2008年01月27日
アナ・イバノビッチ（全豪08）
Saturday, 26 January, 2008
アナ・イバノビッチがマリア・シャラポバに5-7、3-6でストレート負け。グランドスラム大会の決勝進出が２回目のイバノビッチは、負けてもいたってポジティブ。若くて駆け出しということが大きいのでしょうか、学ぶことがたくさんあったといたって健康的なコメント。記者会見もフレンドリーな印象です。
言い訳：
１）第一セットではチャンスがたくさんあったがそうした機会を利用することが出来なかった。それによって、シャラポバは逆に自信を深めてしまった。
２）大事な場面でフォアハンドのミスをたくさんやってしまった。一方、
３）サーブやフォアハンドの調子が落ちたときを上手く利用されてしまった。
４）シャラポバのサービスが良かったので、リターンがとても難しくチャンスがなかった。精神的に参った。
５）ドロップショットのミス連発など打つべきショットの選択を間違えた。
使えそうなフレーズもありました；
１）I managed to hold my nerves really well.（ナイス・キープなんて日本語ではいいますけど、Holdでしょうね。英語圏では）
２）She was a break up, and then I broke her back.（ブレークバックは素人もプロも同じ）
Q. How was the feeling of your second Grand Slam final compared to your first?
ANA IVANOVIC: It was definitely a better experience. I won more games. It's a little bit disappointing because I thought I had a lot of chances in that first set but didn't use them.
But, you know, still, it's a learning experience for me. I fought hard, you know. I just felt a little bit let down with my forehand, made some big mistakes in crucial moments.
So, you know, that wasn't something I was hoping for. But, still, she played well and she had a great tournament.
Q. Was anxiety and nerves ever a factor out there?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, not really. I really felt comfortable out there. I wasn't too nervous at all.
Obviously in the beginning, like everyone other match, but I managed to hold my nerves really well out there today. I was serving quite well, and on some occasions I would a little bit drop.
But she's a tough opponent and she saw, you know, when I had troubles with my serve or with my forehand and she used that well.
Q. Did you think she played well today?
ANA IVANOVIC: I think she played well. She was a little bit nervous, I would say. She had also chances in the beginning of the first set. She was a break up, and then I broke her back.
Yeah, and then I still had some chances on my own, and she still fought hard and played some good tennis and managed to win that first set, and I'm sure that gave her confidence.
Q. Was the heat on center court, did that have any effect on you at all?
ANA IVANOVIC: Not at all. I practiced hard in Sydney in December, and it was really hot. Today on the court was much warmer than any other day, but still, you know, I enjoyed it. It wasn't bothering me at all.
Q. You said all tournament you haven't really played your best tennis here in the last few weeks. Was that the case again today? If so, what do you need to work on?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I felt I played some good tennis in these two weeks. You know, that gave me a lot of confidence. Today, you know, just in some important moments I, you know, misshit a lot.
You know, I knew I had to be aggressive, and that type of game will obviously cause more mistakes. That was the case, and I just made maybe few too many mistakes.
But, you know, it's definitely a great experience for me. This position I was in, you know, it was my second final, Grand Slam final. So it's something, you know, I can learn from, and this experience helped me. She was in this situation more times than I was.
Q. Her serve was outrageous today, barely losing a point.
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, it was a little bit disappointing for me because she was serving so well. It was hard for me to control the returns. I tried to focus on my serve, and I managed to hold my serve most of the times.
But, you know, it's very hard because I didn't get many chances on her serve, so it was a little disappointing for me.
Q. Did you regret the dropshot most of all?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, it hurts, I can tell you that (laughter). Yeah, it was a little bit poor shot selection, I would say.
Q. Sometimes in sport you need to have a loss like this to give you incentive for the next time, maybe like Maria had last year. Will you build on this one now and work on next year?
ANA IVANOVIC: For sure. I already felt much better, you know, in today's final than I felt in the French Open final. So it's something very positive.
And obviously I was emotional out there and I was really disappointed I couldn't take these chances I had. But, you know, at the other hand, I'm still young and I still think I have a lot of Grand Slam finals in front of me. So it's just a learning experience and learning process.
And, as I said, I wasn't in these situations many times. Only last year was that I had opportunity to play against top players in the big occasions, so this was one of them. It's definitely you know, it hurts a bit now, but I'm sure I can learn from it.
Q. Did Novak get a chance to speak to you before you went out to play today?
ANA IVANOVIC: No. No, I haven't seen him at all. I mean, he had great win last night. He played some good tennis. You know, he has good chance in the final. Tsonga is also playing very well. I'm sure it's going to be very interesting. But I hope he can take title for Serbia.
Q. Will you stay to watch it?
ANA IVANOVIC: Unfortunately I have to leave tomorrow afternoon because I have to play Fed Cup.
Q. Can you see more Grand Slam final encounters with Maria?
ANA IVANOVIC: I'm almost certain of that. We had already quite a few matches against each other. She's a great competitor. I'm sure she will do well in the future, as well.
You know, I really feel I'm also improving my game and I'm learning how to be a top player. These situations help me.
So I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to play against each other in the final of a Grand Slam.
Q. You're going to play Fed Cup. It will be the first time?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I played Fed Cup two years ago. We were also in a group in Bulgaria. Yeah, I think it's just a pity that we have such a good team with Jelena and myself. I think we can get out of that group and get into the World Group. I think we deserve place in it (smiling). So hopefully this year we can get out.
Q. Do you enjoy this Grand Slam more than any other one you've played in yet?
ANA IVANOVIC: Every Grand Slam is very special. It's very hard to pick one.
But I love Australia. I have relatives here so, you know, I just feel very comfortable here. And I feel sort of, you know, playing in front of Aussie crowd is like playing in front of home crowd. So I think that's the biggest difference between all other Grand Slams.
Q. What does Australia Day at Mentone hold for the rest of the night? Barbecue out the back?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes. How did you know (laughter)? Yeah, because as I already mentioned before, my uncle has a birthday and it's Australia Day. We gonna go to their place. I think they're already preparing some barbecue.
Yeah, I really hope they won't mention much about the match today because I don't know how happy I will be to talk about it.
But, you know, still we gonna try to have fun. It was great two weeks for me, so we can celebrate something.
アナ・イバノビッチがマリア・シャラポバに5-7、3-6でストレート負け。グランドスラム大会の決勝進出が２回目のイバノビッチは、負けてもいたってポジティブ。若くて駆け出しということが大きいのでしょうか、学ぶことがたくさんあったといたって健康的なコメント。記者会見もフレンドリーな印象です。
言い訳：
１）第一セットではチャンスがたくさんあったがそうした機会を利用することが出来なかった。それによって、シャラポバは逆に自信を深めてしまった。
２）大事な場面でフォアハンドのミスをたくさんやってしまった。一方、
３）サーブやフォアハンドの調子が落ちたときを上手く利用されてしまった。
４）シャラポバのサービスが良かったので、リターンがとても難しくチャンスがなかった。精神的に参った。
５）ドロップショットのミス連発など打つべきショットの選択を間違えた。
使えそうなフレーズもありました；
１）I managed to hold my nerves really well.（ナイス・キープなんて日本語ではいいますけど、Holdでしょうね。英語圏では）
２）She was a break up, and then I broke her back.（ブレークバックは素人もプロも同じ）
Q. How was the feeling of your second Grand Slam final compared to your first?
ANA IVANOVIC: It was definitely a better experience. I won more games. It's a little bit disappointing because I thought I had a lot of chances in that first set but didn't use them.
But, you know, still, it's a learning experience for me. I fought hard, you know. I just felt a little bit let down with my forehand, made some big mistakes in crucial moments.
So, you know, that wasn't something I was hoping for. But, still, she played well and she had a great tournament.
Q. Was anxiety and nerves ever a factor out there?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, not really. I really felt comfortable out there. I wasn't too nervous at all.
Obviously in the beginning, like everyone other match, but I managed to hold my nerves really well out there today. I was serving quite well, and on some occasions I would a little bit drop.
But she's a tough opponent and she saw, you know, when I had troubles with my serve or with my forehand and she used that well.
Q. Did you think she played well today?
ANA IVANOVIC: I think she played well. She was a little bit nervous, I would say. She had also chances in the beginning of the first set. She was a break up, and then I broke her back.
Yeah, and then I still had some chances on my own, and she still fought hard and played some good tennis and managed to win that first set, and I'm sure that gave her confidence.
Q. Was the heat on center court, did that have any effect on you at all?
ANA IVANOVIC: Not at all. I practiced hard in Sydney in December, and it was really hot. Today on the court was much warmer than any other day, but still, you know, I enjoyed it. It wasn't bothering me at all.
Q. You said all tournament you haven't really played your best tennis here in the last few weeks. Was that the case again today? If so, what do you need to work on?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I felt I played some good tennis in these two weeks. You know, that gave me a lot of confidence. Today, you know, just in some important moments I, you know, misshit a lot.
