tell it is an incredible experience. The connection with the people, the team, the media. Everything gets more intensive. I must say that I have not been nervous at any time during my debut, all the team has helped me a lot, knowing it was my first match. I really like to represent my country and to be so close to the Spanish fans. It is one of those experiences you don’t forget.

Q. You’ve increased your doubles ranking recently to No. 25 in the world. Do you find that playing doubles increases your level of play for singles, in terms of working on your volleys and return game?

A. Yes, I think playing doubles helps a lot to improve your singles. The serve, the returns and the volleys get more precise, because you have a smaller court and you decide with your partner where to hit. Doubles also helps me very much to regain my confidence. If I lose first round in singles, but keep going in doubles all week until the final, I get confident to the next singles tournament as well.

Q. With many years left in your career, what would you like to accomplish before you retire?

A. A tournament that is very important to me, and where I never played well is Barcelona. I am a member of this club, like my brother. My parents, my friends and relatives come to watch me play and I would give anything to win that tournament. Of course, I would also love to win a Slam event or another Davis Cup.

Q. Finally, if you could disclose one locker room story that the public is not aware of, what would it be?

A. Well, in the locker it’s all about soccer. Most of the Spanish players are for Barcelona or Madrid. We discuss a lot in the lockers about soccer, but [we] can be pretty loud and annoying for the other players. At this time, being a fan of Espanol they are giving me quite a bit of sh…! I don’t worry, and wait until Espanol beats them to pay them back!

Exclusive Q&A with Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr.

In a recent interview given to TennisConnected.com, world No. 81 Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. shared his struggles of growing up with an ex-professional coaching father, mentoring former French Open finalist Andrei Medvedev, and how he spends his downtime on Tour.

Possessing a rocket forehand and competent serve, Dolgopolov Jr. uses his off-the-rise ball-striking skills to compete on the ATP World Tour. Currently coached by Jack Reader, Dolgopolov Jr. has improved his ranking almost 200 spots in the last year.

Winning three ATP Challenger level titles last season, the out-spoken and rugged 21-year-old will undoubtedly be a name for the future.

Interview by: Nima Naderi

Q. At what stage in your development did you decide that turning professional was the right decision?

A. I actually never did. I was just practicing while my father was coaching Andrei [Medvedev], and from the early years I was in tennis and wanted to play it. So there wasn’t even a question or a decision to take. That was just my life.

Q. Did you enjoy having your father, who was an ex-touring professional, coach you from an early age? (Dolgopolov Jr. was coached by Oleksandr Dolgopolov Sr. during his formative years).

A. I mean of course its good for my development, because I got so much information in my early years. But as I grew up, I also started to see some negatives in a father-coach relationship. Anyway, my father is the reason why I’m playing now, without him I would not be a player, so I’m happy with it (the relationship).

Q. Did the expectations of having Medvedev around as a youngster give you added incentive or pressure when becoming a professional?

A. No, my pro career started a few years later than the last year of my father coaching Andrei. So he didn’t really have anything to do with me after 10 years of age. But before that of course I had a good time, watching and learning from him. But my goals and results have nothing to do with him, and are not based on his career.

Q. Having played a few top ranked players thus far in your career, what type of mindset do you take when approaching higher ranked competitors? (Dolgopolev Jr. recently lost to Radek Stepanek in Brisbane, Australia after leading by a set and a break).

A. I mean it doesn’t really matter who I play. I just try to think before the match which one is the best way to play the guy. What are his bad and good sides. Maybe the only difference of playing against a player who is ranked way higher than me is that I go on-court and think just about my game, and no other thoughts about the tournament level, the draw or the points. Just having fun playing a good player. So maybe I am a bit more relaxed, but nothing special.

Q. What would you consider the essential parts of your game that must improve in order for you to experience continued success on the ATP World Tour?

A. I play a game which is pretty hard. I don’t prefer one or two strokes, I use almost everything I know. [I] don’t have a particular favourite shot or game [plan]. My tennis is mostly improvisation, so I would like to improve in all my tennis game, no exceptions. The most important thing for me now is to stay injury free, and makeup [for] my physical [injuries]. Because of [the] last two years [the] injuries [that] I [had], [I] couldn’t do that at all. So I have almost everything to get better, to be where I would like to be. I think I have two to three good years of hard work still to come.

Q. You entered last week’s South African ATP World Tour rankings at No. 101 in the world, what are your immediate and long-term goals for the season?

A. The immediate goal is to get [to] [into] top 70-80 because I have no points to defend and I don’t need a lot of points to get there. The long-term goal for the season is [to] finish [in] [the] top 50. [I] Hope I can do that, but I just try to play my best, and than we’ll see.

Q. Growing up in Kiev, how did you find the conditions for training and traveling? Did you ever lose or gain motivation throughout your experiences?

A. Actually I never really grew up in Kiev. At first, when my father was coaching Andrei we traveled all the time, then form the age of 11 I started having every year a month and a half [of] preparation in Florida, during the Orange Bowl. So Kiev was just home, but never a training base for me. Coming back home I stayed in shape, but don’t really do the preparation there, nor the hard practice. For that I find other places.

