Roland Garros June 4 2011 - Rafael Nadal (Pre - final)

RAFAEL NADAL

  

            Q.  You and Roger have met 24 times over the years.  Are there any match or matches in particular that you have especially fond memories from that you remember especially well?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Against Roger?

            Q.  Yeah, throughout the years.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I think we had a lot of fantastic matches:  final of Rome, final of Miami 2005, final of Rome 2006.  For sure the 2007 final of Wimbledon, 2008 final of Wimbledon, Australia.

            A lot of important matches for our careers.  A lot of emotions in these kind of matches.  That makes this match always very special, no?  Always we play these matches when we were No. 1 and No. 2 or No. 2 and No. 1.  That makes it special always.

            Q.  Were you surprised to find out it's Roger again, and what do you think of his level after yesterday's match?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No surprise.  You are more surprise than me, for sure.  We know how good is Roger.  Roger is having I think, in my opinion, a good season.  He lost only against Novak in Australia, Dubai, Indian Wells, against me in Miami, against me Madrid.

            Always there in semifinals, finals, winning in Doha.  So he's having a very good year, no?  Impossible to be every week at your best.  What Roger did in his career is something impossible to repeat for the rest of the players today, I think.

            So he's fantastic, and he's not surprise for me.  He's very, very good player.  Always is honor to play against him, and for sure is not surprise to see Roger in the final of another Grand Slam.

            Q.  Does it change the way you see the final, though, with in Roger in it rather than Novak, the way you think about it?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, yeah, it's a little bit different match.  At the same time, I know I have to play at my highest level to have chances to win, because he is playing fantastic.  The match of yesterday probably give to him a little bit more confidence.  So he know he was playing fantastic during all the tournament.

            But after the victory of yesterday he must feel very confident, no?  Was fantastic match yesterday to watch, in my opinion, so I had lot of fun watching that match.

            Nothing new against Roger.  I know what's gonna happen.  I know he gonna play aggressive, for sure.  I have to try to play long, to play consistent all the time, and try to be aggressive when I have the chance.

            Q.  If you compare your feeling this year with the other finals you played here, do you feel is anything different this year?  Can you compare it with your level of play, with your confidence before the other finals you played here?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No.  Every year is completely different.  I cannot compare every year, because every year is different.

            But the only final that I really felt very confident was in 2008, because I feel myself playing better than ever that final.  The rest of the finals you go on court, you know, you know you play against one of the best players of the world in everyone.  Gonna be the fourth against him, against Roger.

            You know that when you play against him you can win, but you have a lot of chances to lose, too.  You have to accept both things, try to play your best, and we will see what's going on.

            Q.  Does that not, though, give you a huge lift mentally to know he only won a handful of games last time you played in a final here?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Sorry?

            Q.  Does that not give you great encouragement to remember that in 2008 he won only four games against you in the final?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, that doesn't make that...

            Q.  Can you use that to your advantage, remembering how brilliant you were on that day?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Is three years later, so is impossible to compare matches three years before than three years later.  That's something that is impossible to think.  Every day is different, so every year change a lot of things.

            And I say before the feeling of every year is completely different, so is impossible.  I gonna go on court knowing that I can lose 100%, and I can win, I hope.  So I gonna try.

            Q.  You watched the match yesterday.  From what you saw in his game, what will be the key tomorrow for you and with those balls that we've talked a lot?  Did you get used to these balls now?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  The balls?  The balls, everybody talked a lot about balls because is a new brand, but the balls are pretty similar, in my opinion, to last year.  The balls are really good ball, so that's not for the ball one player gonna win, another one gonna lose.

            I saw him yesterday playing fantastic in every moment.  My key always the same:  play at my best.  Sometimes is not enough.  But if I play my best, hopefully gonna have my chances.

            Q.  It's been two‑and‑a‑half years since you met last time in a Grand Slam final.  Are you happy to see him again on such a big stage, Roger?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  What's a big stage?  Stage because...

            Q.  Such a big tournament, like a Grand Slam tournament.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Had one in Australia.  I didn't play against him in Australia, but he won Australia.  Last year at the end of the season he won the Masters Cup.

            So is impossible to have bigger stages than these ones.  So is not for two years‑and‑a‑half that Roger is not in a finals of Grand Slam?  Is not for two‑years‑and‑a‑half that Roger is not playing well.  Roger is playing well almost every time.

