Post Match Interview
Q. In the next round you play a replay of a Juniors final some years ago. Do you remember that match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.
Q. What can you say about it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: About the match?
Q. About the finals in the Juniors against Fernando ages ago. Do you remember it? Is it relevant?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no. I remember that, you know, was a final, but we were Juniors, so is not the same. We are in the quarterfinals, different match. I think this is more important than the Juniors final. So I think we will be more motivated to play these quarterfinals.
Q. Was it as easy out there today as the score line suggested?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, maybe yes. Was easier than I thought. Because always with Mantilla was very difficult. Always when I played against him, I won in three sets because we never play best-of-five. Today was the first time. So the score was easy than I thought.
You know, I think I play a really great match.
Q. Do you think you're peaking at the right time? Do you feel right on top of your game at the moment?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Maybe yes. Maybe yes.
Q. And who would you prefer to play in the next round, Costa or Clement?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, I'm going to play against Gonzalez.
Q. Your thoughts on playing Gonzalez?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's playing very good. He plays very aggressive all the time. You know, is not easy to play against him because his forehand, it's very fast. He's serving well. I saw some of his matches. So it's going to be difficult.
Q. Felix said he was very, very impressed by your game today. He said really you were very impressive. Are you impressed by your own game? Have you ever played that well?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know that I can play like this. But I can't play like this all the matches. It's very difficult to play very aggressive. I didn't do any mistakes all the time. So very solid, no mistakes. Is not easy to play like this. I hope to play the rest of the tournament like this. Will be fantastic.
Q. Even mentally you looked very quiet, calm about things, relaxed.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm very fresh. I'm very fresh because I think I didn't play long matches. So I think for me it's very important. Physically I'm much better than the last year, you know, here. So also is very important to be fresh in the second week of the tournament.
Q. Gonzalez has a very, very big forehand. Carlos Moya has a very big forehand. If you do well against Moya's forehand, do you necessarily do well against Gonzalez'?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, of course.
Q. Are they similar?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah, is similar. I played a lot of times against Gonzalez. I know he has a very good forehand, like Moya, very good serve, like Moya. So maybe I have to play the same level than I play with Moya. I have to play very good if I want to won.
Q. After years, Spanish tennis is still at the top. How can you explain that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. Because we have the level to be in the top. I think now we are three in the Top 10, a lot of players in the Top 50 and top hundred. We are in a great form. We are still to hope to be in the top.
I don't know I have to explain, but we are in the top. Maybe because we are younger, and we are very good physically. I think it's very important.
Q. When you start warming up against your opponent, what do you think of? What do you look for?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Mantilla?
Q. Against any opponent.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Nothing, nothing special. Just warm up and start the match. You know, put off the nerves a little bit. That's it.
Q. During the tournament, are you close with the other Spanish people?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah, we do. We are friends since a long time ago. We are good friends.
Q. You train together, are still together in the player lounge?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, yes.
MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. Mantilla said he saw the best Juan Carlos. How were you on the court?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I was very good, especially since I played slightly differently from usual against him. I tried to play more against his forehand than his backhand. Every time I started with a forehand, I think it's a bit weaker than the backhand. He feels more comfortable with the backhand. He can stay for a longer time with his backhand. I realized that it was going to be a very difficult match.
It's true that we had played fairly long matches. I placed myself on the baseline. I stayed there until the end.
Q. Do you have the right level to defeat Gonzalez?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, Gonzalez doesn't let you play as Felix does. Felix has a very good game, but he doesn't hit as hard as Gonzalez. Gonzalez, you know, the second or third shot is going to be a cannonball. You don't have much of a chance. It's going to be a stronger, much more aggressive game, especially when he returns the shots well.
For his serve, he makes many points. We'll have to be very a tentative for the first two or three shots because they can come quite hard and he can control the game. I must try to control the game before he hits the cannonball.
Q. What is your relationship?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's a friend. Last time I lost against him in Basel. It's true he will come in with confidence. I am ready to win. I think with the right play, I can win.
Q. You've already partly answered this question, but the two former matches were on a quick surface. Now we're on a slow surface.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The fact that it was on a quick surface is not sufficient. He won over me. I didn't play a good match in Basel. He won the third set. It's true that I could have been the winner. I'm much quicker on clay.