You know, I knew I had to be aggressive, and that type of game will obviously cause more mistakes. That was the case, and I just made maybe few too many mistakes.
But, you know, it's definitely a great experience for me. This position I was in, you know, it was my second final, Grand Slam final. So it's something, you know, I can learn from, and this experience helped me. She was in this situation more times than I was.
Q. Her serve was outrageous today, barely losing a point.
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, it was a little bit disappointing for me because she was serving so well. It was hard for me to control the returns. I tried to focus on my serve, and I managed to hold my serve most of the times.
But, you know, it's very hard because I didn't get many chances on her serve, so it was a little disappointing for me.
Q. Did you regret the dropshot most of all?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, it hurts, I can tell you that (laughter). Yeah, it was a little bit poor shot selection, I would say.
Q. Sometimes in sport you need to have a loss like this to give you incentive for the next time, maybe like Maria had last year. Will you build on this one now and work on next year?
ANA IVANOVIC: For sure. I already felt much better, you know, in today's final than I felt in the French Open final. So it's something very positive.
And obviously I was emotional out there and I was really disappointed I couldn't take these chances I had. But, you know, at the other hand, I'm still young and I still think I have a lot of Grand Slam finals in front of me. So it's just a learning experience and learning process.
And, as I said, I wasn't in these situations many times. Only last year was that I had opportunity to play against top players in the big occasions, so this was one of them. It's definitely you know, it hurts a bit now, but I'm sure I can learn from it.
Q. Did Novak get a chance to speak to you before you went out to play today?
ANA IVANOVIC: No. No, I haven't seen him at all. I mean, he had great win last night. He played some good tennis. You know, he has good chance in the final. Tsonga is also playing very well. I'm sure it's going to be very interesting. But I hope he can take title for Serbia.
Q. Will you stay to watch it?
ANA IVANOVIC: Unfortunately I have to leave tomorrow afternoon because I have to play Fed Cup.
Q. Can you see more Grand Slam final encounters with Maria?
ANA IVANOVIC: I'm almost certain of that. We had already quite a few matches against each other. She's a great competitor. I'm sure she will do well in the future, as well.
You know, I really feel I'm also improving my game and I'm learning how to be a top player. These situations help me.
So I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to play against each other in the final of a Grand Slam.
Q. You're going to play Fed Cup. It will be the first time?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I played Fed Cup two years ago. We were also in a group in Bulgaria. Yeah, I think it's just a pity that we have such a good team with Jelena and myself. I think we can get out of that group and get into the World Group. I think we deserve place in it (smiling). So hopefully this year we can get out.
Q. Do you enjoy this Grand Slam more than any other one you've played in yet?
ANA IVANOVIC: Every Grand Slam is very special. It's very hard to pick one.
But I love Australia. I have relatives here so, you know, I just feel very comfortable here. And I feel sort of, you know, playing in front of Aussie crowd is like playing in front of home crowd. So I think that's the biggest difference between all other Grand Slams.
Q. What does Australia Day at Mentone hold for the rest of the night? Barbecue out the back?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes. How did you know (laughter)? Yeah, because as I already mentioned before, my uncle has a birthday and it's Australia Day. We gonna go to their place. I think they're already preparing some barbecue.
Yeah, I really hope they won't mention much about the match today because I don't know how happy I will be to talk about it.
But, you know, still we gonna try to have fun. It was great two weeks for me, so we can celebrate something.
2008年01月27日
ダニエラ・ハンチュコワ（全豪08）
Thursday, 24 January, 2008
ダニエラ・ハンチュコワがアナ・イバノビッチに6-0,3-6,4-6で逆転負け。イバノビッチを讃えることもなく気のない握手をして逃げさるように会場を後にしたハンチュコワ。記者会見でもネガティブ・パワー炸裂の様子です。彼女もライジング・スターとして出てきてから随分と時間がたってしまったような、、。記者たちの質問も彼女との対立的な構図からなのかどこか意地悪なにおいがします。いろいろあって大変だったんだと思いますが懸命にポジティブに生きようとしている様子もうかがえますが、完璧主義者とか言われているようですし、このままだとどこかで折れてしまうようで少し心配。プロテニスプレーヤーも人気商売ということで立ち居振る舞いや物のいい方についてもうまくやれば彼女にとって得なんだ、、ということを気づかせてあげることができないものでしょうかね。ヨガでもやればいいのでしょうか。容姿も実力もトップクラスなのにちょっと残念。
言い訳；
１）敗因をここで説明できるくらいなら、試合中に実行してゲームの流れを変えていたわよ。
２）こういった試合で勝つためにはラッキーだって必要でしょ。
３）ぞんざいな握手をしてしまったのは、こんな負け方をしてただただ試合会場を去りたかったからだけなの。（気持ちは分かるんですけど、、子供たちも見てるわけだし）
４）２バウンドのショットを打ち返してしまったのは自分のミス。でも確かに見たわ。
５）イバノビッチが自分のサーブをリターンするときに、奇妙な音（テニスシューズのソールをきしませているような）を立てていたことに文句を言っても審判が何もしてくれないのは不公平ではないか。サーブを妨害していると思う。
Q. Have you ever played as well as you did in that first eight games?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I think so, yeah. I wasn't really surprised. I did just like yesterday tactically, whatever I had to do to get to that point of the match. I was just really pleased the way I was doing things until that point.
Q. How did it get away from you?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Good question. If I knew that I think I would have changed it while I was still on the court. You know, that's tennis. Sometimes you can do I think all the right things, all the best things. Maybe you just need a little more luck to get through.
Honestly I thought I was very close. I had a great opportunity but it just didn't happen for me today.
Q. How hard is it to accept a defeat after you started so well and you were up 80.
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I was up 20. Yeah, it's tough. It's very disappointing at the moment, but I think with days to come, I think I will go back and look at the tournament as a very positive thing. I think it gives me a lot of hope for the whole year.
I think I proved once again, myself, that if I play my game I can beat anybody. Just a matter of doing it for the whole match.
Q. You've said before that you're very, very hard on yourself, you're a perfectionist. So have you gotten better at not being so hard on yourself, and will this be the hardest one of all to get over?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely. I think I got much better in that. I mean, obviously right after match, especially match like this, you are going to be disappointed no matter if you are perfectionist or not.
But I think now I'm much more aware of how to take things and how to learn from them. Definitely this match today, it's going to be great experience for me in order to learn something new, and hopefully I can improve that in the matches to come this year.
Q. Do you think Ana's experience to get to the French Open's final last year came into play at all?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, definitely she had experience being in the semifinal of a Grand Slam. Obviously it was a new situation for me, but I think considering that situation I came up playing pretty well, I thought, especially the beginning of the match. There was nothing wrong with that.
So I wasn't really afraid of the situation. I think I did the right things. And, yes, just one of those days.
Q. After such a long match, you had a very cursory handshake there at the end. Was that the disappointment, or had she done something to displease you?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: No, no, no, absolutely. It's just tough, tough to accept that you lose. So I just, you know, wanted to get off the court as soon as possible.
Q. Did you have any issues with the double bounce or the...
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, I thought it was a double bounce, but maybe it was just my mistake. I should have played the point anyway.
Q. So you actually saw it double bounce, though?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah.
Q. Did you raise that with the umpire?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, but she told me it was just the one bounce, so there was no point to argue at that time.
Q. What about the way she squeaks her feet when she returns?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, that's ridiculous, I think. I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. Yeah, we played before and she never did it.
Q. Did you say anything to the umpire?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, in the first or second service game, but she didn't do anything about it. I don't think that was very nice.
Q. Is that something you've come across anyone else doing, or that's the first time that's happened?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah.
Q. When she had the last challenge and she stopped the ball and she didn't play the last point, then you had made the point. Instead you replayed, and then you didn't say anything at this moment.
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Talking about luck today, I think there was no point. I think I saw also a couple of net cords that really the ball was going so much out, and it came back up to my side.
It was just one of those days that everything was going against me, but I felt like I still, you know, kept trying, kept fighting. You know, I mean, what was I supposed to do? It was over. It was no point of fighting with the umpire or whatever.
Q. How do you break down the final with Maria?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: It's going to be interesting. I mean, you know, it's tennis, so it can go either way. It's going to be interesting. I can't predict anybody.
Q. Do you still think you look at this tournament as a breakthrough?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, definitely I think it's been a great experience. I had a wonderful time here. And, once again, it just showed me that if I do the right things I really belong to the top, and right now I think it's just a matter of time, doing more work, consistent basis, and hopefully I'll get more chances in a Grand Slam to break even further.