At one point I had lost the motivation. I mean playing all the time [was] hard from 10-11 [years-old] with no vacations (except during the injuries) was tough, and I was tired of it. But it didn’t last for a long time, and when I finally got back into tennis in a month or two I got back in shape again.

Q. Who would you consider your closest friends on Tour? How do you spend your free time on the circuit?

A. I mean I’m friends with almost everybody I know on the tour. Probably most of all the post-USSR countries and the countries like Poland, Czech Rep., Slovak Rep. etc are the people who understand each other the best. Of course, I’m good friends with players from Ukraine, but not anyone in particular.

In my free time I don’t do anything special, I spend my time in hotels, on the Internet, and resting. Sometimes we have time to go out, if there is a good company [around] and no matches to play during the next days.

Q. If you could win one Grand Slam event which one would it be and why?

A. Roland Garros, I grew up on clay.

Q. Finally, if you could disclose one locker-room story that the public doesn’t know about what would it be?

A. Uh, that’s a tough one. Never had this question, so now sitting and trying to remember something interesting. Sorry but no luck, for the next time I remember some of the stories or funny moments that happened, so I can really answer this question.

AO: Roger Federer Finals Press Conference

Courtesy of AustralianOpen.com

Q. Would you say maybe your ability to retrieve is just as important as shot-making, the balls you ran down?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I definitely think footwork is something of the most important things in tennis, especially at the level that we’re playing at. At the moment, I think it’s become extremely physical, you know, the game of tennis, especially at the baseline. It’s not as much back and forth. It’s more side to side.

I feel like, you know, my movement’s back. I think that’s a great thing. I definitely had to play some of my best tennis tonight to come through. That was clearly the case.

Q. Did you think it was a great strategy tonight, more than usual?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, he’s obviously a very patient man from the baseline, you know. I mean, I think this is how he made it to the top really. You know, not missing much, being dangerous, mixing up his pace very well, some loopier, some flatter. He can obviously go angle, hard down the line, as well as his backhand. I think that makes him particularly tough to play against.

I think the first set was very interesting on a mental and on a physical level. I thought he played at a very high intensity. I think the first set could have gone either way. So for me to get the first break and play well the way I did, and I think him as well, was obviously crucial for the match, you know, that we were both playing so well.

Somebody had to win the set. Thankfully it was me. I think I was hitting the ball well. I felt that from the start. So I always knew it was going to be a very intense match, you know. I’m happy I was able to play so aggressive and patient at the same time because that’s what you got to be against Murray.

Q. We saw you engage in psychological warfare, talking about the pressure on him, how long it’s been, using 150,000 years out on court. Was it so much sweeter beating Andy because he has a very good record against you and has got under your skin in the past?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I think it got exaggerated. The on-court interview, I don’t take those serious anyway. If you think it was a mental thing, it was not the case, you know.

But you ask me a question, I’ll give you a straight answer. That’s how the press conference was after the Tsonga match. It’s not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam. That’s not mental, you know, trying to screw with his head, you know. It’s just a tough thing, you know.

The next one is not gonna get any easier. But his game is so good that I’m convinced he will win one, you know. And I thought he did really well tonight because conditions were tough. I mean, I think I played a great match. So someone’s got to win, and I’m happy it was me.

Q. After the emotions of wins 14 and 15, how do you rate a 16th title?

ROGER FEDERER: I think you also got to see the way a match ends. Is it 40?Love point where serving and you’re up 5-Love, or in a breaker. I don’t even know the score, 13-11. Sometimes it’s over before you know it.

This felt similar to the Wimbledon victory in a way, because all of a sudden it was over and it hit me, you know. Whereas before I made the dropshot and I think I won, and might have been much more emotional, you know.

But then after losing that point, I’m thinking, My God, he just grabbed the trophy out of my hands. I might end up losing this thing. Two or three points later, I’m the winner after all.

It was very much a rollercoaster with the emotions. You know, you just try to stay focused. I guess the match point was over, and I was like, Oh, my God, this is it. That’s kind of how I felt. It was great.

Q. How do you keep doing it year after year, Grand Slam after Grand Slam? You make it look so easy, and obviously it isn’t.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, look, there’s no secret behind it. You know, I mean, definitely a very talented player (laughter). I always knew I had something special, but I didn’t know it was like, you know, that crazy.

I definitely had to work extremely hard so I would pick the right shot at the right time. For instance, on the match point I decided to hit a dropshot. You got to be crazy to do that.

But I just — you know, I always knew I had it in my hand. The question is do I have it in my mind and in my legs, you know. That’s something I had to work extremely hard at. Now I feel like obviously I’m being pushed a great deal by the new generation coming up. I always feel sort of tennis changes sort of every five years.

Because when I came on tour, matches were played very differently. It was more of a bluff game, guys serving well, but there was always a weakness you could go to. Today that doesn’t exist anymore. I think that’s also thanks to guys like Murray. They’ve made me a better player, because I think this has been one of my finest performances, you know, in a long time, or maybe forever.

