Eastbourne AEGON International. June 15 2011 James Ward

J. TIPSAREVIC/J. Ward

           

6‑3, 4‑6, 6‑2

        

        

JAMES WARD

        

 

            Q.  James, what are your thoughts on today?

            JAMES WARD:  I mean, at the beginning it was a tight first game, and I think that changed a lot.  If I had won that game, maybe the set would have been different.  But I still had chances.  He had chances, as well, but he took them today.

            Q.  Do you feel that probably your best chance was last night, having leveled it?

            JAMES WARD:  Maybe, yeah.  I was starting to play a bit better in the second set I thought.  But again,  like last week, the light stopped us and what can you do?  You know, you come back today and it's a full set to play, same conditions for both.  Just unlucky.

            Q.  Was it that bad out there yesterday?

            JAMES WARD:  Last night?  Well, it was getting quite slippery on one side.  There was a shadow on one side of the court.

            But also, they said we probably wouldn't be able to finish, so we both agreed to play a full set tomorrow instead of maybe finishing one or two games today.

            Q.  Today aside, how happy are you with the way it's gone the last couple of weeks and looking forward to where you're going next?

            JAMES WARD:  Yeah, of course.  It's been a  great week last week, and I played well again here.  You know, I'm playing Tipsarevic.  He's not a low‑ranked player.  He's a top player.  I lost in three sets, tight match.

            Maybe last night would have been different, but you can't look back.  Looking forward to Wimbledon and looking forward to the draw on Friday.  Never know what can happen.

            Q.  Presumably that's what you were looking to do was to follow up your good work last week?

            JAMES WARD:  Yeah, of course.  You try to win every week.  It's not something you want to do, you know, just sit back and rest after one good week.

            I also did well here last year, so it would have been nice to do that again, but it didn't happen.  I look forward to playing again next week.

            Q.  Have you got enough matches on grass in?

            JAMES WARD:  I think I got enough last week and the week before in Nottingham.  I think I'm quite well prepared.  I need to rest a couple of days and practice, and I look forward to playing on Monday or Tuesday, which will be longer matches, five sets, so just get physically prepared for that.

            Q.  What do you feel you have learned most out of the last couple of weeks?

            JAMES WARD:  Learned?  I don't know really, but I got a lot of confidence and belief in myself and know that I can do it now.  It's a great time for it to happen just before Wimbledon and being at home in the best Grand Slam.

            Q.  Last week you were quite deep into it.  Did you speak to Andy more than you would do normally?

            JAMES WARD:  Not really.  We were both doing our own thing.  You know, we played at different times.  We swung around the club a little bit, but just the same as everyone  else.

            I think most people stick to their own groups.  Like he's got his team around him; I've got mine.  Everything was good.  He wished me good luck and vice versa.  It was just the same as any other week.

            Q.  Do you pay attention to how he plays?

            JAMES WARD:  It would be nice, you know.  I would have watched his match against Tipsarevic last week, but he's a bit of a better player than me at the moment.  He obviously knows how to deal with these guys on a regular basis and it's still new for me.

            Q.  You said "at the moment," so you're ambitious to try and be as good as him?

            JAMES WARD:  Of course.  Why not?  He's a top player.  That's what everyone wants to do.  As I said last week, there is a lot of people fighting to do the same thing.  It's not just me.

            Each week is a different challenge.  Again, next week is another big challenge for me.

            Q.  You're thinking that's what you want to do.  That's where you've got to start?

            JAMES WARD:  Of course.  You need to be ambitious, and I am.

            Q.  What's your goal, looking past Wimbledon and maybe at the end of the season?  Have you got any targets?  Maybe top 100, top 50?

            JAMES WARD:  I think top 100 is my goal, which it was at the beginning of the year, as well.  I didn't get off to the best start of the year.  But again, if you look back on my results, I played a lot of good players, especially in Australia, and it's been a tough year.

            But I kept the belief, and now it's starting to pay off a little bit.  No reason why I can't finish the year in top 100.

            Q.  What has Diego said to you?

            JAMES WARD:  Nothing really.  I just had a shower and came in here to speak to you.  I'll speak to him after this.

            Q.  Looking forward to Wimbledon, if you can actually hand‑pick it, would you want winnable matches or ‑‑

            JAMES WARD:  Of course.

            Q.  ‑‑ if you had the chance to play Rafa or Roger on Centre Court?

            JAMES WARD:  Winnable matches, you know.  I'd like to get my ranking up, and that's the main thing, you know.

            It's not about playing Rafa or Roger or Andy on a show court.  I'm a professional.  It's my goal to be a top player, as well.