ダニエラ・ハンチュコワがアナ・イバノビッチに6-0,3-6,4-6で逆転負け。イバノビッチを讃えることもなく気のない握手をして逃げさるように会場を後にしたハンチュコワ。記者会見でもネガティブ・パワー炸裂の様子です。彼女もライジング・スターとして出てきてから随分と時間がたってしまったような、、。記者たちの質問も彼女との対立的な構図からなのかどこか意地悪なにおいがします。いろいろあって大変だったんだと思いますが懸命にポジティブに生きようとしている様子もうかがえますが、完璧主義者とか言われているようですし、このままだとどこかで折れてしまうようで少し心配。プロテニスプレーヤーも人気商売ということで立ち居振る舞いや物のいい方についてもうまくやれば彼女にとって得なんだ、、ということを気づかせてあげることができないものでしょうかね。ヨガでもやればいいのでしょうか。容姿も実力もトップクラスなのにちょっと残念。
言い訳；
１）敗因をここで説明できるくらいなら、試合中に実行してゲームの流れを変えていたわよ。
２）こういった試合で勝つためにはラッキーだって必要でしょ。
３）ぞんざいな握手をしてしまったのは、こんな負け方をしてただただ試合会場を去りたかったからだけなの。（気持ちは分かるんですけど、、子供たちも見てるわけだし）
４）２バウンドのショットを打ち返してしまったのは自分のミス。でも確かに見たわ。
５）イバノビッチが自分のサーブをリターンするときに、奇妙な音（テニスシューズのソールをきしませているような）を立てていたことに文句を言っても審判が何もしてくれないのは不公平ではないか。サーブを妨害していると思う。
Q. Have you ever played as well as you did in that first eight games?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I think so, yeah. I wasn't really surprised. I did just like yesterday tactically, whatever I had to do to get to that point of the match. I was just really pleased the way I was doing things until that point.
Q. How did it get away from you?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Good question. If I knew that I think I would have changed it while I was still on the court. You know, that's tennis. Sometimes you can do I think all the right things, all the best things. Maybe you just need a little more luck to get through.
Honestly I thought I was very close. I had a great opportunity but it just didn't happen for me today.
Q. How hard is it to accept a defeat after you started so well and you were up 80.
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: I was up 20. Yeah, it's tough. It's very disappointing at the moment, but I think with days to come, I think I will go back and look at the tournament as a very positive thing. I think it gives me a lot of hope for the whole year.
I think I proved once again, myself, that if I play my game I can beat anybody. Just a matter of doing it for the whole match.
Q. You've said before that you're very, very hard on yourself, you're a perfectionist. So have you gotten better at not being so hard on yourself, and will this be the hardest one of all to get over?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, definitely. I think I got much better in that. I mean, obviously right after match, especially match like this, you are going to be disappointed no matter if you are perfectionist or not.
But I think now I'm much more aware of how to take things and how to learn from them. Definitely this match today, it's going to be great experience for me in order to learn something new, and hopefully I can improve that in the matches to come this year.
Q. Do you think Ana's experience to get to the French Open's final last year came into play at all?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, definitely she had experience being in the semifinal of a Grand Slam. Obviously it was a new situation for me, but I think considering that situation I came up playing pretty well, I thought, especially the beginning of the match. There was nothing wrong with that.
So I wasn't really afraid of the situation. I think I did the right things. And, yes, just one of those days.
Q. After such a long match, you had a very cursory handshake there at the end. Was that the disappointment, or had she done something to displease you?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: No, no, no, absolutely. It's just tough, tough to accept that you lose. So I just, you know, wanted to get off the court as soon as possible.
Q. Did you have any issues with the double bounce or the...
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, I thought it was a double bounce, but maybe it was just my mistake. I should have played the point anyway.
Q. So you actually saw it double bounce, though?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah.
Q. Did you raise that with the umpire?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, but she told me it was just the one bounce, so there was no point to argue at that time.
Q. What about the way she squeaks her feet when she returns?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, that's ridiculous, I think. I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. Yeah, we played before and she never did it.
Q. Did you say anything to the umpire?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, in the first or second service game, but she didn't do anything about it. I don't think that was very nice.
Q. Is that something you've come across anyone else doing, or that's the first time that's happened?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah.
Q. When she had the last challenge and she stopped the ball and she didn't play the last point, then you had made the point. Instead you replayed, and then you didn't say anything at this moment.
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Talking about luck today, I think there was no point. I think I saw also a couple of net cords that really the ball was going so much out, and it came back up to my side.
It was just one of those days that everything was going against me, but I felt like I still, you know, kept trying, kept fighting. You know, I mean, what was I supposed to do? It was over. It was no point of fighting with the umpire or whatever.
Q. How do you break down the final with Maria?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: It's going to be interesting. I mean, you know, it's tennis, so it can go either way. It's going to be interesting. I can't predict anybody.
Q. Do you still think you look at this tournament as a breakthrough?
DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Well, definitely I think it's been a great experience. I had a wonderful time here. And, once again, it just showed me that if I do the right things I really belong to the top, and right now I think it's just a matter of time, doing more work, consistent basis, and hopefully I'll get more chances in a Grand Slam to break even further.
2008年01月27日
ラファエル・ナダル（全豪08）
Thursday, 24 January, 2008
ラファエル・ナダルがジョー・ウイルフォード・ツオンガに2-6、3-6、2-6で惨敗しました。会場インタビュアーをつとめるジム・クーリエからも新たなスター誕生と絶賛されていました。モハメド・アリの再来かと思わせるような容姿とボクシングのヘビーな一発を思わせるプレースタイル。たしかにスター性を感じさせます（名前もジョーだし日本的にもボクシングですね。明日のジョー）。けれどおもしろくないのはラファでしょう。以下インタビューでも少ないボキャブラリーで不満をこぼすとともに、今日のツオンガのプレーは本当の実力ではなく、幸運だっただけだろう、こんなプレーがいつも出来るわけないともコメントしてます。不満をこぼしてもこれでは審判とも記者会見でもやりあうのはちょっと無理のように思います。英語の先生をつけたほうがいいのか、それともこういう感じで不満をためつつやっていくのかな。いい男だし勝ってるうちはこれくらいでもいいかもしれませんが、やっぱり世界のラファですから英語も強くなってほしいですね。
言い訳
１）ちょっとはミスもあったけどすごいサーブ。あんなの信じられない。
２）打つフォアみんなエース級。
３）ボレーだってあんないいパッシングショット打ったのに、それをあんなドロップショットで切り返せるものだろうか。信じられない。
４）やるべきことは全て試した；遅いボール、早いボール、ベースラインより内側に入って打ってみたり、グッと下がって打ってみたり、今日はどれも上手くいかなかった。
５）フェイク・サーブされた（通訳を介して）。審判に文句こそいわなかったけど、これはおかしい。
Q. Obviously you're not very happy. What happened to your game out there tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing.
Q. Nothing?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so, no? We have to accept today. He played unbelievable. Playing very hard the ball every time, serving unbelievable. Sometimes he miss. In the backhand he didn't miss not one. Forehand, every time he does the forehand was winner, so congratulate him. That's it.
Q. You never seemed to be able to get into your rhythm.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I was in rhythm, no? But the true is I don't have chances in this match. I was playing fine, but, well, you can say me ask me some more things, but the true is that's my feelings right now, no? He play better than me. I have to accept that. That's it. Continuing improve.
But, anyway, play like in this level like he play, this guy play this way tonight, very difficult to stop.
Q. You played Federer maybe 14 times. Has Federer ever played better against you than JoWilfried did tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Federer is Federer, no? He can play at this level or little bit better, but better than tonight is really difficult. It's tough say. Difficult to compare. Is different the styles, but Tsonga tonight was unbelievable.
Some volleys, I can't believe some volleys. I have some good passing shots and then dropshot volley. I didn't understand, no? So nothing. Nothing was more, no? It's difficult to say a lot of things about this match because I say it, no? He play better than me, and for that reason he beat me.
I try to play my best; I tried to play little bit slower; I tried to play a little bit faster; I tried to play more inside the court; behind the court. No chance. Not today. Maybe next time.
Q. In the break volley, did you think it was the turning point at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: Better be 20 than 11 in the third, no? The true is he was playing unbelievable. Well, if I had this break maybe he can feel a little bit more the pression for be in Grand Slam final.
But, well, this point is, there's no explanation of how he's playing, this guy, no? I play a very good point, good passing shot. I arrive to the dropshot. Very good shot to the ball. Touch the ball shit, very bad, and the ball was very close on to the line, no? No chance.
Q. So you mean it was lucky sometimes? He was lucky sometimes on some shots?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, come on. I didn't say nothing about that, no? I said he play very, very good and he's not lucky, no. Not lucky when he beat Murray, when he beat Gasquet, when he beat Youzhny. It's not lucky.
It's a lot of times playing very well in this tournament. We will see when the year is coming, but in this tournament, nothing to say.
Q. Can he beat Roger? If Roger gets through, can he beat?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he gonna feel the pression in first Grand Slam final. Roger or Djokovic, if he play like today he have his chances against both, but I think he going to feel the pression for the final, no?