            Last year he lost unbelievable match in the semifinals of the US Open.  So he was there all the time playing fantastic.  He had fantastic end of the season last year winning, I don't know, a lot of tournaments.

            So for me, I am happy to play against him, because always is an honor to play against the best player of the history.  Because play against him always represents something very special.

            But not because I saw him another time at his top level, because I always saw him with enough potential to win in every tournament.

            Q.  There is a chance that it could rain tomorrow, or that the conditions could be very wet.  Do you think that would be an advantage...

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Rain tomorrow?

            Q.  A lot of rain.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Rain?

            Q.  They say it could be raining tomorrow.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Yeah.

            Q.  So if the conditions would be like that, rather wet, do you think that would be an advantage for Roger because your topspin balls maybe don't bounce as high, or is it more an advantage for you because his serves maybe are not as good as they are in fast conditions?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  For me, I prefer the sunshine always, and higher bounces.  So for my game is better if the ball is fast and if the bounces are higher.

            If rains, if the rain is there and the day is cloudy, sometimes the ball stays lower.  So that's a little bit an advantage for him.

            But seriously, I don't have the power to control the weather, so if rain, I gonna think that is an advantage for me; if sunshiny, gonna think is advantage for me.  I have to think positive all the time because I cannot control that.

            THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions, please.

            Q.  Good morning, Rafa.  I guess you saw the tiebreak in the first set during Roger's semifinal yesterday.  I think you saw the entire match.  Most people say this match is just as impressive as the one you played in Wimbledon.  Would you say that's one of the most beautiful matches in the last years, just a very good match?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, it's a very good match.  It's a fantastic match from a tennis standpoint.  They both played at a very high level, playing spectacular points.  But when you see it on TV, it changes things.  You can't appreciate it as much as when you're on the court.

            But his level of tennis was absolutely excellent, and I don't think you can compare a final in Wimbledon with a semifinal.  I don't think the final in Wimbledon represents the same thing as the semifinal yesterday.

            When you talk about quality of game, then I don't know if it was better yesterday or in Wimbledon.  But I think that there are far more elements you need to take into account, and there are more matches in a Grand Slam.

            In Wimbledon there was much more at stake after I had been in the final for two times and I had lost.  If I won, that was a great opportunity for me to be No. 1 again after being No. 2 for three years.

            Obviously there was this problem of the rain and darkness at the end of the match.  But from the tennis standpoint, it was an excellent match yesterday, even though darkness was back at the end of the match.

            Although it was an excellent match, I don't think you can compare the two.

            Q.  You've seen Roger Federer playing that well on clay as you did yesterday?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, I didn't see all the match.  I just saw parts of the match, so I can't tell you.  But I saw him playing a very high level of tennis.

            I saw him playing Monfils, as well.  But I couldn't watch more.  He only lost one set all the way to the final, so it means that he played a very high level.  I think it's not a surprise Roger made it to the final, because he always made it to a final just playing always his matches very well.

            So it's not a surprise for me to see him playing in a very constant way.  Over the last month, maybe he gave you a feeling that he was not all that consistent or that constant and he lost a few sets, but he played very well in Rome.

            He is a very consistent, and seeing him playing so well is not a surprise to me.

            Q.  I know you already answered this question in English, but you always say that Roger is "the" best player in history, and this is exactly what he says about you on clay.  So I think we can expect a wonderful match tomorrow.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I don't know.  Wonderful match?  Well, a final in a Grand Slam is always a very special match.  Now, is it gonna be a wonderful match?  Well, it all depends, you know.

            In a final you have great tension, and this is not always easy to manage.  So the final is not always the best match in the tournament.  We have played some of our best matches in the finals and it's always been very special.  It also witnesses our rivalry over the last years.

            Now apparently there are other players, but we will see what happens.  If it was not a huge match, then ‑‑ I'm going to do everything I can to play my best and try and win; if it's not the case, Roger plays at a very high level and he can win.

            But I'll try and win.

            Q.  Rafa, 24 matches you win here; five times you won the final.  So at the beginning of the tournament this year, you had some doubts with the weather, with the new balls.  But then you didn't lose any set, so would you say that the image you have as "the" player who can't be defeated here in Roland Garros makes the other players look ‑‑ smaller players like Andujar who lost in three sets?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, I don't think you can compare the match of yesterday with other matches during the first and second round, because you have to be really prepared.  If you're not prepared, you have to go home.  I was prepared.  I had the preparation that allowed me to win.

