Very insightful presser from Fernando after he defeated Novak Djokovic yesterday. Fernando being Fernando, he talks A LOT, but the more he talks, the more we learn about him, so read and enjoy :)
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F. VERDASCO/N. Djokovic 6-1, 6-2

An interview with: FERNANDO VERDASCO

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fernando. Great win today, Fernando.

Q. A general assessment of the way you played and the way Novak played?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: You know, I don’t like to speak about the others. I can let you know or tell you about my feelings and about my game, and I think that Novak is the one who needs to speak about himself. So, about myself, I was feeling good to today. It was good conditions? We all know that here, always, every day is pretty windy. The wind is not going to the same side of the court all the time. It is changing pretty much and so is not – you know, when is windy like that is not easy for everybody, you know, for anybody. So my feelings today to be that feeling was pretty good. I was trying to control as much as possible this condition and just, you know, just give my hundred per cent, like I said yesterday, to be the best as possible for the Australian Open. I think that that’s the goal, you know, and that’s what I want to do. That’s why I’m here playing, trying to feel and put myself in the best level as possible to go to Australian Open next week with good confidence and feeling good, feeling the best.

Q. Was it a surprise to you to win that easy?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Of course there’s always surprise, you know. You never go to the court, and even less with one guy like Novak Djokovic and you think that you are going to win 6-1, 6-2. But I was just trying to do what all the best I can, trying to put the balls in, trying to force more when I had the chance. But with this wind it’s pretty tough. The ball is moving a lot and it’s pretty difficult to have a rally, good chance to attack, you know. So I was just trying to do what I think is the best for me and I really play so good, so the result for me is not important. For me, the important thing is to feel good and to try to get as much confidence as I can for next week.

Q. Why do you think you play so well in Australia? Is it the surface? Last year you were pretty close to winning the Australian Open, a few points away maybe.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I don’t know. It was – you know, if I’m honest, it’s a strange feeling because before last year was the grand slam that I played worse, before last year, and last year was the one I played better in my life, the best level of tennis in my life. So it was a pretty big change from the worst results if you see all the grand slams before 2009, and in 2009 following the semi-finals and playing that level of tennis. After that, I pretty get a lot of confidence. I think it’s a lot in there, the brain, you know, mentality, and watching last year how I was able to play that makes me realise that I can really play good here. The conditions, I like the conditions, hot. I like to play with a lot of sun and the hot conditions, so this is one thing that I always like to play. But windy was one thing that, like, two, three, four years ago it was pretty tough for me mentally, you know. I was putting myself like with a lot – I was always nervous when I need to play with wind, and right now I’m confident. I just want to go there and try to, try to get that condition the best as possible and knowing that it’s that bad for everyone – is not windy for me and for the other is not. So, you know, I really feel so good here, playing good. The feeling is so good always and, you know, since the first day I came this year it was, it was good memories from the last year and good feeling. So, you know, I was working really hard this pre-season to try to come here with most chances as possible. So this is what I’m doing, trying to work hard to be ready for the next two weeks.

Q. Have you been hitting with Rafa lately? If you have, how do you think he’s placed for the Australian Open?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I didn’t play with him. If I tell you the last time I saw him was in Davis Cup in December. After that he went to Majorca to practice. I went few days to Mexico for holidays because I really want, of course I want holidays, but the doctors told me to rest at least ten days because I was in the problem with the sores that almost pulled out of the final of the Davis Cup. So I went ten days holidays, and from Mexico I went straight to Las Vegas to practice with Darren Cahill and Andre Agassi and team, and I came straight away from Vegas. I saw him yesterday. I think what the first days I saw him since Davis Cup, so I don’t know how he feeling?

Q. Just with Cahill and the whole working with Agassi’s crew, how much has that given you? I suppose, is it maybe tactical or what is it?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I start working with them, like what you can say working because in July I was four days, so just to try, but really working last December, December 2008 and, you know, watching the Australian Open 2009 I can say that they gave me a lot, and after 2009, my best year by far, you know, and the finishing the year top 10 for first time, and now again, you know, the feeling really good for this Australian Open. I was again for two weeks, like, pre-season before, so I’m feeling good and all the help that they are giving me is so important for me. I’m always saying thanks to all of them because they are unbelievable people and they are treating me so good and they are trying to make me the best player as possible, so I need to say thanks a lot to them.

Q. Darren is out here for the two weeks. Will you deal with him on a match by match basis or is it–?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: The pre-season – the truth is Darren came to Adelaide pretty soon to be with his family, in Christmas, so I didn’t have the chance to spend with him much time. But last year was also the same. He came here so early and I didn’t have the chance to, you know. We talk and we are, you know, talking about the matches and about the feelings and about how I play and about how I need to play and everything. But you know, the time I really spend with Gil. Right now, Gil is like my second father, and when I’m available I’m all day with him, every day, and working almost half a day with him. And with Agassi is also the same. He was with Steffi and the kids, like last year, with, you know, staying Christmas in the mountains, and he came just like three days before I came to Australia so we had the chance at least to be talking a lot for these days and he was giving me, like the year before a lot of, you know, thoughts and experience that he had here in Australa. It’s the grand slam that he felt better, so he had, he had unbelievable memories from here and he’s trying to teach me a lot from that, so everything is so important, all three are so important for me?

Q. Do you think you could win the tournament?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think I can.

THE MODERATOR: On that note, we will end it. Thanks, Fernando.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Thank you.