Q. Were you amazed that he didn't feel more pressure out there tonight, even in a semifinal?
RAFAEL NADAL: It's very different. It's very different play final than win a very important title. For my opinion it's totally different.
Q. What did the umpire have to say? There was a change of ends and the umpire was speaking to you. What was that all about?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing. No, nothing important. He say me, (In Spanish)...
BENITO PEREZ: Like if he's faking the serve, you know? Like faking the serve and then serving. He said that Tsonga said he was sort of faking the serve and then he was serving, not doing the whole movement. You know what I mean? Very strange thing. It had no sense. He said Tsonga told him, but he didn't argue too much.
Q. Until you ran into Jo tonight, did you feel you were playing well enough to win this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I think so. I was playing very fine, very good, but not for beat Tsonga tonight.
Q. When you played him at the US Open, could you see the kind of game he could bring like he did tonight back then a few months ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we have to think, no? Difficult right now he is in the best moment of his career. He's playing with zero pression. He's playing everything is going good for him.
So when you are playing like this every ball is going to the line. Every ball is going inside. Is not the real level I think. Is not his real level. Sure, he can play like this, but not every week. It's impossible, no? Right now he's what's his ranking now?
Q. 38.
RAFAEL NADAL: What do you think? This level he can be 38 never, no?
Q. Maybe that's the not real level of his game. He's been hurt a lot.
RAFAEL NADAL: He's improving. He improve a lot. But the true is I think he can't play at this level every time, no? Running unbelievable, physically very explosive, everything. What I can say? Nothing bad about his game tonight. I have to find something. I gonna think all the night, no?
ラファエル・ナダルがジョー・ウイルフォード・ツオンガに2-6、3-6、2-6で惨敗しました。会場インタビュアーをつとめるジム・クーリエからも新たなスター誕生と絶賛されていました。モハメド・アリの再来かと思わせるような容姿とボクシングのヘビーな一発を思わせるプレースタイル。たしかにスター性を感じさせます（名前もジョーだし日本的にもボクシングですね。明日のジョー）。けれどおもしろくないのはラファでしょう。以下インタビューでも少ないボキャブラリーで不満をこぼすとともに、今日のツオンガのプレーは本当の実力ではなく、幸運だっただけだろう、こんなプレーがいつも出来るわけないともコメントしてます。不満をこぼしてもこれでは審判とも記者会見でもやりあうのはちょっと無理のように思います。英語の先生をつけたほうがいいのか、それともこういう感じで不満をためつつやっていくのかな。いい男だし勝ってるうちはこれくらいでもいいかもしれませんが、やっぱり世界のラファですから英語も強くなってほしいですね。
言い訳
１）ちょっとはミスもあったけどすごいサーブ。あんなの信じられない。
２）打つフォアみんなエース級。
３）ボレーだってあんないいパッシングショット打ったのに、それをあんなドロップショットで切り返せるものだろうか。信じられない。
４）やるべきことは全て試した；遅いボール、早いボール、ベースラインより内側に入って打ってみたり、グッと下がって打ってみたり、今日はどれも上手くいかなかった。
５）フェイク・サーブされた（通訳を介して）。審判に文句こそいわなかったけど、これはおかしい。
Q. Obviously you're not very happy. What happened to your game out there tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing.
Q. Nothing?
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't think so, no? We have to accept today. He played unbelievable. Playing very hard the ball every time, serving unbelievable. Sometimes he miss. In the backhand he didn't miss not one. Forehand, every time he does the forehand was winner, so congratulate him. That's it.
Q. You never seemed to be able to get into your rhythm.
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I was in rhythm, no? But the true is I don't have chances in this match. I was playing fine, but, well, you can say me ask me some more things, but the true is that's my feelings right now, no? He play better than me. I have to accept that. That's it. Continuing improve.
But, anyway, play like in this level like he play, this guy play this way tonight, very difficult to stop.
Q. You played Federer maybe 14 times. Has Federer ever played better against you than JoWilfried did tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: Federer is Federer, no? He can play at this level or little bit better, but better than tonight is really difficult. It's tough say. Difficult to compare. Is different the styles, but Tsonga tonight was unbelievable.
Some volleys, I can't believe some volleys. I have some good passing shots and then dropshot volley. I didn't understand, no? So nothing. Nothing was more, no? It's difficult to say a lot of things about this match because I say it, no? He play better than me, and for that reason he beat me.
I try to play my best; I tried to play little bit slower; I tried to play a little bit faster; I tried to play more inside the court; behind the court. No chance. Not today. Maybe next time.
Q. In the break volley, did you think it was the turning point at that point?
RAFAEL NADAL: Better be 20 than 11 in the third, no? The true is he was playing unbelievable. Well, if I had this break maybe he can feel a little bit more the pression for be in Grand Slam final.
But, well, this point is, there's no explanation of how he's playing, this guy, no? I play a very good point, good passing shot. I arrive to the dropshot. Very good shot to the ball. Touch the ball shit, very bad, and the ball was very close on to the line, no? No chance.
Q. So you mean it was lucky sometimes? He was lucky sometimes on some shots?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, come on. I didn't say nothing about that, no? I said he play very, very good and he's not lucky, no. Not lucky when he beat Murray, when he beat Gasquet, when he beat Youzhny. It's not lucky.
It's a lot of times playing very well in this tournament. We will see when the year is coming, but in this tournament, nothing to say.
Q. Can he beat Roger? If Roger gets through, can he beat?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think he gonna feel the pression in first Grand Slam final. Roger or Djokovic, if he play like today he have his chances against both, but I think he going to feel the pression for the final, no?
Q. Were you amazed that he didn't feel more pressure out there tonight, even in a semifinal?
RAFAEL NADAL: It's very different. It's very different play final than win a very important title. For my opinion it's totally different.
Q. What did the umpire have to say? There was a change of ends and the umpire was speaking to you. What was that all about?
RAFAEL NADAL: Nothing. No, nothing important. He say me, (In Spanish)...
BENITO PEREZ: Like if he's faking the serve, you know? Like faking the serve and then serving. He said that Tsonga said he was sort of faking the serve and then he was serving, not doing the whole movement. You know what I mean? Very strange thing. It had no sense. He said Tsonga told him, but he didn't argue too much.
Q. Until you ran into Jo tonight, did you feel you were playing well enough to win this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, I think so. I was playing very fine, very good, but not for beat Tsonga tonight.
Q. When you played him at the US Open, could you see the kind of game he could bring like he did tonight back then a few months ago?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, we have to think, no? Difficult right now he is in the best moment of his career. He's playing with zero pression. He's playing everything is going good for him.
So when you are playing like this every ball is going to the line. Every ball is going inside. Is not the real level I think. Is not his real level. Sure, he can play like this, but not every week. It's impossible, no? Right now he's what's his ranking now?
Q. 38.
RAFAEL NADAL: What do you think? This level he can be 38 never, no?
Q. Maybe that's the not real level of his game. He's been hurt a lot.
RAFAEL NADAL: He's improving. He improve a lot. But the true is I think he can't play at this level every time, no? Running unbelievable, physically very explosive, everything. What I can say? Nothing bad about his game tonight. I have to find something. I gonna think all the night, no?
2008年01月27日
ロジャー・フェデラー（全豪08）
Friday, 25 January, 2008
フェデラーがジョコビッチに5-7、3-6、5-7で惜敗（朝日新聞には完敗とありましたが、、）。敗因について語ってくれています。「"連戦連勝フェデラー"という怪物を造りあげてしまった」と自らを語り、本当は今日の出来ですら、シーズン直前に体調不良に陥ったことを思えば良くここまで立ち直ったと思うし、それよりもジョコビッチのプレーが素晴らしかったとコメント。フェデラーの自然体でかつ冷静な性格をあらわすインタビューだったと思います。
１）ジョコビッチのほうが重要なポイントをより多くとっていたこと。
２）ジョコビッチが必要なポイントで素晴らしいサーブを放っていたこと、一方
３）自分のほうはティプサレビッチ戦でサービス・エースを使い果たしてしまった（冗談）
４）ジョコビッチから"もらった"ようなポイントがあまりなかった
５）最初の２ゲームこそ動きが良かったものの、全体的に動きが最高とはいえなかったこと。シーズン直前の体調不良の影響もあったと思う。
６）新サーフェスの影響でボールが遅くなったこと。
７）これまでのジョコビッチなら第一セットをとった後の第二セットのプレーは自由さに欠けて調子を落とすのに、今日は上出来。いつもだったら自ら背負い込んでしまう"心の重荷"を卸すことに成功しさらに攻撃的なテニスをすることができた。
８）大事なポイントで最高のプレーが出来なかったこと。特に第三セットで多くの重要なポイント（チャンス）をとれなかったこと。
使えそうなフレーズ；
１）a lot of ups and downs（勝っても負けても使えそう）
２）It always comes and goes.（これも）
３）He didn't give me much.（負けたとき用）
４）It can't always go your way.（そんなに強くないからあまり使えないかな）
５）I don't want to blame it too much on my own play.（これも負けたとき用ね）
６）He came up with the shots at the right time.（これも）
名言；
"when you don't take your chances early on: you'll pay the price later on."（きっとこの言葉をジュニア時代から身にしみてプレーしてきたんでしょうね。すごいなあ）
Q. What made the difference, Roger?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was a tough match, I thought. You know, a lot of ups and downs, like the usual matches we have actually against each other. It always comes and goes.