            I think the success I had in this tournament since I started playing here is something which is difficult to explain.  I mean, it was impossible for me to explain a few years ago, but it's a dream that came true.

            The positive thing about this is that we all tend to try and see whether I played better, worse, or the same.  Without going into details, I was in a final six times, and I won five times out of six.

            And it's difficult to improve such results, but then from a mental and physical standpoint, the consequences are quite huge.  So for me it's a dream that came true.  So many victories over the last years, so many victories would tend to make things look a bit confused, and you don't really understand what's going on this year.

            So probably coming here, that's the reason why I didn't start the tournament well.  But I did improve in the second week and in the semifinal, and I've reached the final again here in Paris.  As I said before, maybe people expect too much ‑‑ we can all make mistakes, and we all need to realize what happened during this tournament.

            Q.  Would you say that the weather is going to have an influence on the match tomorrow?  What can you say about the weather tomorrow?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I don't know more than you do.  I'll log on the Internet and look at the weather forecast.  I have no crystal balls to tell me what the weather's gonna be like.  If the conditions are very wet and if it's very hot, then it makes me think that the rain is going to come.

            If the weather is bad, well, we'll cope with it.  We are hoping it's not going to rain.  If it does rain, well, then we'll wait.

            Q.  When you are down in a game or in a set because of the weather, because of the rain, of the atmosphere which is very heavy, would you say that Federer is quite robust and can cope with the situation?  Would you say you're better than him at that?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, to be honest, someone with 16 Grand Slams under his belt, having been No. 1 or No. 2 in the world for so many years, who is a holder of the records, thinking that he's not solid enough to cope with the conditions despite his talent, I think that's a big mistake.

            Even if a player plays very well, even he is an excellent player ‑ and he is such a player ‑ there are always problems.  He had to overcome many problems, many bad weather conditions.  So facing problems, overcoming problems, is what such great players can do.

            As for me, I'm used to fighting.  I've been able to cope with difficult conditions in the past, so I will fight too.

            Q.  Given the results between the two of you ‑ especially on clay ‑ and given the difficulties he has with your game, would you say you have an advantage from a mental standpoint?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, I don't think so.  I don't want to think about it anyway, because you walk on the court and you know that the other one can take the lead at any time because of his spectacular serve, that he can attack with very powerful first serves, that he can have winning returns with an exceptional quality.

            So I don't think that he has an advantage or that I have an advantage.  All I know is that I need to play my tennis, to play very well, to strike perfect shots each time, so that I can have all possible opportunities to win and make him realize that it's not gonna be easy to play against me.

Roland Garros June 4 2011 - Na Li

N. LI/F. Schiavone

           

6‑4, 7‑6

           

           

NA LI

            Q.  Congratulations, Li.  Great win.  I have two questions.  One of them is if the match had gone to three sets, we know that Schiavone is very good in coming back and fighting till the end, especially in the last set.  Would that have made you quite nervous?  Were you thinking about that?  And the second question is:  Your country has won Paris Grand Slam tournament for the first time.  We know that when Borg won, started winning Grand Slams, it made a big boom in Swedish tennis.  With a force like China, do you expect so much follow‑up in tennis?

            NA LI:  First one I think never happen because I win in two sets.  (Laughter.)

            And, I mean, if you come to final set, of course never know what happen because she's fighting a lot, and also I'm for sure fighting a lot on the court.  So you never know what happened.

            The second one, I mean, of course after first Chinese player can with can win the Grand Slam, I mean, a little bit proof for China tennis, also.  I think maybe China not like Sweden.  They have many top 1 player growing up, but I still believe China tennis were getting bigger and bigger.

            Q.  To me it's time to say to you, Gong xi, gong xi.

            NA LI:  Oh, xie xie.

            Q.  You know, in China there is million people has been watch the final.  When will you return in China, and what are you expected from your Chinese, from Chinese people?

            NA LI:  I mean, biggest right now is, you know, after French that next two weeks is Wimbledon, so I don't have time to go back to China right now.

            So I go back after Wimbledon.  If I didn't do well in Wimbledon, maybe people forget me already.  These are tough times, you know.

