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| Q&A: wednesday, august 10
TennisReporters.net: You have been playing almost every day for the last 10 days. How are you feeling physically? Arnaud Clement: Not so bad. It's not like I'm sore everywhere. But starting the match today I was lacking a little energy. Luckily, I felt better as the match went on, and that made the difference. TR.net: It must feel good to start winning those three setters, after a long period where you were systematically losing every decisive set. AC: Absolutely. It feels great, actually. I feel the last 10 days things are finally starting to go my way. After all the important matches I lost – like at Roland Garros in five sets, at Wimbledon in five sets – and many more important matches where I came so close to turning it my way, and I ended up just a little short. Between Washington and here, it's finally changing. In fact a couple of times, I was very close to losing, and I turned things around. I wouldn't say it's luck although certainly you need a little luck to win those key points, but also I have taken chances when I was match point down, or points for double break down. Winning one tight match helps the next time you find yourself in a critical situation. And, quite frankly, I'm enjoying it even more than I would if I had not struggled so much since the start of the year. Because I haven't been playing bad. But, I have been lacking the little extra bit, which made the difference when one or two points can turn the match around. TR.net: You have been winning matches, but all in qualies. Since you have had to play the qualifying draw six times, and every time you made it through. AC: This is true, but it is good because I prefer to have been losing first rounds after winning a couple of qualifying matches, rather than find myself already in the main draw, and losing in those opening rounds. At least having wins under my belt, some against really tough guys, have helped me mentally, otherwise I would have been more down on myself. But, all those qualifying matches I won didn't help my ranking much. TR.net: Were there times this year when you felt you were close to your best level? AC: In fact, surprisingly, I never felt I was far from it. Last week against Gilles Muller there were times were I had sensations I haven't had in a while. I felt like no matter what he hit, I was going to retrieve the ball. He just couldn't overpower me, and it felt really great. I loved it. It was a sign that things were getting back a little better. Enough to make maybe a big difference. TR.net: How did playing two Davis Cup ties this year affect you mentally? AC: Well, both times, these ties came at the worst possible moment, on the wrong surface. We played Sweden on clay between two hard court events. Then, we played Russia on clay, between grass and the hard court season. Preparing on clay and getting ready to play even only doubles, was very consuming energy-wise. At the same time, nothing replaces the thrill Davis Cup gives me. It was never a question for me whether I should play or not. I enjoyed every bit of it.
Andre Agassi won his seventh straight contest when he downed Jonas Bjorkman his 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. With the draw opening like the Red Sea, Agassi will face Nicolas Kiefer, who defeated Taylor Dent 6-4, 6-4. "That'll be a tough match,'' Agassi said. "These are tough conditions – quick courts, wind. He's a quick-court player. He uses the pace really well and moves the ball around. I'll have my hands full." Rafael Nadal’s form continued to rise when he scored a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ricardo Mello. Nadal will face Sebastien Grosjean , who took down French teen Richard Gasquet 7-6(5), 6-3. Gaston Gaudio took out Kenneth Carlsen 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, while Greg Rusedski of Britain out-served Max Mirnyi 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko beat Tomas Berdych 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. |
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