But I think he made the more important points today. It was a bit unfortunate for me, but he did play well and served really well when he had to.
Q. He played very well, obviously. But do you think your standard was as high as it always has been?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, look, I told you, it depends a lot on day form. You can't always, you know, play your best or, you know, the opponent doesn't always play the same way either.
There's no doubt I've played better in my life. That's for sure, you know. I've not been really serving like the way I wanted to, you know, maybe the last few matches. But maybe served too many aces against Tipsarevic, so I didn't have any more left (smiling).
Look, it happens. But he covered the court well. He didn't give me much. So that obviously played a role in the way I played tonight. But, you know, I wasn't completely satisfied.
Q. Was it more difficult playing him in the semifinal than in the final?
ROGER FEDERER: First round or finals, it doesn't really matter, to be honest. I have no preference or whatever. But he's come through the draw convincingly. He's been playing very solid. He had a tough draw, you know, if I compare it to maybe Rafa's. So he absolutely deserves to be in the final.
Q. Do you think he'll go on and win the final now?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't care really.
Q. Do you feel you were moving as well as you usually do?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't. I didn't think I was moving that great, you know. I think I played really well the first two matches, you know, in terms of movement also. You know, I don't know if the surface got a bit quicker.
I definitely wasn't as good on the defensive like I usually am. I couldn't come up with the passing shot when I needed to. Yeah, that definitely hurt me, especially today.
Q. Do you put it down to anything tonight, or is it just one of those nights, as you say?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, look, I've had 15 minutes to reflect on the match, so I can't tell you much yet.
But there's some sort of a disappointment. But, you know, from the spirit, the way I fought, the way I tried, it's all I could give, you know. When you give a hundred percent, you know, you're sort of happy with your performance. It can't always go your way. I know that.
I've won, many, many times when I didn't expect myself to win. So tonight's one of those nights where you're a little bit disappointed. But it's going to go over and I'm going to look forward to the rest of the year.
Q. Can you measure his improvement at all? Has he improved that much?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I think he's played pretty much the same, you know, for the last let's say nine months or so, or last year. He's had a good start to the year, as well.
Yeah, it comes down to a few points here and there. That's what I told you beforehand, so that's what happened today.
Q. You were one break up in the first set. That was probably the moment when you should have...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we all know if I would have served it out the match would have been a bit different. Sure, he could have come back and still beaten me, but circumstances of would have been different. He wouldn't have played that freely in the second set. He usually doesn't play that well.
That was unfortunate for me. You know, I paid the price twice, not only losing the set, but also the second set. You know, I missed many opportunities the third set.
But, like I said, he came up with some great shots, some great serves, and, you know, saved himself that way.
Q. Do you look back now and think about the preparation a couple weeks ago and the illness? Was that having a lingering effect at all on your game throughout this tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don't know, seriously. I'll definitely reflect on what happened. You know, I mean, considering, you know, my illness, I'm sort of happy with the result here.
Of course, I've created a monster, so I know I need to always win every tournament. But semis is still, you know, pretty good. But, yeah, I'll analyze and see if I have to make changes for next year. But, honestly, I think I did play pretty good.
I didn't play my best throughout the championships, but it was pretty solid, so it was okay.
Q. You don't really feel like you've created a monster, do you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, some sort of, yeah.
Q. Can you elaborate on that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, winning every other week, you know, lose a set and people say I'm playing bad. So it's my own mistake, I guess.
Q. Do you need to be able to shut that out more?
ROGER FEDERER: Not at all, no. I got used to it by now.
Q. Justine said after her loss to Sharapova that she suffered from the pressure of being unbeatable for such a long time and people always expecting her to win. Is that something you sometimes experience?
ROGER FEDERER: I experienced it maybe going into Indian Wells last year. I think it was an incredible streak then, 40 something wins. Everybody was talking about the Vilas streak.
I don't know if that put me under pressure. But it's not easy coming out every week for sure trying to win. But you'll always run into fellow top 10 players or other guys who are on a streak or on a hot run or surprise you. That's the difficulty about tennis, you know.
I've had it for a long, long time, you know. I've had to deal with all sort of different streaks. I didn't feel particular pressure at all tonight, no.
Q. Do you think if you were a little slower than usual, as you say, it could be because of the virus you had or the preparation coming in?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously the approach has been unique this year, you know. It's the first time I've been ill before a Grand Slam. I would still rather have it before than during, that's for sure.
But maybe it did have. I answered the question already before. It might have had an effect on my movement, I don't know. But I definitely didn't feel as quick, you know, as some other times. I practiced really hard. I can't practice much harder in the offseason, you know, so I did everything the right way. And maybe I did pay the price for being a little bit ill.
You know, I like to give credit to my opponent, as well. I don't want to blame it too much on my own play. He came up with the shots at the right time, and that's all I can say really.
Q. Will you watch the final?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know if I'm here, so we'll see.
Q. If you're away, will you try and find it on a television station somewhere?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I won't.
Q. Did you feel during the match that there might be a moment you would seize control, or did you always feel you were playing catchup after the first set?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, like I said, the second set he started just unloading. You know, that's not usually what he does. He can, obviously, and play aggressive. But, you know, not on every shot. The way he played, he picked up every serve.
It was fantastic, you know. He did play great.
Like I said, it cost me the match, maybe not serving it out the first set. That's what happens sometimes when you don't take your chances early on: you'll pay the price later on. That's what happened for me against Tipsarevic almost. I just got out of that one.
Definitely didn't play my best on big points. That's been sort of something that's stuck with me throughout the championships maybe. But, look, it happens. I've done it so many times it went my way. It's okay. Unfortunately it goes the other way, too, sometimes.
フェデラーがジョコビッチに5-7、3-6、5-7で惜敗（朝日新聞には完敗とありましたが、、）。敗因について語ってくれています。「"連戦連勝フェデラー"という怪物を造りあげてしまった」と自らを語り、本当は今日の出来ですら、シーズン直前に体調不良に陥ったことを思えば良くここまで立ち直ったと思うし、それよりもジョコビッチのプレーが素晴らしかったとコメント。フェデラーの自然体でかつ冷静な性格をあらわすインタビューだったと思います。
１）ジョコビッチのほうが重要なポイントをより多くとっていたこと。
２）ジョコビッチが必要なポイントで素晴らしいサーブを放っていたこと、一方
３）自分のほうはティプサレビッチ戦でサービス・エースを使い果たしてしまった（冗談）
４）ジョコビッチから"もらった"ようなポイントがあまりなかった
５）最初の２ゲームこそ動きが良かったものの、全体的に動きが最高とはいえなかったこと。シーズン直前の体調不良の影響もあったと思う。
６）新サーフェスの影響でボールが遅くなったこと。
７）これまでのジョコビッチなら第一セットをとった後の第二セットのプレーは自由さに欠けて調子を落とすのに、今日は上出来。いつもだったら自ら背負い込んでしまう"心の重荷"を卸すことに成功しさらに攻撃的なテニスをすることができた。
８）大事なポイントで最高のプレーが出来なかったこと。特に第三セットで多くの重要なポイント（チャンス）をとれなかったこと。
使えそうなフレーズ；
１）a lot of ups and downs（勝っても負けても使えそう）
２）It always comes and goes.（これも）
３）He didn't give me much.（負けたとき用）
４）It can't always go your way.（そんなに強くないからあまり使えないかな）
５）I don't want to blame it too much on my own play.（これも負けたとき用ね）
６）He came up with the shots at the right time.（これも）
名言；
"when you don't take your chances early on: you'll pay the price later on."（きっとこの言葉をジュニア時代から身にしみてプレーしてきたんでしょうね。すごいなあ）
Q. What made the difference, Roger?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, it was a tough match, I thought. You know, a lot of ups and downs, like the usual matches we have actually against each other. It always comes and goes.
But I think he made the more important points today. It was a bit unfortunate for me, but he did play well and served really well when he had to.
Q. He played very well, obviously. But do you think your standard was as high as it always has been?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, look, I told you, it depends a lot on day form. You can't always, you know, play your best or, you know, the opponent doesn't always play the same way either.
There's no doubt I've played better in my life. That's for sure, you know. I've not been really serving like the way I wanted to, you know, maybe the last few matches. But maybe served too many aces against Tipsarevic, so I didn't have any more left (smiling).