            If that comes about, then you just have to deal with it and see what can happen.  You never know.  You can beat one of the top guys, as well.  There's no reason why not.

            Q.  Has it been sort of a motivation?  I mean, over the last six months, people have said it's looking brighter on the women's side.  But on the men's side, it's just pretty much Andy.  Do you read that, and does it make you want to push you even more?

            JAMES WARD:  Not really, because I'm pushing myself all the time, you know.  It's very easy for people on the outside to look in and criticize when you're not getting the results, but you just got to keep your head down and keep doing what you're doing.  Then it's nice to show that the hard work does pay off sometimes.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 15 2011 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

R. STEPANEK/J. Tsonga

           

6‑2, 6‑3

        

        

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA

        

            THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

            Q.  He's always a difficult player to play against.  Seemed like you kind of ran out of steam a bit towards the end of the match.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Sorry, can you repeat?

            Q.  I'm saying you kind of ran out of energy perhaps a bit at the end of the match after a tough week you had.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Not at the end of the match, also at the beginning.  It was difficult for me today, because I played doubles last night and I didn't recover enough, you know, to play today.

            So I tried, but it was tough.

            Q.  You must feel you have had enough grass court preparation for Wimbledon, though?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah, of course.  I've played a lot of matches.  That was my goal for this preparation.  Today, you know, I'm just tired, but I'm sure I will recover enough to play Wimbledon and to be ready.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 15 2011 Li Na

D. HANTUCHOVA/N. Li

           

7‑6, 6‑3

        

NA LI

 

            Q.  Obviously you had chances, especially in the first set.

            NA LI:  Yeah.

            Q.  What are your thoughts on the match?

            NA LI:  I mean, yeah, I have chance but I didn't catch it, so of course ‑‑ I mean, she's ‑‑ I think we play good match today and she's play well.  I think I'm ready for Wimbledon.

            Q.  The match kind of ran away from you in the second set.  Did you get tired?

            NA LI:  No.  I mean, I was 3‑1 up, and, you know, just like ‑‑ she just boom, boom, boom.  Yeah, so I was feeling like ‑‑ I try.  I tried to come back, but, you know, I mean, after lose the match, nothing to say.  Yeah.

            Q.  What's the biggest thing that's changed in your life over the last week or so?

            NA LI:  I don't know yet, you know, because I didn't see the Internet.  I didn't go back to China.  I mean, maybe the people think I will change in life, but I never want to change my life.

            Q.  How are you received back in China?

            NA LI:  Oh, I can't tell you.  After back to China, you know.  Right now I don't know yet, because I don't know what plan they have.

            Q.  Obviously there will be a lot of attention on you.  Do you welcome that attention, or would you prefer to be more private?

            NA LI:  For me, doesn't matter.  I mean, I don't care it's like (indiscernible) or something.  You just have to be yourself, play your tennis.  I mean, you don't need to think about too much.  Yeah.

            Q.  What are your thoughts on Wimbledon now that you've started playing the grass court season?

            NA LI:  Yeah, was a little bit different than the clay court, so, I mean, I still happy I play two matches in here.  So a little bit used to have to get used to play the grass court.

            So, yeah, still have three days until Wimbledon, so of course now hard working and prepare, ready for Wimbledon.

            Q.  How is China's tennis at the moment?

            NA LI:  I don't know.  I didn't go back, you know.

            Q.  Well, you must have an idea of how well the country is doing.

            NA LI:  Really no idea, because I was like turn off my phone, I didn't see the Internet so nobody can contact with me.

            Yeah, I think I will know after I back to China.

            Q.  Just generally, you know, is Chinese tennis...

            NA LI:  You can ask her.  (Smiling.)

            Q.  Going into the French Open you said that you didn't even like clay and that maybe grass, you like grass.  How do you feel about maybe the extra expectations from people and yourself going into Wimbledon?

            NA LI:  I mean, French Open is over.  So I don't need to think about I'm doing in the French Open.

            So now is grass court season, so I just ready for the Wimbledon.  Doesn't matter lose first round or I come to the quarterfinal, semifinal.  I mean, you just play your tennis.  Yeah.

            Q.  You'll be seen as one of your favorites because of your Grand Slam record this year and you've already won a Grand Slam tournament.  Do you like being one of the favorites or does it matter to you?

            NA LI:  Oh, this is tough.  If you are famous, of course.  You lose something, like you couldn't ‑‑ walking around, like many people come with you.  But this is the life.  You have to enjoy the life what you have now.  Yeah.