Q. Have you (inaudible)?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's going to be motivated because he's going to play his first quarterfinals. So it can work both ways.
Q. Fabrice Santoro was saying the other day that Gonzalez can win because the balls are ideal for his game. Are the balls good for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, they're a bit heavy, especially when the ground is a bit wet. They're a bit larger, and it's difficult to pick them up. But these balls are good for hard-hitters. I play with them as if they were normal. I also hit quite hard, so they're quite good for me.
Q. Mantilla said that he has never seen you play as well as today. You are the first choice for the title.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Very good. But there's still three matches to win, and they're going to be very difficult ones. The more you advance, the more you have to prove that you play well. I have to concentrate on that and not only on the match with Mantilla. That's the past.
Now I have to think of the match against Gonzalez and I have to play just as well. Playing better is going to be difficult.
Q. Mantilla asked how much you're going to pay him for the teaching today.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, how do I know. It's a match and it's over. For this kind of matches, there's not much to be said.
Q. You played strongly till the end?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. I always maintained my level of playing. I practically didn't miss any ball. He was a bit behind all the time. It's true that I was quite at ease. I think when he lost the first two sets, he realized he was going to lose.
Q. What difference is there between the Ferrero one year ago here and the Ferrero in this tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The question has been asked many times. I think physically there's a very big difference. Last year I had problems with my ankle, I had many problems this year.
I'm very fit physically and mentally. I think that's the main advantage. Physically I'm feeling much better. When you're fit, you can hit the ball, you feel well, and you're confident that you can win.
Q. Also a question that has been asked in the past. You met Gonzalez when you were playing at Juniors. Do you keep these memories during the Roland Garros match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I played against him for the World Championships for 13- and 14-year-olds. We played here in the finals.
Q. You won at times, but not at Roland Garros.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, he won in three sets in Roland Garros when we were quite young. It's true that this is a reference. For Roland Garros, things were a bit hard. I was winning, and in the end I lost.
Q. In the next round you play a replay of a Juniors final some years ago. Do you remember that match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.
Q. What can you say about it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: About the match?
Q. About the finals in the Juniors against Fernando ages ago. Do you remember it? Is it relevant?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no. I remember that, you know, was a final, but we were Juniors, so is not the same. We are in the quarterfinals, different match. I think this is more important than the Juniors final. So I think we will be more motivated to play these quarterfinals.
Q. Was it as easy out there today as the score line suggested?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, maybe yes. Was easier than I thought. Because always with Mantilla was very difficult. Always when I played against him, I won in three sets because we never play best-of-five. Today was the first time. So the score was easy than I thought.
You know, I think I play a really great match.
Q. Do you think you're peaking at the right time? Do you feel right on top of your game at the moment?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Maybe yes. Maybe yes.
Q. And who would you prefer to play in the next round, Costa or Clement?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, I'm going to play against Gonzalez.
Q. Your thoughts on playing Gonzalez?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's playing very good. He plays very aggressive all the time. You know, is not easy to play against him because his forehand, it's very fast. He's serving well. I saw some of his matches. So it's going to be difficult.
Q. Felix said he was very, very impressed by your game today. He said really you were very impressive. Are you impressed by your own game? Have you ever played that well?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know that I can play like this. But I can't play like this all the matches. It's very difficult to play very aggressive. I didn't do any mistakes all the time. So very solid, no mistakes. Is not easy to play like this. I hope to play the rest of the tournament like this. Will be fantastic.
Q. Even mentally you looked very quiet, calm about things, relaxed.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm very fresh. I'm very fresh because I think I didn't play long matches. So I think for me it's very important. Physically I'm much better than the last year, you know, here. So also is very important to be fresh in the second week of the tournament.
Q. Gonzalez has a very, very big forehand. Carlos Moya has a very big forehand. If you do well against Moya's forehand, do you necessarily do well against Gonzalez'?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, of course.
Q. Are they similar?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah, is similar. I played a lot of times against Gonzalez. I know he has a very good forehand, like Moya, very good serve, like Moya. So maybe I have to play the same level than I play with Moya. I have to play very good if I want to won.
