I can play tennis, too!

Hi! 

I'm writing from middle of nowhere - well, not really "middle of nowhere" anymore because at least we now have an internet connection!   I can read Japanese but not write in it.  I do not complain - I'm happy enough to have an internet connection here.



Singles Main Draw - Semifinals
J Ferrero (ESP) d. (7)T Robredo (ESP) 63 64
(9)A Roddick (USA) vs (13)F Gonzalez (CHI) ?

JC and Andy made it to the (Semi) Final, after having struggled somehow together for a few years.  In their interviews after the QF they both sound happy to be able to show others that (not only Federer and Nadal but) they, too, can play tennis.  Wonder who's next to claim that.    

	J. FERRERO/R. Nadal 7-6, 7-6 From an interview with JUAN CARLOS FERRERO I think in the other times maybe I didn't play really good at the important moments like today. Today, I think I felt very calm in that kind of moments like tiebreaks and, you know, important games. You know, always the rivality in Spain, always is like this, you know. This also is special to win because, you know, I think I'm telling this normal that everybody is speaking about Nadal in Spain, and if you win him, you can show everybody that you still playing tennis. You know, I'm not saying nothing about Nadal, but, you know, I think it's normal. But the other guys, we are playing yet. Everybody has a moment, no? I was trying very hard since long time ago, but I couldn't make a great result. I play really good at Roland Garros against Gaudio. I had a lot of chances. I play really good at Wimbledon against Stepanek, 11-9 in the fifth. I play really good against Kiefer in third round in Australian Open, four sets. So, you know, I been playing good tennis, but I couldn't. You never know how it's gonna be.  I knew that I have it inside, you know, because I played these kind of matches a lot in all my career. ------   I think I can play like this because it's my level and I play like this a lot of matches in my life. You know, I feel pretty good all the time. I'm very comfortable. I'm very confidence in me, you know. Since I get in the court, I was so confidence because I was playing so good, and I was thinking that maybe is one of the times to win. I will not too far from this ranking, you know. Not the 5 best, but maybe 12, 13. Finish like this, and then next year try to make the goal to finish top 10. But, you know, like I said, it's everybody has a time to get there and, you know, I knew that some day I'm gonna start again to play very good. I hope this day is today (smiling). You know, I think we're gonna play golf now, Rafa and me (laughter). Yeah, at five. So we are so friendly. You know, all the nights we are having dinners - different, you know, Rafa, and the other day Robredo, the other day Ferrer. We are so very good friends. You know, when you go to the court, of course you want to win to anybody, but when you out, you out.

A. RODDICK/A. Murray 6-3, 6-4
From an interview with ANDY RODDICK

Q. You said after the match you're having fun for the first time in a while. Why is it more fun now?
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think it helps to be hitting the ball well, to kind of have a game plan and to be playing aggressively. You know, this is kind of the first time in my career where I've kind of not been focused on or been, you know, full of attention or been in the underdog in any way, shape or form, I guess.

So I don't know. It's fun, and I'm, you know -- I've had a lot of bulletin board material, and it's fun to kind of get back to form and show that I can still play this game a little bit.

Q. You like being the underdog?
ANDY RODDICK: I'm fine either way. I spent three years, you know, from the front, you know, so it's -- I'm comfortable in both positions. But, uhm, it's just -- it's weird to kind of be given up on at 23 years old, you know, which is kind of the way it felt from some corners. You know, to be playing good tennis again, it's rewarding. It feels really good.




Fererro interveiw
Roddick interview 




愛のポチ ： 　　




BY THE WAY, I read somewhere that Marat SAFIN, who might break up with Lundgren, is looking for an Argentine coach.  Could be Gaby Markus who was seen with Safin during a practice session in Cincy or Toronto.  Anyway, not too bad idea to have an Argentine coach!