            Q.  How did you start?  How did you start to go from ‑‑ what was your very first experience of tennis?

            NA LI:  I think this question I was answer a thousand times.  I was play badminton before and after I change to tennis.  Yeah.

            Q.  Did you ever think you would reach the level you have reached?

            NA LI:  Oh, this is a dream, you know.  So of course start the first day, I never think about I can win Grand Slam.  But after like two or three years, if you really enjoy this sport ‑‑ and also, you have the goal for yourself.  Yeah.

            Q.  Regarding a resurgence ‑‑ I know you can't speak for China, but generally in the Far East, do you feel there is a big interest, a swell of interest in the sport?

            NA LI:  I think now tennis in China can bigger and bigger.  If all the China player have to do much more better or even more good, I think we can improve tennis in China a lot.

            Q.  It would be nice to have other players with you?

            NA LI:  No, never.  I mean, I just sports, sportsman.  So I didn't want to do ‑‑

THE MODERATOR:  No, no.

            Q.  No, I meant it would be nice if you had a few more Chinese girls with you at big tournaments.

            NA LI:  Yeah.  The thing about ‑‑ this is the plan, also.  Yeah, of course.  I mean, you have chance, but, you know, for all the China player is tough.  We need to get visa to everywhere.  It's not easy to get a visa right now.

            If I have the plan, but if the two girls didn't have visa, nothing can say or nothing can do.  Have to plan like maybe half a year ago or so and see which big tournament they can come with me or have to see which two players can come with me.

            Q.  Have you ever had to miss a tournament because you haven't got the visa?

            NA LI:  I think before they have like ‑‑ like two years ago I was playing ‑‑ I was playing Birmingham.  The tournament start Wednesday, and I was waiting visa in Paris for three weeks.

            So I got a visa Tuesday afternoon.  I mean, this is tough.  So yeah.  So I mean, many times ‑‑ many times like we just got visa before the tournament start.  So then we have to fly, and, you know...

            Q.  Are you going to win Wimbledon?

            NA LI:  I wish.  But it's tough, I know.

                       

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 14 2011 Lleyton Hewitt

O. ROCHUS/L. Hewitt

           

6‑2, 3‑0, Ret.

        

        

LLEYTON HEWITT

        

  

            Q.  How are you feeling?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  I could be better.  No, it was touch and go whether I'd be able to play here anyway.  I slipped over last week at the end of the first set against Kohlschreiber and stirred up the foot that I had surgery on a little bit.

            So since then I've just been trying to, you know, get treatment and do all the right things.  I've been talking with the doctors here.  You know, it just hasn't quite improved as much as I would have liked by today, but I wanted to come out and try anyway.

            You know, I obviously have to focus on Wimbledon now next week.

            Q.  Is it a case that regarding Wimbledon, you didn't want to make it worse today?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  Yes and no.  I'd want it to be a lot better than it is today to be able to play Wimbledon, yeah.

            Q.  Is there any chance you might not make it to Wimbledon, then, do you think?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  Well, I'm not sure.  Yeah, I still feel like ‑‑ in another week I can, another five days or whatever, I feel like I can still get good treatment.  You know, with the right people behind me and have a couple easier days, as well, hopefully I can, yeah, start getting a little bit better.

            Q.  You are having to kind of rebound from a lot of blows at the moment.  How frustrating is it?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  Yeah, it's a little bit frustrating.  Yeah, because I'm actually quite happy with my ball striking at the moment, which is frustrating because my movement is such a big part of my game, though.

            Yeah, that's the most frustrating thing.  Yeah, I guess more frustrating when you feel or you know you've done all the right things, as well, to try and put yourself in a position.

            So, yeah, this is one of my favorite times of the year playing these grass court tournaments, as well.  So to not be 100% and going out there still trying to compete isn't, you know, that easy mentally, either.

            Q.  Do you feel you just couldn't put much power through the foot today?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  I was in pain the whole time, so it wasn't a matter of putting power into it.

            Q.  What sort of pain?  Stabbing pain or ache?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  It's more stabbing pain the whole time.  It was ‑‑ you know, I felt like it was improving, yeah, pretty well up until last week.  And then against Kohlschreiber, in the end of the first‑set tiebreak, I slipped over and, you know, sort of jarred it again which wasn't probably the best thing for it.

            Q.  Would you consider painkillers for playing Wimbledon?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  Yeah, I'll see what happens.  I haven't even thought about it yet.  I had quite a few today and it didn't work, so...

            Q.  As injections or tablets?

            LLEYTON HEWITT:  You don't need to know that.  (Laughter.)  Thanks.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 14 2011 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

J. TSONGA/D. Istomin

           

6‑2, 7‑5

        

        

JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA

        

            Q.  When did you arrive down here yesterday?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yesterday night.  Not night, but around 7:00.