Q. Would you have been confident even if you lost the third set? How were you feeling at that point?

ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I think it would have been very interesting obviously to see how he would have handled it, you know, coming off such a high of winning the third set. Then still I think it was very physical, so it would have been very taxing on his body and my body, you know, just to see how we would have both sort of pulled up after that third set.

Unfortunately, it didn’t happen for him. But it was played at a very high intensity, I think, from start to finish. Rallies were long. They were physical. I would have been okay. I still had the lead, so wouldn’t have been a problem.

Q. Andy said he can cry like you, but he can’t play like you. You were very gracious about what you said about him afterwards. What makes you think he will win one of the trophies?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I just think he’s — I mean, he’s a wonderful mover, tactician, great backhand. He has got everything you need to beat the best and to win big tournaments. You know, sometimes it just doesn’t happen when you want. Sometimes it all of a sudden happens without you knowing that it did.

He’s going through, I mean, you know, a tough generation at the moment. There’s many guys. You know, I’ve dominated hard court and grass for a long time; Rafa did clay. Rafa also became very strong on the other surfaces and so forth.

So I think it’s just not an easy thing to do, Grand Slams, and I proved it again tonight. But I think he’s extremely strong in his mind, and I just feel like he’s got the game to do it. The question is just when.

Q. This is your first Australian Open for a couple of years. Can we now start talking about a Grand Slam? Is that on your mind with Nadal having some issues and you looking very good?

ROGER FEDERER: Look, I mean, it’s not something I’ve ever put in my mind that this is something I want to achieve. I’ll still go and play the smaller tournaments, you know, the Masters 1000s, the ones we’re supposed to play. I try to give my best everywhere I go to, because I think there’s not only the Grand Slams.

Of course, they are important, but I try to respect every tournament that invites me to go play there. There’s the fans who pay tickets. I want to live up to my expectations, too.

I won’t just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. I mean, it’s something if it happens, it does, it’s great; but it’s not something that’s like my number one goal. Not at all. It’s the same as I haven’t put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens.

You know, I really want to try to enjoy, you know, my end to my career, because I’ve reached already so many goals I thought were never possible. I really want to just enjoy the tour, and that’s what I’m doing at the moment. Obviously as a dad as well even more so.

Q. Do you let yourself sort of think about what sort of legacy you’d like to leave on the game when it is done?

ROGER FEDERER: No, neither. I just think it’s something that’s going to be once I hang up my racquet, that’s when people should judge me and talk about what great things I did, maybe less great things I did, you know.

But I try to be good for the game, leave it better off than when I arrived, even though that’s hard. I’m very thankful to the legends of the game who created this great platform for us. We did have another record crowd attendance at the Australian Open.

For me to be part of something like this is something also very special, of course.

Q. The way you feel and the way you’re playing, is there any suggestion that you couldn’t go on for another four, five years? Doesn’t seem to take that much out of you. You have a new physio working with you.

ROGER FEDERER: Sure, but there is never a guarantee. Tennis has always been that way. For the last 10 years I go week in, week out. Every practice I play, I hope I’m going to be healthy on the other side.

But I feel, like you said, my game is not as taxing as other players’ games. I also think I have a very relaxed mind when it comes to the game of tennis. I’ll definitely try my best on the court. I’m professional the way I’m supposed to be.

But off the court, it’s a matter of relaxing and enjoying it, you know, seeing friends and families. There’s more important things than tennis after all. I think that’s something I’ve always had a clear vision of how my life is, you know. I think that’s also helped me to go through better and tougher phases, you know, because I know this is an incredible trip I’m on.

We’ll see where it ends, you know. I hope not anytime soon.

Q. You mentioned a couple times it’s your first major win as a dad. Did you ever doubt you’d be able to keep winning as a father?

ROGER FEDERER: Not really. I mean, it was more put out there, you know, that apparently it’s hard to do. Not as hard as it seems (laughter).

I mean, I think the special win for me was winning in Cincinnati, I think. I think the girls were barely two, three weeks old. That was terrific. That was very special. Sure, this is the first Grand Slam, but it doesn’t feel as much as the Cincinnati victory felt like, just because there it was right off the bat; it was fresh.

It was all in my mind, you know. So to get through that tournament by beating Andy and Novak in the semis and finals was very special. Then, of course, being a dad, just coming off the whole thing was amazing.

This is obviously terrific, as well. Maybe not as much as the dad part, but just more that I can still do it, you know, after losing the US Open final.

Q. How will you celebrate tonight? Any different?

ROGER FEDERER: Friends and family, you know. See if the babies are up. Hope not (smiling). Otherwise I’ll wake them up tomorrow or I’ll just grab them because I’m so happy.

No, we’ll just have a good time tonight with drinks and food. That’s what I usually do, regardless if I win or lose. It’s something I’ve got the habit, you know, because I got a lot of support. I just like to let the tournament unwind a bit, you know, see where it ends. At 12:00 apparently we have a photo shoot.

Q. Can you understand why Andy got emotional at the end? You’ve been through that yourself. You say it’s hard to win the first one. Can you appreciate why he felt as deflated as he did at the end?

ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yeah, I mean, of course I do. I mean, it happened to me, too, you know. I think the US Open everything happened a bit quick for him there. I think he played back-to-back Saturday, Sunday matches, a match with Rafa.

Before he knew it, he was in the US Open final and he didn’t know what hit him. He lost. You know, I think he was still happy with the outcome, you know, because to Rafa the victory for him was a huge one. But maybe he didn’t have time to really get emotional about it.

I don’t know if you ever heard me say, but the US Open is very loud, so you don’t maybe start thinking too much of, how did I play, am I disappointed. Here in Australia or Wimbledon, it’s very different. It’s very quiet. It’s very respectful. Standing ovation. It builds up in you as the trophy ceremony goes by.

I thought he was actually doing fine until he told me, I think there will be some tears. I’m like, Don’t worry, it will be all right. And he actually did.

You know, in a way it was hard to watch, but at the same time I like seeing players who care for the game. I don’t know. It’s nice to see, you know. So you wish, you know, only the best for him.

AO: Andy Murray Finals Press Conference

Courtesy of AustralianOpen.com

Q. You had those chances in that third set.

ANDY MURRAY: I had chances in the first set as well. You know, I had a chance to go up a break. Maybe three chances to go up a break at 2-All. You know, he started to play a lot better after that second set. Second set he deserved to win for sure.

I thought third set I had more of the chances. I thought I deserved to take it into a fourth, but it didn’t happen.

Q. You’ve played him 11 times. Did he show you anything different?

ANDY MURRAY: No. I mean, I think his level is a lot more consistent, you know, in the slams. You know, I don’t know. Maybe, you know, in the other tournaments he tries a few more things out.

But, you know, the shots that he hits great, you know, all year round, they’re still great. You know, he just makes fewer unforced errors I think than he does the rest of the year.

Q. How are you feeling now?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I don’t feel great. You know, obviously worked really hard, you know, to get to this stage. I wanted to win the tournament. You know, I think it was more the way the end of the match finished. You know, obviously it was pretty emotional end to the match.

If it was a complete blow-out, if I lost 3, 4, and 2, you know, it probably wouldn’t have happened. But I had my chance to get back into the match. That was probably why I was upset.

Q. Was that tiebreak some of the hardest tennis you’ve played mentally?

ANDY MURRAY: No, I mean, throughout the match, it didn’t — I didn’t feel nervous. It’s obviously against him, he puts a lot of pressure on you with the way that he plays. You know, you need to focus really hard, you know, throughout the match.

I mean, obviously, you know, I wanted to win. I probably played, you know, I don’t know, maybe more important tiebreaks. I mean, he was obviously still two sets to nothing. I would have obviously liked to have taken it into a fourth set.

Q. The end of the tiebreaker you were touching your left hip. Was there a problem there or just tightness?

ANDY MURRAY: It’s not really a problem. It’s not really my left hip. It’s quite hard to explain. It’s more sort of my lower back is just stiff, like I had most of the tournament. It’s just where we play — I wear cycling shorts, and sometimes they’re quite tight, so you need to — you know, Roddick does it a lot, it’s kind of what Rafa does on his other side.

I don’t really know what I’m trying to say, but basically my hip is fine. It was just the cycling shorts were tight (smiling).

Q. Is there a sense as matches go by that you feel closer to him in these terms? Are you getting closer in Grand Slam terms?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, tonight’s match was a lot closer than the one at Flushing Meadows. You know, like I say, I had a chance at the beginning of the match, and I had chances, you know, at the end of the match.

It’s just the second set that didn’t go my way. Not that any of them went my way. But obviously I felt like I had opportunities in the rest of them.

Yeah, I mean, obviously I’m getting closer. I mean, my results in the Grand Slams would show that. Just got to keep working hard.

Q. Was there one set point in particular you felt you should have taken?

ANDY MURRAY: Well, I mean, I would have rather served it out, you know, when I had the chance to do that. You know, obviously didn’t. I don’t think I had any set points in that game. But that was more of an opportunity; whereas, you know, in tiebreaks it’s normally one in a row.

I had a chance. I don’t even know what the score was, but I missed a forehand in the net that I probably should have taken into his backhand side.

But, I mean, on a couple of the others, you know, he served pretty well. You know, you can’t really remember the points right now. Normally takes a bit of time.

Q. Everyone talked about your aggressive approach against Nadal, and others as well. How would you compare that match and your approach there with your approach tonight?

ANDY MURRAY: Uhm, I think the second set was not good in that respect. The third set was a lot better. I started playing closer to the baseline, taking more chances. You know, in the beginning of the match, like I said, I had chances as well.

It’s a different match, you know, against Roger. You know, with Rafa, he can hit the ball short. You know, he plays a lot of topspin. Roger hits the ball a lot flatter. You know, the ball comes onto you a lot quicker, so it’s harder to go for huge shots against him.

You know, whereas against, you know, like in the important points, he can come up with big first serves. And Rafa, you know, his serve is very good, but you always have opportunities, you know, when he’s serving. Tonight I didn’t have as many.

