F. VERDASCO/J-W Tsonga, 7-5, 6-3

An interview with: FERNANDO VERDASCO

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations Fernando.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: You are the 2010 AAMI Classic Champion. Well done. Have we got questions, please, for Fernando.

Q. Fernando, how important for your confidence and preparation was this week, to go through and play the finals in tough conditions? Is all that good for your preparation ahead of
the Open?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think that is – and I hope – that is going to help me, no, these three wins during these four days, and doing in this tough conditions that it was with the wind and, you know, I think it was also the first singles matches of the year for me since London, Masters Cup, last year. You know, I hope that it’s going to help me a lot to be ready for the next two weeks, so let’s see if I can feel myself and play at least as good as I was playing last year here. So I’m very happy that, you know, that I came again this year to Kooyong and getting ready for the best I can for the Australian Open.

Q. Can you assess how well you are playing – 80 percent, 90 percent?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Sorry?

Q. Can you assess how good your game is at the moment, or do you need to go further?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Like, my game, in percentages?

Q. Yes.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I think that with these conditions it’s tough to say one per cent, you know, with this wind because, you know, is sometimes almost big part of the game you just try to put the ball deep and difficult for the other guy and just move the ball a little bit around, but also with big margins, you know, because with this wind, if you don’t play with, like, some big margin then you make a lot of mistakes and forced errors, so that’s one thing. So I think that I cansay physically, yes, physically I can tell you that I’m maybe – I’m not hundred percent, but maybe I’m 90 percent. I think that with the rhythm of the matches I’ll be a hundred per cent during the tournament. I was working really hard in the gym during two weeks in Las Vegas and these three matches, and all the practice I had the last week, playing a lot of sets, was to make the next step and to put my physical condition the best as possible for the Open. So I think I’m pretty close for the hundred percent, but I think I can be a little bit more when I get more rhythm of matches. And technically, about the heat, like the forehand, the backhand, everything, I’m feeling really good. It was really windy and really tough to play so, you know, if I play as good as I play with this wind I think I can really play so good if it’s no windy. But for me, the most important thing is that I put myself in a good level with these tough conditions and I win three good
matches against three very good players, so that’s the most important thing for me.

Q. What did you think of your draw, Fernando, for the Open?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: It’s tough draw, is very tough, starting with one guy that is going to have whole lot of people supporting him, you know, all the country, but at least just the people in the stadium that I will feel. I think that, you know, he’s a very good player, he’s improving a lot and it’s going to be a tough match. Then the other rounds, after that, you know, third round seeded is Ferrero. I think I heard he had like it was his uncle in Auckland and he didn’t know if he was able to play, or not, but I think he’s going to be able to play, and if he plays he’s going to be a very tough player. Then, you know, in fourth round, Davydenko, maybe the guy in better shape right now; quarter-finals with Federer; you know, I can say, semi-finals with Djokovic, final with Nadal, Del Potro, sort of, or not. When you are looking to win the tournament, when you come to one grand slam looking with a goal to win the grand slam you don’t need to really look, you know, in semis or in finals. You really need to go match by match and just try to feel and play the best as possible every day, and don’t think about who are you playing in ten days, you know. I will think about Tuesday, and then if I win Thursday, and like this. So we will see.