            I think right now I think the best time for me, because I can enjoy with my team.  Not like Melbourne.  After back to China, you know, many people come to you.

            Yeah, now just enjoy the team and try to focus on Wimbledon.  Yeah.

            Q.  Can you tell me, after being in the Melbourne final, did that help you for this final, knowing the kind of thing to expect from crowds?  And then second, in the second set when you were serving 4‑3 and got broken, was it from nerves or what happened after that?

            NA LI:  I mean, in Melbourne was the first time in the final.  Of course you didn't have any experience before.  You come one time final already, and you know what to do in this time.

            And for tennis, like 4‑3 for the serve is mean nothing, because the chair umpire didn't say, Game, set, match.  So both players still have chance.

            I think of course was nervous.  I mean, come to the final and so many people watching you.  I mean, yeah.

            But is good.  Finally I can win the match.  Yeah.

            Q.  Congratulations.  Can you tell us what it feels like to be a Grand Slam champion?  What's going through your mind?  Has it set in?  It's about an hour or so.  Just the feeling of being in such elite company.

            NA LI:  I mean, of course feeling ‑‑ you know, today is the dream come true.  Like I was a young player, I want be the Grand Slam champion ‑‑ but today.  Someone saying I'm getting old.  So, you know, the old woman like the dream come true.  Not easy.

            You know, also, like 6‑Love in the tiebreak, I was thinking about, Okay, don't do stupid thing.  Yeah, because like before I have many match points but I never win the match.  So I was like, Okay, you need one point, and then you can get.

            Of course, exciting.  Not so many player can win the Grand Slam.  Yeah.

            Q.  Congratulations.  I saw people in your family box like a coach or the husband put on a shirt which had Chinese characters.

            NA LI:  Yeah.

            Q.  I am Japanese, so I can sense some like meaning, but I don't know exactly what the meaning of that.  So could you explain about that, the Chinese letters?

            NA LI:  Just before the start French Open, I mean, Nike China they do T‑shirt for me.  They have Chinese, like, Be yourself.  So, yeah, they just ask me, Is okay to wear this T‑shirt?  I say, Of course.  Why not?

            They only make the T‑shirt for ‑‑ 30 T‑shirt all of the China.  I think now they should make more of it, because many ‑‑ yeah, a lot of fans was ask where they have the T‑shirt.

            Q.  Congratulations.  You stopped playing in 2002.  Could you tell us why you did that and went to university for study journalism?  Did you ever expect to come back stronger and being a Grand Slam champion?

            NA LI:  I mean, yeah, I think because like before the ranking always like over 120, and also always play small tournament.  I think is no challenge for the self, so is why I say should stop, and come to university to learn different way.

            I mean, because I didn't want like end of the career only way to the end.  So I have to change myself a little bit.  After two years, I think is the time to come back.

            So that's why.  Yeah.

            Q.  In the night between the 3rd and the 4th June, 1989, there was revolution in Tiananmen, and today you think is an important day for tennis like revolution in tennis?

            NA LI:  I think I just tennis player.  I don't need to answer just this question.  I only focus on my tennis on the court.

            Q.  Do you think it's an important moment, historical?

            NA LI:  I mean, if you didn't say, I never know it happen.  I mean, this is tough.  I don't want to answer.

            Q.  Congratulations for your victory.  Just after your victory against Silvia Soler‑Espinosa, we had a one‑to‑one interview, and I actually told you that Kim Clijsters was out.  You looked at me ‑ and I still have the video ‑ and it looked like you were pretty shocked by the news.  Did it really make a difference on the way you actually saw your table there at that moment?

            NA LI:  I mean, like Kim Clijsters out I mean second round, right?  Is far away.  And also, you don't need think about what opponent for third round, fourth round.  You have to be round by round.

            I have a lot of experience.  Like before, if I think too much always like lose easy.  So I never think about what I should do.  I only focus on next round, and then, yeah.

            Q.  Congratulations.  How did you prepare technically and tactically this match?  I thought you really handled her slice very well.  How did you prepare the match?

            NA LI:  You know, I play six matches already.  I mean, if I couldn't slice, I couldn't come to the final, right?  And also, if you play clay court, you have to know how to slice.

            Q.  Her slice?

            NA LI:  Her slice?