But, you know, I mean, I thought in terms of my game style, it was right for a lot of the match and wrong for a few parts.

Q. What did you learn about dealing with that weight of expectation from the UK?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I didn’t feel it on the court. You know, you get a lot of good luck messages. You know, everyone wishing you well from back home. You know, that’s obviously nice.

You know, once you get on the court, it’s not what you’re thinking about at all. And then obviously after the match, you know, I would have liked to have done it for everyone back home, you know, won the tournament. Obviously for myself and for the people I work with as well.

But it wasn’t to be.

Q. What does this do to your mindset for the rest of the year and what’s to come?

ANDY MURRAY: I don’t know. I’ll take some time off now and rest and see, you know, what I want to do, you know, in terms of my game, you know, what my priorities are going to be. Uhm, you know, but obviously it’s pretty quick after the match, you know, to know exactly, you know, how my game’s gonna feel or what this does for me.

But obviously, you know, getting to a second slam final, you know, it’s a great achievement. So I’ve got to be proud of that.

Q. Does getting to the second one make you hungrier?

ANDY MURRAY: I’m hungry to win one. I haven’t since I was 16, 17 years old when I started playing the junior Grand Slams. You know, I realized I wanted to win one of them, you know, when I was playing.

Like I say, I worked really, really hard to try to do it and give myself the opportunity. You know, so far it’s not been good enough.

But I’m sure one day, uhm, it will be. When it comes, maybe because of the two losses, it will be even better.

Q. If you have one chance to go back again out there now, what would you do differently?

ANDY MURRAY: I probably would have gone for a bigger forehand at 2?All with the first set when I had breakpoint. He miss-hit a backhand; wasn’t really expecting it. I hit like a high topspin forehand into his backhand and made a pretty long rally after that.

But probably would have gone for a bigger forehand at that stage. But, you know, it’s a lot easier to say when you look back.

Q. Is there anything in your game that you were particularly disappointed with tonight?

ANDY MURRAY: I didn’t serve well in the first set. You know, I served pretty well after that. You know, I mean, no. I thought it was a high-standard match. You know, the second set I just wasn’t particularly happy with.

But, you know, the rest was pretty good. Obviously I need to improve, you know, and try and make my game better for these situations.

Q. You’ve fair enough to say you probably played some of your best tennis over the last fortnight. Is it dispiriting you’ve not been able to win a title after playing like that the last couple weeks?

ANDY MURRAY: I mean, I’ve just come off the court. I’m obviously very disappointed. But, you know, I mean, I think I’m getting closer and I’m playing better.

I mean, you know, I just spoke with my mum just now. You know, to have the opportunity to play in these tournaments, in these matches, is pretty incredible in the grand scheme of things.

I’m not going to be too disappointed. I got a pretty good life. I’ve got a long career ahead of me, and I’m going to have more opportunities, you know, to win them. I hope that I will.

But if I don’t, there’s a lot more important things to worry about than tennis.

Q. How painful was it to be standing on the stage for two or three minutes when Roger was joking with the crowd and making his speech and told you, Don’t worry, you’ll win a Grand Slam one day?

ANDY MURRAY: No, it was more — no, I was fine when he was making his speech. I mean, I was disappointed to lose the match, of course. But when he was giving his speech, it didn’t make it any more painful for me at all.

You know, it’s not like it sinks in that quick. But you’ve got sort of 10, 15 minutes before you get out there on the stage before you know kind of what’s happened. Didn’t make me feel any worse.

Q. Agassi won his first slam when nobody expected on grass. Do you expect you can do it on clay, which is not your favorite surface?

ANDY MURRAY: I don’t know. Last year, you know, I played a lot better on clay. But I need to get or make sure my preparation’s right for the French Open to give myself a chance and make sure I have enough training weeks. Because there’s still a lot of things I need to learn to play my best on clay.

But you never know. Soderling made the final last year. No one was really expecting that. So I don’t know.

AO Interview Jan 17, 2010: Lleyton Hewitt

Interview courtesy of AustralianOpen.com

Q. How are you feeling ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year? Happy with your preparation?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, you know, I’ve got the matches under my belt that I think I needed. Yeah, going into the Hopman Cup, I hadn’t played a competitive match in two and a half, three months. It was good to get those three tough matches, then another couple of tough matches in Sydney. Some indoors in Hopman Cup, then a couple of outdoor matches.

So yeah, all things are pretty good at the moment.

Q. Some of the other top players seem to prefer the exhibition events before the Aussie Open. You seem to prefer having competitive matches. Do you think that makes a difference?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, for me it’s a little bit of both. Obviously, the Hopman Cup is an exhibition at the start of the year. I play a tour tournament the week after. I’ve always played well in Sydney. I always enjoy playing at Homebush. The conditions there, obviously I’ve been based in Sydney for a few years as well, it’s like home for me going out there and playing at Homebush. I just feel comfortable with the environment there. It’s always nice to go back to somewhere you’ve played well in the past.