Look, it happens. But he covered the court well. He didn't give me much. So that obviously played a role in the way I played tonight. But, you know, I wasn't completely satisfied.
Q. Was it more difficult playing him in the semifinal than in the final?
ROGER FEDERER: First round or finals, it doesn't really matter, to be honest. I have no preference or whatever. But he's come through the draw convincingly. He's been playing very solid. He had a tough draw, you know, if I compare it to maybe Rafa's. So he absolutely deserves to be in the final.
Q. Do you think he'll go on and win the final now?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't care really.
Q. Do you feel you were moving as well as you usually do?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don't. I didn't think I was moving that great, you know. I think I played really well the first two matches, you know, in terms of movement also. You know, I don't know if the surface got a bit quicker.
I definitely wasn't as good on the defensive like I usually am. I couldn't come up with the passing shot when I needed to. Yeah, that definitely hurt me, especially today.
Q. Do you put it down to anything tonight, or is it just one of those nights, as you say?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I mean, look, I've had 15 minutes to reflect on the match, so I can't tell you much yet.
But there's some sort of a disappointment. But, you know, from the spirit, the way I fought, the way I tried, it's all I could give, you know. When you give a hundred percent, you know, you're sort of happy with your performance. It can't always go your way. I know that.
I've won, many, many times when I didn't expect myself to win. So tonight's one of those nights where you're a little bit disappointed. But it's going to go over and I'm going to look forward to the rest of the year.
Q. Can you measure his improvement at all? Has he improved that much?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I think he's played pretty much the same, you know, for the last let's say nine months or so, or last year. He's had a good start to the year, as well.
Yeah, it comes down to a few points here and there. That's what I told you beforehand, so that's what happened today.
Q. You were one break up in the first set. That was probably the moment when you should have...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, we all know if I would have served it out the match would have been a bit different. Sure, he could have come back and still beaten me, but circumstances of would have been different. He wouldn't have played that freely in the second set. He usually doesn't play that well.
That was unfortunate for me. You know, I paid the price twice, not only losing the set, but also the second set. You know, I missed many opportunities the third set.
But, like I said, he came up with some great shots, some great serves, and, you know, saved himself that way.
Q. Do you look back now and think about the preparation a couple weeks ago and the illness? Was that having a lingering effect at all on your game throughout this tournament?
ROGER FEDERER: Look, I don't know, seriously. I'll definitely reflect on what happened. You know, I mean, considering, you know, my illness, I'm sort of happy with the result here.
Of course, I've created a monster, so I know I need to always win every tournament. But semis is still, you know, pretty good. But, yeah, I'll analyze and see if I have to make changes for next year. But, honestly, I think I did play pretty good.
I didn't play my best throughout the championships, but it was pretty solid, so it was okay.
Q. You don't really feel like you've created a monster, do you?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, some sort of, yeah.
Q. Can you elaborate on that?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, winning every other week, you know, lose a set and people say I'm playing bad. So it's my own mistake, I guess.
Q. Do you need to be able to shut that out more?
ROGER FEDERER: Not at all, no. I got used to it by now.
Q. Justine said after her loss to Sharapova that she suffered from the pressure of being unbeatable for such a long time and people always expecting her to win. Is that something you sometimes experience?
ROGER FEDERER: I experienced it maybe going into Indian Wells last year. I think it was an incredible streak then, 40 something wins. Everybody was talking about the Vilas streak.
I don't know if that put me under pressure. But it's not easy coming out every week for sure trying to win. But you'll always run into fellow top 10 players or other guys who are on a streak or on a hot run or surprise you. That's the difficulty about tennis, you know.
I've had it for a long, long time, you know. I've had to deal with all sort of different streaks. I didn't feel particular pressure at all tonight, no.
Q. Do you think if you were a little slower than usual, as you say, it could be because of the virus you had or the preparation coming in?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously the approach has been unique this year, you know. It's the first time I've been ill before a Grand Slam. I would still rather have it before than during, that's for sure.
But maybe it did have. I answered the question already before. It might have had an effect on my movement, I don't know. But I definitely didn't feel as quick, you know, as some other times. I practiced really hard. I can't practice much harder in the offseason, you know, so I did everything the right way. And maybe I did pay the price for being a little bit ill.
You know, I like to give credit to my opponent, as well. I don't want to blame it too much on my own play. He came up with the shots at the right time, and that's all I can say really.
Q. Will you watch the final?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't know if I'm here, so we'll see.
Q. If you're away, will you try and find it on a television station somewhere?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I won't.
Q. Did you feel during the match that there might be a moment you would seize control, or did you always feel you were playing catchup after the first set?
ROGER FEDERER: Well, like I said, the second set he started just unloading. You know, that's not usually what he does. He can, obviously, and play aggressive. But, you know, not on every shot. The way he played, he picked up every serve.
It was fantastic, you know. He did play great.
Like I said, it cost me the match, maybe not serving it out the first set. That's what happens sometimes when you don't take your chances early on: you'll pay the price later on. That's what happened for me against Tipsarevic almost. I just got out of that one.
Definitely didn't play my best on big points. That's been sort of something that's stuck with me throughout the championships maybe. But, look, it happens. I've done it so many times it went my way. It's okay. Unfortunately it goes the other way, too, sometimes.
2008年01月27日
ジェームス・ブレーク（全豪08）
Wednesday, 23 January, 2008
ブレークがフェデラーに5-7,6-7,4-6で敗退。人柄なのか（いい人なんでしょう彼は）言い訳らしきものはなく、フェデラーは必ずしもベストコンディションではなかったとコメントしながらも賞賛してます。また記者の質問もうすく広くといった感じ。
いくつか、普段のテニスでも使えるような、便利なフレーズがありました。；
"He came up with some of his best at the right times."：「適切な場面でベストショットを出してくるからね」
"Today he was better than me, but next time might be different."：「今日はやつのほうが良かったけど、次回は違うかもね」
"Today it wasn't my day."：「今日はぼくのための日ではなかったね」
"It's frustrating to me, but it's impressive" ：「（負けたことについては）イライラすることだけど、（彼のプレーには）感心してますよ」
"I missed that 'cause I'm maybe thinking I need to put this in the corner, otherwise I'm going to get passed."：「あのショットをあそこでミスったのは、このボールをコーナーに入れなければ抜かれてしまうと考えたからだと思う」
Q. You met Roger now eight times. How did tonight's match rank?
JAMES BLAKE: Same as all the others: it was a loss. I really went in thinking I had a good chance to win, same as every other time I went out there. Came up with the goods when he needed to.
I thought I played pretty well. I mean, definitely had chances I could have taken advantage of if I was playing my absolute best. But I don't know if he was playing his best either.
But he came up with some of his best at the right times, and that was the difference.
Q. What makes him such a difficult opponent?
JAMES BLAKE: Just what I said: he comes up with the goods at the right times, he serves well when he needs to, he puts balls in the court when he needs to. As soon as he gets on offense he can hurt you. He has every facet of the game.
I mean, I feel like he plays somewhat similar to me, just at a higher level when we play. We both want to look to get our forehands. We're both trying to make a lot of first serves and get in the net when we can, close out points at the net. But he just did it a little better than me today. He's done it a little better than me for the last five years or so now.
But I hope he can't be better than me every single time I play him. Next time I'll go in with same attitude: believing I could beat him. I definitely believed I could beat him tonight. Now that it's over, today he was better than me, but next time might be different.
Q. The tiebreaker, you were up 21, he was getting kind of grumpy, making some mistakes he wouldn't normally make. Do you sense there's a chance, suddenly he comes up with two amazing points? Does it still surprise you after all these years?
JAMES BLAKE: Nothing he does surprises me. It frustrates me, but nothing surprises me. I played two unbelievable points at 21. I couldn't have hit those balls any harder.
Couldn't have put him on his back foot any more. He just flicks his wrist, puts it back to neutral. It's tough to deal with. Really, the only person I ever played that could do that was Andre. And Andre couldn't move the way Roger does. Andre didn't serve the way Roger does.
It's just something you have to deal with, and I tried my best after those two points to just put it behind me and go ahead and still take my shots in that tiebreaker and make him come up with those every time.
He came up with a good serve at 65, and he still I don't feel like I gave him anything tonight. I still feel like he beat me. That's all I can do, is go out there and play my best. Today it wasn't my day. Hopefully next time it will be.
Q. That said, do you still feel like he's a little more vulnerable here than some slams in the past based on some of his results, errors he's making?
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, that's tough to say. I still pick him. He's still my favorite to win the tournament. But until someone unseats him, until someone proves the way kind of Rafael has on clay, until someone does that to him on hard, I pick him as my favorite every time, even if he's not playing well.
Like you said, he might have seemed vulnerable tonight until it was 56, until it was 21 in the tiebreaker, until he was serving for the match. You know, so another kind of aspect of a champion, another attribute, is being able to come up with those big shots at the right times, late in sets and in tiebreakers.