            Q.  Yes.

            NA LI:  Yeah, but, you know, my husband is my hitting partner.  He can hit slice, also.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  Congratulations.  In Melbourne you said that your mom had never watched you play live tennis.  Did she watch today?

            NA LI:  I don't think so.  I didn't contact with her, you know.  I mean, it's tough, because like before my ‑‑ how do you say it?  Like mom ‑‑ sister?  They always say, Oh, she's play now.  And then she turn off the TV because it made her nervous.

            I don't think she's watch.  Yeah, but I will contact her later.

            Q.  You have been working with Thomas Hogstedt from Sweden, and the last weeks with Michael Mortensen from Denmark.  Is that a good influence, or the training of many years with your husband is the principal thing?  How do you see this?

            NA LI:  I think the player change coaches like normal.  Like for the coach, you couldn't with the player for like five or ten years.  You know, every coach haves like good ‑‑ how you say?  Like good way for the players.

            So I just want change.  I want to be even better, so that's why after Melbourne I was change my team a little bit.  I have a new coach with me now.  Yeah.

            Q.  Congratulations.  For the fun of it, if you were still in journalism school and the teacher said, Tell us the meaning of this wonderful Chinese player who just won the Grand Slam, what would you write?

            NA LI:  Dream come true.  Yeah, I would like to say, you know, because in China never have champion for the Grand Slam, so that's why in China so many player working so hard.

            Because the dream is can be the top player or win the Grand Slam.  So I would like to say, yeah, dream come true.

            Q.  How do you feel when your flag of your country flutter or flying?  The flagpole for the first time, the flag because you win for the first time.

            NA LI:  I think it's amazing, because I only know like before only like Asia Game or Olympics they can have fly.  But, I mean, of course amazing time this time.

            And also I got a text message from my friend.  They said they were crying in China because they saw the national flag was come up.

            I think if you being Chinese, everyone was exciting during the time.  Yeah.

            Q.  Congratulations.  You've had good results at Wimbledon before, so do you think you can carry this form on to the grass?

            NA LI:  Change of surface.  Right now, like Schiavone say, just enjoy and take two or three days off.  Yeah, I will come to Eastbourne for the tournament.

Roland Garros June 4 2011 - Francesca Schiavone

N. LI/F. Schiavone

           

6‑4, 7‑6

           

           

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

            Q.  You made a great effort of comeback in the second set.  It was a great game.  Was it that you tried to change your styles and come to net often, play slice, topspin, a variety of game?  Was this your tactic all over the match, or how did you intend to deal with her speed of ball?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I think the match style that she played, really deep, so I couldn't play my spin really high so she could come in.  She played really high level through one set and 2‑1, 3‑1, she was playing really good.

            And then I tried to push more, to risk more, and she went down with the level.  But it's normal.  Tennis is always like this.

            I think at the end, we were really close and could be for me the set or for her.  But at the end, she won.  She deserve ‑‑ I think she deserve this final.  She fight a lot, and she played good also on the clay.

            Q.  It was a very tough match and a close one.  What do you think makes Li Na, what kind of shots or like skill makes her tough to play, her forehand or her serve or her backhand?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, I thought she serve a good percentage of serve.  She prepared these kind of thing, because she didn't want to play the second ball to be attacked.  I think of course the backhand she can play much better in every part of the court.

            But today I saw with the forehand first set was deep, everything was going really close to the baseline.  She played good.

            Q.  You won the final last year, and you are in the final this year.  Was there pressure for you to play another final and be scared to lose this match?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, no.  Why be scared to win, not to lose?

            No, I was ready to play intensive match.  I think today we played some amazing moment or great points.  No, always ready to take everything that can arrive.

            So no, I lived a good moment.  It's okay.  In life you can win; you can lose.  But was tough, and it's okay.

            Q.  She did today something similar to what you did last year in some ways.  You came from a tennis culture, from a Western way of life, and she's coming from China.  Do you appreciate or have any feelings about how big this is for her to be able to accomplish this and win a Grand Slam?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, of course.  I can imagine many people, China's people watching tennis.  I think it's important also from them to know the clay over there.  I think they are just hard courts.  This can be a good start for them.

            In Europe we know much more the clay.  Maybe is different between mentally or culturally between them and us.  But is good for them to start.

