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#1 ·
Hamburg, 14 May 2005



Press Conference with RICHARD GASQUET

Gasquet vs. Rochus 6:1, 6:1





Q: Congratulations. It must be a wonderful feeling to get into a Masters Series final?

A: I speak really bad in English (laughs). Yes, I am so happy to be in the final in Hamburg. It’s incredible. For me to play a final against Federer it’s a dream.



Q: It must be a dream for an 18 year old to go into a final against a player with such quality and class and have a winning record against him.

A: Yes I won in Monte Carlo but it was an upset for me. He is the favourite tomorrow, but I will play a great match tomorrow. I will do my best and we will see. But I will be very happy to be in the final.



Q: Has it been difficult to play seven matches and do you feel tired?

A: Yes, I was tired, but Rochus was more tired, I think. Tomorrow I will forget that because it’s the final. It’s very important to play a final against Federer for me. I will play a great match.



Q: What are your memories of the match in Monte Carlo?

A: An incredible match. I am thinking all days about this match. It was incredible to win against him. I don’t realize it today. But tomorrow I have to play another match against him. But I’m not the favourite. So, I will play a great match and I’m happy to be in the finals. It’s a great result for me.



Q: Does it help that you have had 3 matches that have gone reasonably quickly?

A: Yes, it was quick, but I played great tennis. It’s incredible to win three matches like this. I have energy for tomorrow I think.



Q: Because that’s going to be important for the best of five.

A: Yes it’s really important. It’s difficult for me to play five sets. But it will be great. I will have a lot experience after this match.



Q: How many 5 set matches have you played?

A: One but it was on grass court not on clay. I think it’s difficult for me.



Q: Do you like this court because it’s usually regarded as very slow?

A: Yes, it’s slow. But I like this court because it’s slow, I can play good tennis on this court. When I play good, I can play on every court I think.



Q: The weather forecast suggests that it might be cooler tomorrow, maybe a little rain which will make it even slower. Will that help you?

A: Yes, I think because if it’s slow it will be good for me. I think Federer doesn’t like slow courts. I don’t know. I prefer to play him on a slow court.



Q: Is clay your best surface?

A: No, I don’t know because I can play on hard court, grass. I don’t know.
 
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#3 ·
#6 ·
silverwhite said:
I can just feel the expectations they have of him. :scared:
We can be anxious yes !!! Amelie, Richard, same problem: pression...and they're the favorites :help:
 
#8 ·
Thanks for interviews!!! I am going to go watch the videos now. I won't understand much with the French, but the eye pleasure shall be lovely!
 
#9 ·
Just writed an article about him in Chinese :hug:

Love him so much :kiss:
 
#10 ·
voici un article sur Richard d'un journal suisse-francais:

Tennis: A une semaine de Roland-Garros, la métamorphose de Richard Gasquet

PARIS (ATP) - Le jeune Français Richard Gasquet, en accédant lundi à la 32e place au classement ATP de tennis alors qu'il n'était encore que 152e début avril, va aborder Roland-Garros dans une semaine avec le statut tout frais de trouble-fête potentiel.
AFP AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE.
11:21 16.05.05

Finaliste dimanche du Masters Series de Hambourg (Allemagne) face au N.1 mondial, le Suisse Roger Federer, qu'il avait battu un mois auparavant en quarts de finale à Monte-Carlo, mais qui cette fois-ci a laissé parler son rang, Gasquet est en passe de détrôner Sébastien Grosjean de son statut de premier Français.

Grosjean, 24e mondial, a passé deux tours à Hambourg, pendant que son jeune compatriote (19 ans le 18 juin), issu des qualifications, se débarrassait tranquillement de ses adversaires pour atteindre la finale.

"Lors de ma semaine à Hambourg, j'ai gagné beaucoup de confiance pour Roland-Garros" où il est désormais assuré d'être tête de série, a d'ailleurs confié Gasquet après la finale dimanche.

Ancien N.1 mondial juniors (en 2002) comme cinq autres Français avant lui (Thierry Tulasne, Guy Forget, Sébastien Grosjean, Arnaud Di Pasquale et Gaël Monfils), il a en effet réalisé dans le nord de l'Allemagne le meilleur résultat de sa jeune carrière.