So if he didn't have his best day until those times, then coming up with the best, you know, that in my mind makes him a favorite still, because that means he didn't he maybe didn't play his best and he still beat the numberwhateverIam player in the world today. That's pretty impressive.
It's frustrating to me, but it's impressive, so he's still a favorite. Maybe he's more vulnerable than the guy who went, whatever, 714 a couple years ago. I'd still pick him as the favorite.
Q. Offense being considered, do you consider yourself unfortunate or fortunate to play in the age of Federer and sort of be able to test your game against him?
JAMES BLAKE: Uhm, hmm, tough question. It's something I'm sure the guys in years past are wondering how their games would match up against him. So at least I know mine clearly doesn't match up very well (smiling).
But, you know, I guess I'd say unfortunate. You know, to play I don't know how all the guys on the golf tour would say if they feel fortunate to play with Tiger Woods. I would say they're probably very fortunate because of the money they're making.
For us, it's frustrating that some of us maybe feel like we could have one or two or more Grand Slams if Roger wasn't around.
But, you know, what can you do? It's just the place and era you were born into. You're playing against the best in the world. I can't say that I'm unfortunate. I get too much out of this game. I get too much out of even a loss, which I'm frustrated about right now. But I take too many positives from it to say that I'm unfortunate for being born in this era and getting to play against a great like Roger Federer.
I mean, in this era, we're Davis Cup champions, so I'm proud to be a part of the era with Andy Roddick and the Bryan twins. I definitely can't say I'm unfortunate.
Q. Can you still take moral victories? Do you get any satisfaction, or do you have to win?
JAMES BLAKE: It's tough to say "a moral victory" at this level. I mean, you want to win. That's why you come up. I think Herm Edwards said it: That's way you play the game, is to win.
Yeah, I mean, I definitely thought I really good chance tonight. I thought I was playing well. The court suits me well. Night match. Conditions were perfect. Thought I had a good chance.
There's no real moral victory. Next time I go out there, I'm still going to feel like I can win. I know it was close. I've been close before. I can't say it's any different now or I feel really any different. I'm just a little frustrated. But I did my best here, so I can't complain too much about it.
Q. End of the first set, you missed a forehand you normally would make. Is that a situation you try to make the shot too good knowing the situation? What's happening there?
JAMES BLAKE: Possibly knowing the opponent, not the situation. He does that to a lot of guys. Rafael does that to a lot of guys, as well. You get so many balls. That's why I said, I think I'm similar, but maybe not as good. I feel like I get to so many balls and can make a couple shots on the run that makes guys miss. So I know the feeling of doing that to someone else. I guess he did it to me tonight.
I missed that 'cause I'm maybe thinking I need to put this in the corner, otherwise I'm going to get passed. I don't want to give him an easy opportunity to pass me when I'm coming in. It's going to lead to errors. You know, you say you're playing bad, but you always have to remember that it's the other guy that's doing that to you.
Q. Are you going to see your Giants play in the big game or not?
JAMES BLAKE: The deal with Patrick was if I won this tournament, I could go to the Super Bowl. No more. I got to get to Austria Saturday. I'll hopefully be watching it from Austria. They better have ESPN there.
Q. It was brought up in the last press conference that Roger could have lost his No. 1 ranking. For a guy who's been in 10 straight major finals, winning eight of them, is there something wrong with the ranking system?
JAMES BLAKE: Best player in the world is No. 1. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I don't see too many problems with the ranking system, I mean, since I've been on tour, really. There have been very little modifications. But I said the best player in the world is No. 1. I feel like the second best player in the world is No. 2.
It's not really a system you can bluff your way through. You can't bluff the top 10 in the world. You have to win a lot of matches.
I think it's fair. I don't know.
Q. If Roger had lost this match, Rafa had won the tournament, then Rafa would be No. 1.
JAMES BLAKE: That would mean Rafa would have two Grand Slam wins and a Grand Slam final on his record for the year. That sounds like a pretty deserving No. 1 to me, but I don't know.
Q. You guys had the huge high with Davis Cup. Because of the system, you have to go back and play again from zero. How do you feel about that, and how tough is it going to be to fire up again?
JAMES BLAKE: Let's bring Francesco Ricci Bitti in here (smiling).
I think the teams in the finals should have byes in the first round. That would be one possible solution, because to turn around and play so quickly. I mean, my coach, my friends can't believe that I'm already getting ready to go to Davis Cup again, because they feel I should still be celebrating the fact that we just won the Davis Cup, with how exciting, how much drama there is involved, how much emotion we spend on that, to be going back and playing again is just insane.
When I talk to other athletes, NBA players, NFL players, they think about what their offseasons are like, it's just crazy to think that this is it's that quick of a turnaround.
The other possibility would be to make it every two years, then we actually have a chance to have a year where it's a little bit normal, our schedule's a little bit easier to deal with, then we go in two years.
I understand their position that the smaller countries need this for revenue. It just doesn't seem to be gaining any momentum. I feel like we always need to be moving forward or there's going to be a backwards step. I don't know if we're looking at the big picture, the fact that if we fix the system, maybe the small countries can benefit more from the whole system benefitting in the long run.
I don't know, maybe that's just me bitter about having to go to Austria in a week.
Q. Could you make a short comment what you expect in Austria, how tough it would be?
JAMES BLAKE: I guess negate that comment. I'm really looking forward to going to Austria (smiling).
I'm just kidding. I love Davis Cup. Don't get me wrong. It's so much fun to be a part of that team. I just feel like it is a quick turnaround from our final in Portland. I know, especially when we're turning around, we're playing a great country. Stefan Koubek, who showed unbelievable tennis here. Especially on clay, he's such a good defender, that's going to be difficult. Melzer has a lot of talent. Werner Eschauer has started playing a lot better. Julian Knowle, a Grand Slam champion in doubles. We're not going to have an easy match away on clay. For the defending champion, that's going to be tough. We know we're in for a battle.
As much as I'd like to go spend a lot of time on the golf course right now, that means it's a couple days off and right back to working out on the clay and getting ready for that 'cause I want to be prepared.
Q. Have you ever been skiing?
JAMES BLAKE: Not since I was about 15 years old. I did a whole lot more falling than skiing.
Q. On TV they talked a couple times about how intimidating Federer is. Does that intimidation come to you in any other way than his play?
JAMES BLAKE: No. And I think that's something that's very unique about him, is that it comes from his play. A lot of the veterans or retired players are kind of shocked that he is as nice as he is. Honestly, I saw him at dinner last night. We said, Hi, how's it going? The waitress came over and said, Do we need to move you guys apart? No, we don't care. We can be friendly.
So he doesn't try to, you know, make himself somewhat unknown or mysterious to the rest of us, what he's doing. He's genuinely a friendly guy. He's just I don't know. He seems like one of the guys in the locker room. Then you go out there, he beats the crap out of you, you come back in the locker room and he's one of the guys.
I mean, it's not intimidation by him being extremely huge muscular, talking down to anybody, being condescending, having any sort of a huge entourage, keeping him isolated. He's just that good.
ブレークがフェデラーに5-7,6-7,4-6で敗退。人柄なのか（いい人なんでしょう彼は）言い訳らしきものはなく、フェデラーは必ずしもベストコンディションではなかったとコメントしながらも賞賛してます。また記者の質問もうすく広くといった感じ。
いくつか、普段のテニスでも使えるような、便利なフレーズがありました。；
"He came up with some of his best at the right times."：「適切な場面でベストショットを出してくるからね」
"Today he was better than me, but next time might be different."：「今日はやつのほうが良かったけど、次回は違うかもね」
"Today it wasn't my day."：「今日はぼくのための日ではなかったね」
"It's frustrating to me, but it's impressive" ：「（負けたことについては）イライラすることだけど、（彼のプレーには）感心してますよ」
"I missed that 'cause I'm maybe thinking I need to put this in the corner, otherwise I'm going to get passed."：「あのショットをあそこでミスったのは、このボールをコーナーに入れなければ抜かれてしまうと考えたからだと思う」
Q. You met Roger now eight times. How did tonight's match rank?
JAMES BLAKE: Same as all the others: it was a loss. I really went in thinking I had a good chance to win, same as every other time I went out there. Came up with the goods when he needed to.
I thought I played pretty well. I mean, definitely had chances I could have taken advantage of if I was playing my absolute best. But I don't know if he was playing his best either.
But he came up with some of his best at the right times, and that was the difference.
Q. What makes him such a difficult opponent?
JAMES BLAKE: Just what I said: he comes up with the goods at the right times, he serves well when he needs to, he puts balls in the court when he needs to. As soon as he gets on offense he can hurt you. He has every facet of the game.