            Q.  Last year you played a hard hitter also, Samantha Stosur, and you kept her off balance from the beginning by playing clever and tricky shots.  This time it didn't seem like you tried to do that as much until the second set.  Was it because she was keeping you off balance, or why not?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, I think she keep me really far away from the net or inside the court, so I was always too defense.  With the slice was not easy because she has good timing and she has good preparation with the legs.

            But when she played a little bit short or I played a little bit more aggressive, she couldn't come in so easy.

            So it's a mix, I think, from the start until the score she played so good, and then I played higher level and she went a little bit down.

            Q.  I think you played her last year here.  She talked about her education and her improvement on clay.  Is she a different player on clay this year than before?  Do you sense any improvement in her game on any surface?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yeah, she run much more in particular.  When I play really good in that side and then I played to the other side on forehand, she arrive with the legs before she was arriving and hitting the ball.

            Now she can arrive and hit one or two shot more.  That's big difference on the clay.  She slides a little bit more.  Yeah, can make, in some points, the difference for her, eh?

            Q.  She is rising the way you have been the last two year or two like you are up the rankings.  Do you feel she can be a No. 1 player?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  I don't know.  Is open, but to be No. 1 you have really to win many, many matches, huh?  Not just one tournament, one Grand Slam.

            Maybe she has to win another one.  But everybody are hungry.  I don't know if she can win another one.  (Smiling.)

I'm joking.

            Q.  The overall deuce at 5‑6 clearly came at a big point.  Did you sort of feel like that kind of swung the momentum back in her way?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  (Translation in Italian.)  I don't saw the ball.  If the ball is out, I call out.  Steal the ball.  If the ball is out, I call out.  If the ball is in, is in.  That's what they teach me from when I was young, and that's what I want to teach in the future to the other person, to the kids.

            So if I call the ball out, the percentage that I mistake, it's really, really low.  So if you explain me this is the mark and this is out and you explain me really the sign, I can believe you.

            But that ball, no.

            Q.  Good tournament.  A question about emotions and feelings.  In our sport there's victory and there's defeat.  Obviously last year, so much joy, such happiness; today, a feeling of loss.  Years from now, which do you think will have more impact?  How do you think they will compare?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  The impact to win, it's a big difference than to lose.  But I'm happy to be here, because now I can ‑‑ I can feel much more what I did last year, much more.  To arrive close to win is different than to win.  Big different.

            But in the same time, I can say that to arrive in final is mean that I have always one chance to take a trophy.

            So the emotion are a lot, and sometimes you don't control it.  Sometimes you can control more.  So I'm happy to be here.  Doesn't matter win or lose, I want to live every moment.

            Q.  You just said you don't steal people.  Do you have the feeling you have been stolen from something today after this overrule?  And how important was it today in the outcome of the match?

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  No, one ball can't make the difference so much, but in that moment, you have to check really good the ball.  That's what I contest.

            After she decide that the ball was in, but I don't think can make the difference, because then I played other six, seven points. 

            Q.  After this ball you lost every point.

            FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE:  Yes.  (Laughter.)  What I have to say?  The true or I have to joke?

            Italian questions?  (Laughter.)

Roland Garros June 3 2011 - Roger Federer

R. FEDERER/N. Djokovic

           

7‑6, 6‑3, 3‑6, 7‑6

           

ROGER FEDERER

           

            Q.  Wonderful, wonderful match, Roger.  Congratulations.

            ROGER FEDERER:  Thank you.

            Q.  Is this the best match you have played in the year 2011?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Yeah.  I would think so, yeah.  I hope it was, because I thought it was played at a very high level for a very long time.

            I can only talk about myself, but I thought I did really well today.  It was a tough start, really, where I was able to break.  There was break backs, because that's kind of how we play against each other.  It's so intense and he's such a good return player that I always know he's got something in his racquet to really break me, as well.

            I really wanted to make it as physical as possible, which I was able to make it happen.  I think the end of the first and beginning of the second set was key to, you know, the outcome almost in the fourth set.

            So I was really happy the way I played.  I thought at the end it was also quite mental, you know, both of us know that whoever is going to win the set, either it's over or we have to come back tomorrow, which makes it more tricky.

            So for this reason obviously I'm somewhat relieved that I don't have to come back tomorrow, even that would have been no problem.  I thought it was a great match from both sides, really.

