In the beginning, I concentrated, ... My play was steady and then some problems appeared ? fatigue in the shoulder and right hand. I had to change tactics and choose another rhythm. |
In the second set, it was tough at 4-3 when he tried to break back. It was a long game and tough for the concentration. It was very important for me to win that game. I just tried to run everything down and win every point out there. |
It feels great. It's such a big achievement as there are 1,000 players in the rankings and I will be among the top eight. I know the Tennis Masters Cup is a very special tournament and now I will experience it. |
It was difficult after losing the first two sets and in the third set I was a break down, but something happened and I tried to run and keep fighting and I kept swinging in the third, fourth and fifth sets. |
It?s because I?m in America, ... It?s enough for me that Russian people know me. French people also know me. In America, I need to do something good, like play great in a Grand Slam or prove (himself) in a tournament like this on TV. Tennis is not important in America like it is in Europe. |
It's a big chance for me but this surface is very difficult, |
It's not a serious injury but it's painful. It's been a long season and my body needs a rest. |
Something happened -- I tried running. It was difficult. I tried to fight and was winning the third, fourth and fifth -- easy! |
The fact that he's not a big server was something good for me, especially on this surface. The court is not that fast but against a good server things can turn out to be really difficult. |
There was more pain before, |
Today, it was my mistake because we had different balls (than were used in Montreal and Cincinnati). I tried to make it different, my tension for strings was harder here and I tried to make no mistakes because the tension was hard and I had more control. I tried to come back but at 6-5 broke my string. I took my old racket and I lost in the tiebreak. I played really slow, Chela played good today and tried to make winners, and for me, if I play slow I can beat nobody. |
Usually it's not easy to break Rusedski. But today he was struggling a bit with his serve and I tried to play some long rallies with a lot of top spin and slow down the speed. |
We have a good chance of beating France because Marat is here. I think the French are afraid of him, just by his very being here even if he does not play. They have all been beaten by him. |