Elle lui a permis de faire un nouveau bond au classement mondial, après celui enregistré (40 places de gagnées) après son parcours monégasque mi-avril, et d'éviter de passer désormais par les qualifications.

Professionnel depuis 2002, son palmarès comporte dorénavant, outre sa place de finaliste à Hambourg, une première pour lui dans un Masters Series, une place de demi-finaliste à Monte-Carlo, de finaliste à Metz (France) en 2004 et sept victoires en challenger (2e division de l'ATP), dont Naples et Barletta sur la terre battue italienne cette saison.

Le Biterrois, un peu "tendre" lors de ses deux premières années chez les professionnels, durant lesquelles il avait alternativement déçu et émerveillé ses supporteurs, a mûri, comme il le dit lui-même.

"Il y a un an je n'aurais peut-être pas remporté ce match. Mais j'ai gagné en expérience et en maturité. J'ai beaucoup mûri. Et désormais, je me bagarre", avait-il déclaré peu après sa victoire sur le Russe Nikolay Davydenko (N.10), en huitièmes de finale à Monte-Carlo.

Son éclosion tant attendue constitue pour le tennis national un immense soulagement après un océan de désillusions.

D'autant plus que chez les dames, Amélie Mauresmo, "coachée mentalement" par Yannick Noah, a remporté dimanche le Masters Series de Rome et se présente elle aussi pleine de sérénité avant le rendez-vous parisien.

La terre battue, sur laquelle Gasquet réalise ses meilleures performances, et où seuls Federer, l'Espagnol Rafael Nadal et l'Américain Andre Agassi l'ont battu cette saison en 29 rencontres, devrait lui permettre de remporter bientôt son premier titre sur le circuit.

Même si pour cela Roland-Garros 2005 viendra sans doute encore un peu trop tôt.

Le classement ATP au 16 mai:
1. Roger Federer (SUI) 6605 pts
2. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 3935
3. Andy Roddick (USA) 3590
4. Marat Safin (RUS) 3065
5. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2600
6. Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 2440
7. Andre Agassi (USA) 2275
8. Tim Henman (GBR) 2195 (+1)
9. Guillermo Coria (ARG) 2040 (-1)
10. Guillermo Canas (ARG) 1745
11. David Nalbandian (ARG) 1685
12. Joachim Johansson (SUE) 1625
13. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 1505 (+7)
14. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 1465 (-1)
15. Carlos Moya (ESP) 1430 (-1)
16. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 1415
17. Radek Stepanek (TCH) 1415 (-2)
18. Dominik Hrbaty (SVQ) 1371
19. Mario Ancic (CRO) 1315 (+2)
20. Thomas Johansson (SUE) 1313 (-1)
...
24. Sébastien Grosjean (FRA) 1200 (+3)
32. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 1050 (+24)
49. Cyril Saulnier (FRA) 763
51. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 757 (-1)
52. Mickäel Llodra (FRA) 756 (-1)
67. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 574 (-1)
80. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 496 (+1)
84. Jérôme Haehnel (FRA) 476 (+4)
85. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 474 (-1)
102. Jean-René Lisnard (FRA) 419 (-3)
108. Arnaud Clément (FRA) 406 (+1)
112. Antony Dupuis (FRA) 388
116. Gilles Simon (FRA) 368 (-2)
117. Grégory Carraz (FRA) 363
http://www.lematin.ch/nwmatinhome/n...:1&newscateg=2&newssubcateg=0&newsnb=&status=
 
#11 ·
Thanks!
 
#12 ·
Here's a poll fr L'Equipe, 16mai05:

Richard Gasquet, atteindra-t-il au moins les demi-finales, cette annee a RG?

Will RGasquet reach at least the SF this year at RG?

What does everyone think?
 
#13 ·
RogiFan88 said:
Here's a poll fr L'Equipe, 16mai05:

Richard Gasquet, atteindra-t-il au moins les demi-finales, cette annee a RG?

Will RGasquet reach at least the SF this year at RG?

What does everyone think?

Ohh non pas L'Equipe non plus !!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:
Si meme eux s'y mettent !! On sait ce que ça donne chaque année avec Mauresmo, eh ben, sans vouloir être pessimiste, ça pourrait tres bien arriver à Richard. Il reste fragile et peut très bien tomber au 1er tour alors de grâce laissons-le tranquille et arrêtons de tirer des plans sur la comette !
 