            Q.  Actually watching it, there were a few of us who thought it was vintage tennis, perhaps the best we have seen since the final of Wimbledon in 2008.  Would you perhaps concur with that?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Possibly, yeah.  I mean, I think I haven't disappeared since, you know.  I think I've played some great matches since and i did some sacrifices.  I wasn't lying on the beach.

            So I'm pretty happy that I made that effort over the years, and that, you know, when it really counts I'm at the big occasion, you know.  So I think today was one of those moments.  There was a lot on the line for Novak, a lot of pressure obviously going in, and I thought he handled it great, really.

            He got maybe a bit unlucky in the first set, but he hung in there and almost pushed it to five.  Obviously you never know on a different day what's gonna happen.

            Look, it was a pleasure playing against him today I thought.  I told him at the net as well.  I said I think his record speaks for itself, how great he's played already this season, and it's not even over yet.  He can still achieve so much more this year.

            And, yeah, I thought we played some great tennis.  The way the crowd got into it, as well, towards the end of the match, I mean, the way they back me here in Paris is just an amazing feeling.  So obviously I know I'm very privileged to live this in my career.

            Q.  I want to say thank you because of the best tennis match I saw in my life.

            ROGER FEDERER:  Okay.  Any time.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  In any time of the match did you think you can lose this match?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Honestly, I was very confident, you know, especially once I was up 7‑6, 4‑1.  I kind of felt like this match is not gonna slip out my hands, even though I probably missed another 10 or 15 break points at the end of the second set.

            I just felt you don't give me such a lead and then think you can crawl back into the match.  I knew I was probably gonna close this out.  That was just a feeling I had.

            Q.  You stopped Rafa once; you were the last one who beat Djokovic.  You stop now Djokovic.  Do you have something against these records?

            ROGER FEDERER:  No, but Rafa and Novak and other guys have stopped me, too.  It's just the way it goes, you know.  (Laughter.)

            I said it earlier, I wasn't here to spoil the party.  I mean, just trying to put in a good match and trying to get to the French Open finals, which I'm now obviously happy I'm able to.

            But almost feels somewhat like I've won the tournament, which is not the case, you know.  Silverware is still out there to be won, and I'm looking forward to the match with Rafa, which I guess is my true rival for the last ‑‑ all those years, you know, since he became world No. 1.

            I remember playing him in Miami for the first time, so this is obviously another big match.  It always seems to me that Rafa needs to be in a French Open final to make it special, and I got the match I guess I was hoping for.

            After beating Novak, it's in a way a gift that I get the chance, and I'm looking forward to it.

            Q.  Can you say what was going through your head at 4‑5 in the fourth when Djokovic was serving for the set?  And then also if you have any different tactics for tomorrow or on Sunday playing against Rafa?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Look, I mean, I was disappointed I got broken at 4‑All, because I had such a huge game.  Because being down 4‑5 or being up 5‑4 is just a huge change.  I don't know how to explain.

            It's just all of a sudden four points away instead of being 12 points away, and, you know, a mountain to climb again.

            So I knew I kind of messed up and got maybe a bit unlucky, because I think I did take the right decisions.  Look, it happens.  Novak is a great player, and I never sort of gave up even though I knew, Okay, he's playing well; he's taking it away from me and he should close it up.

            But I got into a tough first point, and I kind of felt like from there on I was probably gonna break him back because it was getting slower, it was getting barker.  It was just tough when you're not feeling 100% to keep the ball in play, I just felt.

            That's why I felt I played a great return game, and then I played one of the best breakers again.  I was able to mix it up, serve great, clutch serve when I had to, and I just kind of felt good, obviously.

            Q.  Sorry to bring this up after such an incredible win, but the last time you played Rafa here three years ago you won four games.  What are you gonna do that's different?  Do you have a plan?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Yeah, I mean, not yet.  We played a great match in Madrid against each other, so obviously I've got my hands full with him now.  Whoever thinks it's gonna be a walk in the park is so wrong, you know.  Everybody knows how many times he's gotten me here in Paris.

            I'm happy I never got sort of a letdown just because he has beaten me here and just that I stopped believing.  That's why I got the Roland Garros in 2009, which remains one of my most special wins, really, in my career.

            And I have another opportunity to beat Rafa here and get the French Open title.  I've got to play some extraordinarily special tennis.  I'm aware of that.  But I obviously took a huge step today, and hope I can get everything together for the finals.