Q. What do you know of your first opponent?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot at the moment, so…

Q. How do you go about getting the homework done?

LLEYTON HEWITT: My group, you know, Heals will have a look at probably some tape, find out as much as we can. I’ve spoken to a couple of people that have played him already the last year or so.

Qualifiers are always tough. Over five sets, though, I’m going to get a feel for him. Throughout the first set anyway. So it’s a little bit just getting a feel for him once I’m out there.

But going out on the court, I’ll be concentrating on my game. If I take care and execute the things I want to do, then I got a good feeling I can get through it.

Q. People talk about the danger of playing those qualifiers; three matches under their belt. Is that an issue, do you think?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, they’re always tough because they’ve come through quallies and they’ve done it the hard way and they have won matches. You know, a lot of times it’s quite close matches in quallies as well. A few three?set matches, they’ve been in that situation, they’re used to the conditions, they’ve got very little to lose when they get in the main draw. For them it’s a main bonus just to get into the tournament. So you can’t take any of them lightly.

Q. Your thoughts on the draw? Looking ahead, it probably hasn’t been as kind to you as it could be. Pretty tough quarter of the draw. Your thoughts on what lies ahead?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I’ve got to get through my first round and see what happens after that. But, yeah, Grand Slams, there’s no easy draws, mate. Everyone is here to win. You have to win seven matches to win these tournaments over five sets. Anything can happen.

Q. You love this tournament. You’ve been coming here since you were a kid. At this end of your career when you come here, does it ever occur to you this might be the last one you play or do you sort of presume you’ll be back next year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it’s not something I’m thinking about. I haven’t thought about it in the past. This year’s no different (smiling). I’m not thinking about that right at the moment.

Yeah, it’s still a great excitement every time I come here. I love walking down the corridors, walking onto center court. Yeah, I’ve played so many big matches, but not only in this particular tournament, in Davis Cups as well, Davis Cup final out there on center court. Yeah, I’ve got a lot of great memories from this place, playing at Melbourne Park. They all come back when you walk through the corridors out on center court.

Q. How do you feel physically? You’ve had a couple of niggles over the summer. Are you feeling a hundred percent?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just had a bit of a back spasm in Perth obviously. Yeah, I was in a match that didn’t really matter at all. I wasn’t going to make things worse in that match.

Yeah, Sydney I felt pretty good. I hit the ball extremely well yesterday in practice. Couldn’t have been happier the way I hit it. As I said, I’ve done all hard work. Now it’s a matter of going on the match court, hopefully executing and doing the things that me and my team will talk about before the match.

If I play my game and play as well as I know I can and the way I’m hitting the ball, yeah, I’ve got a chance.

Q. We always ask this time of year the conditions, the speed of the court, the balls and everything. How do they compare to last year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it’s probably hard to tell a little bit. The balls could be a little bit not fluffing up quite as much as last year. It’s hard to tell, though. Center court gets resurfaced a lot later than a lot of the other courts, as well. Yesterday was really my only first hit out on center court, on any court at Melbourne Park.

Yeah, it’s hard to tell. I’d say it’s probably a medium?paced court.

Q. Are you looking forward to the Hit for Haiti this afternoon?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It’s something I got asked about late yesterday afternoon. Yeah, it’s always nice to try and raise some money. Obviously it’s going to a great cause, as well. There’s a lot of good players put their hands up to help out, especially only a few hours before a slam starts as well. So it’s a big effort.

Q. How are you a different player now than to the way you played in 2005?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not sure. Not a whole heap, I wouldn’t say. Yeah, you’re always trying to improve and work on little areas of your game. But, you know, obviously I had a few setbacks with injuries and having surgery and stuff like that. So, you know, your training sometimes alters a little bit compared to some of the stuff you may have done before.

But it’s a management thing as well. As you get older, you start getting a few niggles, you have to work around that. In terms of playing, I still know my A Game. Yeah, if we’re trying to add a few little things on the side of that, that’s more to help out and maybe not be as predictable.

But as a whole, I’ve still got areas of my game I feel like I can take to another level.

Q. Shorten points or anything…

LLEYTON HEWITT: No. I’m still as patient I think as anyone out there. I like to think I play the percentages as well as anyone, as well.

Q. A lot of people have been talking about Rafa this year after the last six months. Do you think a lot of that aura he had over players is dented? Does he seem more beatable than he has in the past?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don’t know. The guys he’s only lost to have been quality players. Obviously, Davydenko got his number a couple of times towards the end of the year. Davydenko was playing incredible tennis. He got Roger’s number, a lot of the top guys.

Rafa lost to Del Potro. Del Potro went on to win the US Open in that same tournament. He’s not losing to bad players. Yeah, he’s always going to be around the mark. He’s a quality player. He’s one of the best players going around. Yeah, it’s going to take a good player to beat him.

Q. Have you given Peter any tips on how to tackle him?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I’ve spoken to Pete a little bit about it. Just more about, yeah, this is what you play for. A guy from Victoria that, you know, grew up playing juniors here in Melbourne, would have aspired to one day play on center court at the Australian Open, get a night match on the first night against one of the greatest players to play the game, this is what you play for.