            Q.  Are you getting enough grass court play?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah.  Yeah, I feel good.  I played well today, so it's good.

            Q.  What was the argument with the umpire?  What was that about?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  With the umpire?

            Q.  Yeah.  You had a conversation, long conversation with the umpire.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah, because he called some ball good was out, especially the one on the break point.

            Q.  The tennis player's life is so much traveling from one tournament to another, but this is a very quick turnover to play a final one day and the first round the next.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah, that's true.  But it's fine, because between the tournament I have only to do one hour and a half of car.

            Q.  That's pretty good for the A22, hour and a half.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah, I was not ‑‑ it was not me.  I was in the back.

            So you don't have to take the plane and don't have to go in altitude.  So it's okay.  It's all right.

            Q.  What's the difference in courts between the two?  Is this the faster, slower than Queen's, or what?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  I think it's a bit different.  It's maybe the floor is harder.

            Q.  Here?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah.

            Q.  On reflection, what are your memories especially of yesterday of the final, the high points?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  The only thing I remember, it's the two break points at 5‑All.

            Q.  The one that hit the net and just came...

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  This one and the dropshot he did.

            Q.  I don't think anyone has dived as much on a grass court since Boris Becker.  Is that ‑‑ I mean, is that something new?  I don't remember you diving like that on grass.

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  I remember when I played the first time the Queen's I dived a lot.

            Q.  As a junior?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  And after that I was not enough, you know, healthy to do that.  And since a couple of months I don't have any problem with my back, and, you know, I feel free and that's why I think I can dive.  Yeah.

            Q.  Is it something you practice, or it just happens in a match?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  No, it happen only in the match.

            Q.  If you reach the final here, you won't have much rest ahead of Wimbledon, will you?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  Yeah, that's true.  Yeah, I will see how I feel.  And if I reach the final, I reach the final and then I have to play.  This is my job, and I will ‑‑ yeah, I will, how you say, assume.

            Q.  Did you ever consider not playing here?

            JO‑WILFRIED TSONGA:  No, because I was engaged, you know.  And, you know, I have ‑‑ when you are engaged and you are healthy and you don't feel any pain ‑‑ of course I'm a bit tired but I don't feel any pain, you know, so I have to play.  I have to play because I'm engaged.  That's it.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 14 2011 Serena Williams

S. WILLIAMS/T. Pironkova

           

1‑6, 6‑3, 6‑4

        

        

SERENA WILLIAMS

        

            THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

            Q.  How difficult was that first set for you?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  How difficult was the first set?

            Q.  Yeah.

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  It wasn't too difficult.  It wasn't long.  It was over really fast, and I thought, wow, hopefully I can get some momentum.  I was just a little, I think, a little anxious and missing a tremendous amount of shots.

            Q.  Were you sort of tentative, particularly with your serve?  You seemed to build up the speed as the match went on with the serve.

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  No, I think I was hitting it; I just wasn't making them.  I think I made maybe one serve if I was lucky in the first set.  And I knew that wasn't going to get me a victory.

            Q.  How would you sum up your first match?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I played a really good player.  She's a really good player, especially on grass.  She did really well last year at Wimbledon making it to the semis, nearly making it to the final.

            You know, is wasn't an easy match, but I think more than anything I wanted to win, and I think mentally I was there.  I could have done a lot of things better, but that's okay.  I think that's expected, and I think that going forward I will continue to try to do the things that I need to do.

            Q.  Nothing beats competing, Serena.  What's it like to actually be out there in a competitive environment again?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's definitely good.  There's a lot of things mentally that I do in my mind that I'm kind of redoing again.  I'm kind of like, Okay, I've gotta do this.  Okay, Serena, this is when you want this.  It just kind of clicks.  It's like, Okay.  This is what I need to do.

            It wasn't as strong as it was when I left, but I'm hoping it will get better with every day and every match.

            Q.  Were you nervous?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  I definitely think I was nervous.  I think I was even more anxious more than anything, but there was no need for me to be anxious.

            Q.  What's the difference between anxious and nervous?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Anxious is like kind of like when you really want it so much, and nervous is like when you, like ‑‑ a little afraid.  I wasn't afraid.  I was just ‑‑ I really wanted it.

            Q.  When you spoke to the umpire after the time violation, was that because she hadn't given you any indication that she was going to do that?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah.  Usually ‑‑ well, every time I have gotten one, which is very rare, they usually tell you, Oh, Ms. Williams, or Serena, watch your time.  You're taking too much time.