#15 ·
:confused: I have to know the draw to answer that. I can't wait until tomorrow.

:worship: (Once again please god! don't put mathieu against gasquet in the 1st round!) :worship:
 
#16 ·
I'm afraid, as usually.
Afraid to see horrible first rounds like seb/arnaud etc...
 
#17 ·
Depending on the draw of course but realistically I dont think Richard will get to the semi-finals.
I'm just hoping to get out of the 1st round for now.
 
#18 ·
Btw, I really want Richard to prove me wrong :wavey:
 
#19 ·
I'd be happy with the 3rd round for Richie (providing the draw is ok)...and then anything beyond that will be wonderfull!!

Waaahhh why do I have to work...I want to see him play next week :sad:
 
#23 ·
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,5205-1620818,00.html

Prodigious Gasquet has talent to make it to summit
From Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent in Paris

THERE is abundant fantasy in his style of play, but only now that Richard Gasquet has been shaken from his illusion of innocence is he offering France a realistic prospect of becoming its men’s singles champion. Considering that the 18-year-old has played a mere six best-of-five set grand-slam matches — two more than Rafael Nadal, the “favourite” — the ask is akin to leaping over the Eiffel Tower in one bound.

Twice in the past six weeks on clay, Gasquet has played Roger Federer, the world No 1, beating him in the grand manner in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Open before succumbing six days ago in the Hamburg Masters final, a match that the Swiss knew he dare not lose. Maybe it was just as well for Gasquet that the result was as it was — imagine the fervent surges in speculation had he beaten again the player few can beat once.

Gasquet has had to deal with the quirky nature of fame since he was pictured, aged 9, on the front cover of Tennis Magazine, tagged the great French hope. Two months before his 16th birthday, he defeated Franco Squillari, the 2000 French Open semi-finalist from Argentina, in Monaco and the predictions seemed well-placed. Adolescence was not easy. His form came and went and after disqualification for tossing his racket and narrowly missing a line judge during qualifying for the US Open last year, he came to his senses.

“I was destroyed,” he said. “When you act like an idiot, you don’t do the right things, you don’t practise well, you lose matches. It is a vicious circle. I came back to France and decided to return to zero; I went to the federation and asked Eric Deblicker (an astute coach) to help me. He made things clear.

“When I got to 18, I needed an extra eye on me, rather than just my father’s. He had made me very strong, very young, but he knew I needed something different. Had I been with Eric 18 months ago, I’m not sure it would have worked. Now it is right.”

Gasquet also spoke to Alain González, the father of his best friend, who deals with adolescents and their problems. “You get to 18 and you can become a little lost in your mind,” Gasquet said. “I found I couldn’t get to the end of matches, my energy was poor and players found that out. It was difficult for me to be a warrior at 17. He (González) asked if I was ready to give tennis 100 per cent because I was in a haze, as many are at that age. I said I was convinced it was what I wanted to do. I had to be strong, to be professional.

“A lot of people think I’m old, that I’m 20 already, but I’m only 18. I made a lot of mistakes last year, but I had the right to do that because I was young. The other players see that I’m not a fantasist any more, that I’m not going to give up. I am arriving in Paris hypermotivated to do well.”
 
#24 ·
Thanks for the article *M*, I really loved it! I might just say one of the best Richard article I have read in a long time. :worship:
 
#25 ·
:singer: :singer: what richard said in this article moved me. i think it can help us to be closer to his mind. and what he said is right, for marat safin has said like as''not to put too much pressure on his shoulders'' and ''he needs to play more matches on the court and make him stronger and the most important thing now for him is to get a win title''
i think richard can, he has gotten ready ,right? :drive: :drive: :bigwave:
 
#26 ·
linus said:
:singer: :singer: what richard said in this article moved me. i think it can help us to be closer to his mind. and what he said is right, for marat safin has said like as''not to put too much pressure on his shoulders'' and ''he needs to play more matches on the court and make him stronger and the most important thing now for him is to get a win title''
i think richard can, he has gotten ready ,right? :drive: :drive: :bigwave:
I agree :wavey:
 
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