So he’ll enjoy it. He’ll put up a great effort. Yeah, hopefully he can surprise a few people.

Q. Do you think Davydenko might be the biggest threat?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think his best result is a semi. He hasn’t made a final yet. I think there’s a question mark over him in terms of that, to put seven five?set matches back to back against quality players.

But he’s obviously hitting the ball extremely well, there’s no doubt about that. Whether he can do that back to back, match after match, that’s another question.

Q. There’s always a lot of expectation put on you this time of year. Do you think this year some of that has shifted to Sam Stosur?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don’t focus on it at all. Yeah, obviously since Pat retired and Flip had a few injuries and hasn’t been playing the slams, obviously the focus, because I’ve sort of been the only guy until this year in the top hundred in the world, as well, and getting in straight off ranking. Yeah, there’s obviously going to be more expectation.

But for me it’s still the same. I still prepare exactly the same as I would for any other tournament. I try and do all the right things. You know, I don’t feel any more expectation.

AO Interview Jan 17 2010: Novak Djokovic

Interview posted at AustralianOpen.com

An interview with:

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Q. You read much into your loss to Tomic the other day?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, not really. I was saying that the result really doesn’t matter that much for me. I just wanted to get some practice matches under my belt before I come to Melbourne Park because I haven’t played the opening tournaments of the year. Considering the amount of the matches I played last year, I tried not to commit to any events and just practice and be fresh for Australian Open, which is, you know, the most important tournament.

Q. Are you happy with your preparation?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, yeah, I’m happy so far. In Kooyong, I haven’t played a hundred percent of my capabilities because I was focusing on some other things and I was working hard off court, what people don’t see logically.

But in these two days I will lower the intensity and just get ready for the opening round.

Q. Who do you think is the biggest threat to you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Uhm, well, obviously Federer, Nadal is the best two players of the world are the two biggest favorites to win it again this year. Then you have Del Potro, Murray, Roddick, Davydenko. They’re all in great shape, great form.

I think it’s getting very interesting, men’s tennis. It’s good for the sport to have a good group of the players that are able to win a major event or a Grand Slam. I think over the years this can be one of the most exciting Grand Slams.

Q. Do you rate Lleyton Hewitt has a chance at all?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, absolutely Lleyton is a big fighter. This is another year for him. He’s trying to get back in the top 10. I think you can never underestimate his abilities. He’s been winning against all the top players in the world, so there is no reason to believe why he shouldn’t do it again. He’s able to do it; it’s just a matter of self?belief.

Q. Your win here in 2008 seemed like it could be the break of the duopoly of Nadal and Federer. Now they started dominating again. Does Del Potro’s win at the US Open give the other guys more confidence that it could be the end of the two guys leading the way all the time?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Of course, it does. The last five, six years the dominance was obvious from Federer, Nadal. They’ve been winning all the Grand Slams they’ve played. But now in last two years or so the things are changing a little bit.

As I said, it’s good for the sport and it’s good for us, the group of the players that is trying to catch up with Federer and Nadal. We have more belief that we can win a Grand Slams.

You know, but they are still the best two players in the world. So as long as is like that, you still have to rate them as the biggest favorites.

Q. Davydenko has been around for the last five or six years. He’s been playing unbelievable. What do you put that down to? Why is he playing so well?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I really don’t know if he’s doing anything differently. But he’s definitely, definitely one of the fastest players in the game. And he was always a tricky opponent to play against on any surface. He’s an all?around, all?court player. Very fast.

I think the element of the game that he has improved most is his serve. I think he hurts his opponent with the serve a lot, and it gives him a lot of advantage, I guess.

Q. You played Tomic yesterday. Did he take you by surprise a little bit with the way he played?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: He has a great serve and I think he’s a very talented player. He can have a bright future if he, of course, continues this way, to practice, to be professional, dedicate himself to this sport. I think he has the right people around him.

He’s very young. He’s only 17, 18 years old, and he’s still able to play on this level with no problems. I think Australia can expect a lot from him.

Q. How much better are you as a player than you were when you won here a couple of years ago? How much have you improved?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think I improved on my net play and my, you know, physical ability, strength. Maybe because of the work that I’ve put into some variety in the game, some volleys and serve, that I’ve changed some things. Maybe I lost a little stability and confidence from the baseline, you know. I might not play as well as I did in 2008 from the baseline, but I still have a lot of belief that I have a great game.

I mean, as I said, I worked a lot on serve?and?volley game. Todd Martin had an influence on that. So I know it’s a process and it cannot happen overnight and I cannot learn all the things as soon as I try to practice them.

So I’m going slowly. I’m taking things step by step.

Q. Do you enjoy it as much as you did a couple of years ago? Has it become very hard work all of a sudden as you get older and there’s more pressure on you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You know, winning a Grand Slam opened a lot of doors for me, gave me a lot of opportunities, of course, a lot of self?confidence. But on the other hand, it took a lot of responsibility, pressure and expectations. It was all new for me. I’ve been through ups and downs mentally and experienced some things that I never did before.