I mean, I feel like he plays somewhat similar to me, just at a higher level when we play. We both want to look to get our forehands. We're both trying to make a lot of first serves and get in the net when we can, close out points at the net. But he just did it a little better than me today. He's done it a little better than me for the last five years or so now.
But I hope he can't be better than me every single time I play him. Next time I'll go in with same attitude: believing I could beat him. I definitely believed I could beat him tonight. Now that it's over, today he was better than me, but next time might be different.
Q. The tiebreaker, you were up 21, he was getting kind of grumpy, making some mistakes he wouldn't normally make. Do you sense there's a chance, suddenly he comes up with two amazing points? Does it still surprise you after all these years?
JAMES BLAKE: Nothing he does surprises me. It frustrates me, but nothing surprises me. I played two unbelievable points at 21. I couldn't have hit those balls any harder.
Couldn't have put him on his back foot any more. He just flicks his wrist, puts it back to neutral. It's tough to deal with. Really, the only person I ever played that could do that was Andre. And Andre couldn't move the way Roger does. Andre didn't serve the way Roger does.
It's just something you have to deal with, and I tried my best after those two points to just put it behind me and go ahead and still take my shots in that tiebreaker and make him come up with those every time.
He came up with a good serve at 65, and he still I don't feel like I gave him anything tonight. I still feel like he beat me. That's all I can do, is go out there and play my best. Today it wasn't my day. Hopefully next time it will be.
Q. That said, do you still feel like he's a little more vulnerable here than some slams in the past based on some of his results, errors he's making?
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, that's tough to say. I still pick him. He's still my favorite to win the tournament. But until someone unseats him, until someone proves the way kind of Rafael has on clay, until someone does that to him on hard, I pick him as my favorite every time, even if he's not playing well.
Like you said, he might have seemed vulnerable tonight until it was 56, until it was 21 in the tiebreaker, until he was serving for the match. You know, so another kind of aspect of a champion, another attribute, is being able to come up with those big shots at the right times, late in sets and in tiebreakers.
So if he didn't have his best day until those times, then coming up with the best, you know, that in my mind makes him a favorite still, because that means he didn't he maybe didn't play his best and he still beat the numberwhateverIam player in the world today. That's pretty impressive.
It's frustrating to me, but it's impressive, so he's still a favorite. Maybe he's more vulnerable than the guy who went, whatever, 714 a couple years ago. I'd still pick him as the favorite.
Q. Offense being considered, do you consider yourself unfortunate or fortunate to play in the age of Federer and sort of be able to test your game against him?
JAMES BLAKE: Uhm, hmm, tough question. It's something I'm sure the guys in years past are wondering how their games would match up against him. So at least I know mine clearly doesn't match up very well (smiling).
But, you know, I guess I'd say unfortunate. You know, to play I don't know how all the guys on the golf tour would say if they feel fortunate to play with Tiger Woods. I would say they're probably very fortunate because of the money they're making.
For us, it's frustrating that some of us maybe feel like we could have one or two or more Grand Slams if Roger wasn't around.
But, you know, what can you do? It's just the place and era you were born into. You're playing against the best in the world. I can't say that I'm unfortunate. I get too much out of this game. I get too much out of even a loss, which I'm frustrated about right now. But I take too many positives from it to say that I'm unfortunate for being born in this era and getting to play against a great like Roger Federer.
I mean, in this era, we're Davis Cup champions, so I'm proud to be a part of the era with Andy Roddick and the Bryan twins. I definitely can't say I'm unfortunate.
Q. Can you still take moral victories? Do you get any satisfaction, or do you have to win?
JAMES BLAKE: It's tough to say "a moral victory" at this level. I mean, you want to win. That's why you come up. I think Herm Edwards said it: That's way you play the game, is to win.
Yeah, I mean, I definitely thought I really good chance tonight. I thought I was playing well. The court suits me well. Night match. Conditions were perfect. Thought I had a good chance.
There's no real moral victory. Next time I go out there, I'm still going to feel like I can win. I know it was close. I've been close before. I can't say it's any different now or I feel really any different. I'm just a little frustrated. But I did my best here, so I can't complain too much about it.
Q. End of the first set, you missed a forehand you normally would make. Is that a situation you try to make the shot too good knowing the situation? What's happening there?
JAMES BLAKE: Possibly knowing the opponent, not the situation. He does that to a lot of guys. Rafael does that to a lot of guys, as well. You get so many balls. That's why I said, I think I'm similar, but maybe not as good. I feel like I get to so many balls and can make a couple shots on the run that makes guys miss. So I know the feeling of doing that to someone else. I guess he did it to me tonight.
I missed that 'cause I'm maybe thinking I need to put this in the corner, otherwise I'm going to get passed. I don't want to give him an easy opportunity to pass me when I'm coming in. It's going to lead to errors. You know, you say you're playing bad, but you always have to remember that it's the other guy that's doing that to you.
Q. Are you going to see your Giants play in the big game or not?
JAMES BLAKE: The deal with Patrick was if I won this tournament, I could go to the Super Bowl. No more. I got to get to Austria Saturday. I'll hopefully be watching it from Austria. They better have ESPN there.
Q. It was brought up in the last press conference that Roger could have lost his No. 1 ranking. For a guy who's been in 10 straight major finals, winning eight of them, is there something wrong with the ranking system?
JAMES BLAKE: Best player in the world is No. 1. I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I don't see too many problems with the ranking system, I mean, since I've been on tour, really. There have been very little modifications. But I said the best player in the world is No. 1. I feel like the second best player in the world is No. 2.
It's not really a system you can bluff your way through. You can't bluff the top 10 in the world. You have to win a lot of matches.
I think it's fair. I don't know.
Q. If Roger had lost this match, Rafa had won the tournament, then Rafa would be No. 1.
JAMES BLAKE: That would mean Rafa would have two Grand Slam wins and a Grand Slam final on his record for the year. That sounds like a pretty deserving No. 1 to me, but I don't know.
Q. You guys had the huge high with Davis Cup. Because of the system, you have to go back and play again from zero. How do you feel about that, and how tough is it going to be to fire up again?
JAMES BLAKE: Let's bring Francesco Ricci Bitti in here (smiling).
I think the teams in the finals should have byes in the first round. That would be one possible solution, because to turn around and play so quickly. I mean, my coach, my friends can't believe that I'm already getting ready to go to Davis Cup again, because they feel I should still be celebrating the fact that we just won the Davis Cup, with how exciting, how much drama there is involved, how much emotion we spend on that, to be going back and playing again is just insane.
When I talk to other athletes, NBA players, NFL players, they think about what their offseasons are like, it's just crazy to think that this is it's that quick of a turnaround.
The other possibility would be to make it every two years, then we actually have a chance to have a year where it's a little bit normal, our schedule's a little bit easier to deal with, then we go in two years.
I understand their position that the smaller countries need this for revenue. It just doesn't seem to be gaining any momentum. I feel like we always need to be moving forward or there's going to be a backwards step. I don't know if we're looking at the big picture, the fact that if we fix the system, maybe the small countries can benefit more from the whole system benefitting in the long run.
I don't know, maybe that's just me bitter about having to go to Austria in a week.
Q. Could you make a short comment what you expect in Austria, how tough it would be?
JAMES BLAKE: I guess negate that comment. I'm really looking forward to going to Austria (smiling).
I'm just kidding. I love Davis Cup. Don't get me wrong. It's so much fun to be a part of that team. I just feel like it is a quick turnaround from our final in Portland. I know, especially when we're turning around, we're playing a great country. Stefan Koubek, who showed unbelievable tennis here. Especially on clay, he's such a good defender, that's going to be difficult. Melzer has a lot of talent. Werner Eschauer has started playing a lot better. Julian Knowle, a Grand Slam champion in doubles. We're not going to have an easy match away on clay. For the defending champion, that's going to be tough. We know we're in for a battle.
As much as I'd like to go spend a lot of time on the golf course right now, that means it's a couple days off and right back to working out on the clay and getting ready for that 'cause I want to be prepared.
Q. Have you ever been skiing?
JAMES BLAKE: Not since I was about 15 years old. I did a whole lot more falling than skiing.
Q. On TV they talked a couple times about how intimidating Federer is. Does that intimidation come to you in any other way than his play?
JAMES BLAKE: No. And I think that's something that's very unique about him, is that it comes from his play. A lot of the veterans or retired players are kind of shocked that he is as nice as he is. Honestly, I saw him at dinner last night. We said, Hi, how's it going? The waitress came over and said, Do we need to move you guys apart? No, we don't care. We can be friendly.
So he doesn't try to, you know, make himself somewhat unknown or mysterious to the rest of us, what he's doing. He's genuinely a friendly guy. He's just I don't know. He seems like one of the guys in the locker room. Then you go out there, he beats the crap out of you, you come back in the locker room and he's one of the guys.
I mean, it's not intimidation by him being extremely huge muscular, talking down to anybody, being condescending, having any sort of a huge entourage, keeping him isolated. He's just that good.