            She didn't tell me that, and I didn't know ‑‑  because I was in such a zone, you know.  I was like, I had no idea I was taking a lot of time.

            So it kind of came out of left field, because never once did she say anything.  I just asked her if she could, next time, either say something or is that normal procedure or had I been gone so long that they changed it?

            I don't know.  Hopefully next time, if that happens, I'll get a prewarning like I've gotten 100% of the time before.

            Q.  What do you remember of 1998 when you first came?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Whew.  Was that me?  '98?  Far too young to have been here in '98.  I think you've got me confused.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  You made a remark at the end about how I hope you guys will give me a cheer.  Was that because you felt the crowd had been a little bit tricky during the match?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  I didn't hear the crowd.  I just was really focused.  Like I said, I was in a zone kind of.  I was really focused just trying to get my feet to move, which was a task on itself.

            So that was pretty much ‑‑ but I love it when the crowd is behind you, but that was what I was just trying to do, really.

            Q.  Were you able to enjoy it today?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Definitely.  I definitely think I had fun.  It's always good to have fun, especially after everything I've been through, like it's all fun to me now.  It's all like ‑‑ this is really a bonus, like it's all a bonus.

            Q.  It's likely ‑‑ I think you'll be playing a repeat of the Wimbledon final probably rather quickly, more than you thought it might happen.  Memories of that day perhaps?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Um, yeah.  You know, I don't remember too much from that.  I just remember a lot after that, but...

            Q.  It was over quite quickly.

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah.  You know, she's a great player.  Again, I have nothing to lose.  I'm just going to go in there and do what I can do, and whatever happens happens.  Like I said, this is all a bonus for me.

            Q.  You fell down in the last game.  Have you been told that it's safe for you to do that now, or is it something you've been told to avoid?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's safe to fall down?

            Q.  Well, the medical opinions, that it might be dangerous for you to fall.

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Look, I always try not to fall down.  (Laughter.)

            It's definitely not cool on my nails if I fall, because I can potentially break one, and that makes me really upset.  I have three weeks to get through without breaking a nail.  It's definitely not good for me to fall at all.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  How was your fall?  Did you feel anything on the injured foot at all?  Is it okay now?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  I felt a little something.  I got a little nervous.  I was like, oh.  Then I thought, this is grass.  You know, you're really moving.  You're stopping, you're going.  If I can survive this, especially with this long match, I'll be good.  And then I felt like, okay, that's something I can look forward to.

            Q.  Do you think had it not been grass you probably wouldn't have been playing yet?  Is it because it's the grass and you can perhaps get a bit more leeway with your movements and if you do fall, it's a little more cushion than falling on cement, for instance?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  I don't know.  I think if anything, grass could be harder because you're stopping so much and you're going so much, and it's an abrupt‑like stop; whereas hard court is not as intense and clay is even softer because you can kind of slide.

            So it is what it is.  I'm just here and really happy to be here.

            Q.  Any thoughts about the length of the match and not having played so well and it was quite warm out there?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Is warm?  Y'all need to go to Florida.  I was thinking, man, this is nice.  Because it was so hot in Florida I thought I was gonna melt into a little chocolate bar.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  Did you have any nice messages, good‑luck messages from friends in the States yesterday and today?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I had a couple messages.  Someone had wrote me, When do you play?  But I was angry at him, so I never wrote him back.  He was, like, dead to me.

            Couple other people wrote me good messages.  I should probably stop talking right now.  (Laughter.)

            But I got a lot of good messages, a lot of people on Twitter were like doing good.  They're cool.  I love my fans.

            Q.  Are you slightly disappointed that Andy Murray didn't take you up on your invitation to come and do a little bit of...

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  I know.  I have my machine, my karaoke machine.  I have this song that he wants to sing to REM.

            We'll do it at Wimbledon.  I'll bring it and I'll force him to sing.

            Q.  I wanted to know whether you designed your tennis dress, or is that part of your...

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, it's a part of my collection this year.  It was supposed to be retro.  It was all my favorite outfits that I've worn in the past.  This one ‑‑ no, no, that's next year.

            This year was all inspirations from like '50s and glamorous and stuff like that.  My Australia dress was kind of like Marilyn Monroe, so gorgeous.

            This is my French Open dress, and it was more or less like ‑‑ God, I can't remember the French lady.  Some famous actress I can't remember right now.

            That's what it's about.

            Q.  What color would you use to describe it?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's definitely pink with a bit of plum on the bottom.

            Q.  Brigitte Bardot, perhaps?

            SERENA WILLIAMS:  Brigitte Bardot.  Yes.