Right now I still feel that I enjoy tennis and I love what I’m doing. I love playing, traveling around, competing. I just can take that 2008 and ‘9 as a big lesson to my life.

Q. Do you think Roger might be in any way a little bit less sharp now that he has twin daughters keeping him awake at night a little bit longer?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You have to ask him for that. But he definitely still plays, you know, one of the best tennis in the world. He always tries to set up his form for Grand Slams, and we all know that. You know, maybe he has a little slower start, but then in the end his form picks up just before Grand Slam, and that’s where he plays his best tennis. He plays a semifinal or more in last 25 Grand Slams. That proves it all.

Exclusive Q&A with Viktor Troicki

In a recent interview given to TennisConnected.com, world No. 29 Viktor Troicki shared his outlook on the 2010 season, his upbringing in war-torn Serbia, and his day-to-day training regime.

Troicki, 23, currently resides in Belgrade, Serbia and is coached by Jan de Witt.

Troicki began the year by reaching the semifinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (l. Rafael Nadal), has reached two ATP World Tour finals during his four year career—the first in Washington, D.C. (2008), and the second in Bangkok, Thailand (2009).

The powerful 6′4″ right-hander has made a steady climb up the world rankings (ranked as high as No. 24 in August 2008), using his work ethic and determined demeanor to defeat the world’s best.

The witty Serbian will next see action at the Australian Open in Melbourne as a seeded competitor.

Interview by Nima Naderi:

Q. After reaching a career high of No. 24 in the world last year, what are your immediate and long term goals for 2010?

A. The goal for 2010 is to reach the top 20 at end of year. Anything better is great, [and I] feel I can do it. I have been beating guys top 20 this year so I guess it is a realistic target.

Q. At what stage in your junior development did you decide that you wanted to turn professional?

A. I took the decision when I was already 19. When the junior tournaments finished I didn’t know what to do. I had to choose between going to college in the US or trying to be a pro. I played a few tournaments to try [my luck] and soon reached the finals of a Challenger [event] (Banja Luka). After that result I thought that maybe I could have made something in tennis.

Q. Serbia was never known as a tennis nation before Novak Djokovic and yourself burst onto the scene. What factors would you attribute to Serbia’s rise as a tennis country; are there upcoming juniors in the Serbian system?

A. There is no factor in particular. We all had nothing, that’s for sure. Everybody was practicing abroad, we had zero help from anyone, zero sponsors, only our parents. Thanks to them we could practice and play tournaments and finally many of us did great!

Now tennis is really big in Serbia! They follow all our matches and it is a great thing. Finding free tennis courts in Belgrade is impossible, [and] everybody wants to play.

We have really good juniors, I think Europe’s No. 1 U14 and U16 boys are Serbians; I think girl U16 as well. They can become good players.

Q. What would you describe as the greatest adversity you faced while growing up in your tennis development?

A. It has always been really tough. I didn’t have much money to play a lot of tournaments, no coaches and I was doing everything on my own. I even had to buy racquets and gear, things that a normal player never faces in life.

Another huge problem was getting the visas. Often I wouldn’t get it on time and that made me skip tournaments.

Now life has become so much easier! But the difficult periods have made me stronger, I felt all these bad things and now I can really appreciate what I have.

Q. What fundamental changes, if any are you looking to make in your game going forward?

A. [There are] no fundamental changes [to make], I want to [play] aggressive tennis on consistent level, [with] no ups and downs. Two years ago I had a lot of ups and downs, last year it was already a lot better.

I need to stay healthy and for sure I will improve my game, especially if I get to play the top guys [more] often.

Q. In 2009 you defeated the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Nalbandian and Tomas Berdych. What would you deem as the biggest win of your career thus far?

A. Probably beating [Novak] Djokovic when he was No. 3 (Umag, 2007), or [Andy] Roddick in Washington when he was No. 5 (2008 quarterfinals).

Maybe more the match against Roddick, because I beat him in the US, and it felt nicer.

Q. How would a normal day of training unfold for you? In terms of fitness, on-court hitting, and nutrition?

A. It [all] depends if [it's the] off season or tournament time: During training periods I normally play 3-4 hours [of] tennis [a day], [and] 1:30 to 2 hours [of] fitness.

During tournaments I do a lot less because I need to stay fresh. You can say I do maybe half of the normal stuff.

Eating in restaurants all year it’s difficult to talk [about] nutrition manners. I like most of the food, [I] don’t eat junk [food], but I don’t have a special diet.

Q. Who were your biggest tennis idols growing up, do you still ask for guidance from any current or retired players?

A. I don’t ask anyone; I don’t know most of them personally. My idol [growing up] was Andre Agassi. He was my true hero, [and] I loved everything [he did]. I had his racquets, his clothes, and copied him in everything.

Q. What would you like to accomplish before you end your career?

A. There is a lot of stuff to accomplish! I would like to be in a Grand Slam final. Of course I would like to win it, [but] it would be already great to feel the final atmosphere and to play. It is unbelievable for sure.

Q. Finally, and this a question we ask all the Touring pros, what is the strangest locker room story you can share?

A. Nothing special really that I can think of now.

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