            Q.  You didn't use dropshot, but you felt the ball great or you were waiting for the end or why this happened?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, Novak plays very much on the baseline.  He plays very, I mean, flat and hard and deep shots, so it kind of makes it more difficult to use the dropshot.  If you do hit it, you have to hit it perfect, otherwise he's gonna eat it up.  So that was pretty simple.

            THE MODERATOR:  French questions, please.

            Q.  Compared to all your other matches on clay, would you say that this one is one of your best in the top three?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, with regards to its importance, it's a very big one.  It's one on which I had lots of expectations.  And when a match is so important to make things even bigger, I'm very proud of my performance today.  But as I said, the tournament is not over yet.  But it's true, it's a great match.

            Now, did I win it in three or four sets?  I don't care.  What's important is that I played a beautiful match against a player which is in great shape.  So that's gonna be a special victory, probably more special than others.

            Q.  When you play incredible points, as you did today, and the crowd is so happy, are you aware of this?  Is this motivating?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Yes, quite a lot.  And when I play in Switzerland, I find it normal to have this kind of support.  But in a foreign country ‑‑ we have no Grand Slam tournament in Switzerland, so when I play in Switzerland in and in a foreign country and I get this support from a crowd, when I feel people supporting me, being happy, being proud even though I do nothing to conquer their hearts.

            But when it happens naturally, then I'm even more happy, because, you know, you are on the road and it fuels my motivation.  It helps me play longer, because it's a great pleasure to play in such an atmosphere.

            So as I said, before this match, I had not had any real difficult matches.  So maybe the crowd has not had time to really appreciate my matches.

            But this time it was a full match, and the atmosphere was incredible.  I'd like to thank the crowd for their support, because it really helped me today.

            Q.  Since Australia 2010, you've not reached a final in a Grand Slam.  Was it a long time for you?  Have you ever doubted you'd be back in a final?

            ROGER FEDERER:  No, not really.  I was very close in the US Open, and then I'm playing a final here against Rafa.  Novak played very well in the US Open and also in Australia.

            Last year maybe I had a hard time here and in Wimbledon, but it's all ‑‑ it's sometimes difficult to play the perfect match.

            So that's why you have to accept it and continue to work.  I've always made it to the quarterfinals or even semifinals, so that's another step forward for me today.

            I made it to the final and I'd like to win it.  I know I'll have to play Rafa, but I'll be ready.

            Q.  Would you say that you're currently playing your best tennis on clay?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, honestly, I feel very well.  I think I move very well.  I'm never stressed.  If there is a ball that you miss, it's just because the other one played it very well, and not because I made a mistake or I played bad tennis on the return, on my serve.

            That's why I'm very happy at the moment with my game.  Is it my best?  I don't know.

            Q.  What was the key today for you to beat Novak Djokovic?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, not fearing long rallies, be very much present physically and mentally.  I had a lot of confidence.  So quite clearly it goes through your mind, because each time he manages to save a break ball, you think, Okay, he played very well, and it's because of his confidence that he makes the right decision all the time.

            So it makes it a bit difficult to stay calm.  But before the match I was thinking I had difficulties being calm.  But then, I mean, my mental and my physical shape were great, so we played exactly the match I expected or I hoped.  It was difficult, but we ‑‑ I closed it in four sets.

            Q.  It's as if you were not aware of the extraordinary level of game that we have during the first set.  Did you realize what good tennis it was?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, yes, because I can even feel it.  We run, so we felt when the first five games take more than half an hour that each game is played on very long rallies when you have to fight and struggle for each point.

            I know how much work I put in my points and people tend to forget that, but it was a bit the same thing in Australia.  In Australia luck was on his side.  He won; this time I won.  It was very tough.

            And today we also played for a very long time.  We were tired, and the first set was huge.  I'm very much aware of that.

            Q.  Just before you said you didn't do anything to conquer the hearts of the crowd.  There was Kuerten that really showed his emotion on the court, Francesca Schiavone kissing the clay.  Did you ever do anything specific?

            ROGER FEDERER:  Well, I try and speak French the best I can.  (Laughter.)  I can't really.  I make lots of mistakes.  Maybe that's what I do.  But I don't think I need to do anything like that.

            I think people know how much I love Roland Garros, how dear this tournament is to my heart.  I think that's enough.

            But then, I mean, we all have our ways of expressing our emotions, and that's good in tennis to see that people are different.