Q. After years, Spanish tennis is still at the top. How can you explain that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. Because we have the level to be in the top. I think now we are three in the Top 10, a lot of players in the Top 50 and top hundred. We are in a great form. We are still to hope to be in the top.
I don't know I have to explain, but we are in the top. Maybe because we are younger, and we are very good physically. I think it's very important.
Q. When you start warming up against your opponent, what do you think of? What do you look for?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Mantilla?
Q. Against any opponent.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Nothing, nothing special. Just warm up and start the match. You know, put off the nerves a little bit. That's it.
Q. During the tournament, are you close with the other Spanish people?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah, we do. We are friends since a long time ago. We are good friends.
Q. You train together, are still together in the player lounge?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, yes.
MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish.
Q. Mantilla said he saw the best Juan Carlos. How were you on the court?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I was very good, especially since I played slightly differently from usual against him. I tried to play more against his forehand than his backhand. Every time I started with a forehand, I think it's a bit weaker than the backhand. He feels more comfortable with the backhand. He can stay for a longer time with his backhand. I realized that it was going to be a very difficult match.
It's true that we had played fairly long matches. I placed myself on the baseline. I stayed there until the end.
Q. Do you have the right level to defeat Gonzalez?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, Gonzalez doesn't let you play as Felix does. Felix has a very good game, but he doesn't hit as hard as Gonzalez. Gonzalez, you know, the second or third shot is going to be a cannonball. You don't have much of a chance. It's going to be a stronger, much more aggressive game, especially when he returns the shots well.
For his serve, he makes many points. We'll have to be very a tentative for the first two or three shots because they can come quite hard and he can control the game. I must try to control the game before he hits the cannonball.
Q. What is your relationship?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's a friend. Last time I lost against him in Basel. It's true he will come in with confidence. I am ready to win. I think with the right play, I can win.
Q. You've already partly answered this question, but the two former matches were on a quick surface. Now we're on a slow surface.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The fact that it was on a quick surface is not sufficient. He won over me. I didn't play a good match in Basel. He won the third set. It's true that I could have been the winner. I'm much quicker on clay.
Q. Have you (inaudible)?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's going to be motivated because he's going to play his first quarterfinals. So it can work both ways.
Q. Fabrice Santoro was saying the other day that Gonzalez can win because the balls are ideal for his game. Are the balls good for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, they're a bit heavy, especially when the ground is a bit wet. They're a bit larger, and it's difficult to pick them up. But these balls are good for hard-hitters. I play with them as if they were normal. I also hit quite hard, so they're quite good for me.
Q. Mantilla said that he has never seen you play as well as today. You are the first choice for the title.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Very good. But there's still three matches to win, and they're going to be very difficult ones. The more you advance, the more you have to prove that you play well. I have to concentrate on that and not only on the match with Mantilla. That's the past.
Now I have to think of the match against Gonzalez and I have to play just as well. Playing better is going to be difficult.
Q. Mantilla asked how much you're going to pay him for the teaching today.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, how do I know. It's a match and it's over. For this kind of matches, there's not much to be said.
Q. You played strongly till the end?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. I always maintained my level of playing. I practically didn't miss any ball. He was a bit behind all the time. It's true that I was quite at ease. I think when he lost the first two sets, he realized he was going to lose.
Q. What difference is there between the Ferrero one year ago here and the Ferrero in this tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The question has been asked many times. I think physically there's a very big difference. Last year I had problems with my ankle, I had many problems this year.
I'm very fit physically and mentally. I think that's the main advantage. Physically I'm feeling much better. When you're fit, you can hit the ball, you feel well, and you're confident that you can win.
Q. Also a question that has been asked in the past. You met Gonzalez when you were playing at Juniors. Do you keep these memories during the Roland Garros match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I played against him for the World Championships for 13- and 14-year-olds. We played here in the finals.
Q. You won at times, but not at Roland Garros.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, he won in three sets in Roland Garros when we were quite young. It's true that this is a reference. For Roland Garros, things were a bit hard. I was winning, and in the end I lost.
