F. VERDASCO/F. Serra 6-2, 6-2, 0-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Fernando.

Q. How would you assess your performance today? Why this strange third set, maybe, regarding the score?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: I don’t know why, but it just happen. Ask Murray, happen the same to him.

You know, in these matches sometimes when you are lost like two sets to Love down, he just start to lose the arm and he made many winners and many balls to the lines.

He was you know, of course with 5 Love, I said, Okay, I’ll go to the fourth set, because this set he’s hitting the ball with the eyes closed and he’s putting the ball in the line. Does it better to close this set and start a new one.

But all of, you know, out of this, I think I play very good two first sets and the third set again because he was playing better with more confidence, and I been able to make a break and to be solid with my serve. So, you know, I’m happy how I played today.

Q. I have a specific question about Sven Groeneveld. How would you describe him as a coach?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: He’s not my coach.

Q. No, I know, but you used to work with him, so…

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, I you know, he was with me almost one year and a half ago. You know, right now I don’t know exactly, but long time ago. Well, he helped me in many things, and, you know but right now I cannot I’m not the person also to speak about him.

I can speak about Darren, that he’s the one helping me. I speak about Gil or I can speak about Vicente or other persons who are with me right now, but I think with Sven you must ask the girls or the players who are with him right now, not to me. I’m not the right person.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish, please.

Q. It’s complicated to play after two days when you couldn’t really practice?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, yes, it’s complicated, but not that much. Well, it is not usual to stay two days without doing anything. Of course, I couldn’t even practice the day I should have played. I could only warm up for 30 minutes, and then they canceled everything.

It wasn’t very important, but, you know, if it’s a Grand Slam, anything that comes is positive, because everything is important. So you shouldn’t think negatively like, Oh, I’m wasting my time here. I always have to wait.

No, look at the bright side. This is such an interesting tournament that I’d say mental preparation is excellent during the tournament to have excellent results.

Q. What do you think about the fact that you were programmed after Federer?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Well, this is part of programming and the organization. Even though we might ask, they will not change anything.

I’d rather not answer the question, because the organization will not change.

Q. Today there are eight Spanish players. It’s a huge army of players. Do you watch their results? Do you watch their matches?

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Oh, yes, when I don’t play I follow their matches, and I think that all those who won and all those who lost have done their best. I’m so happy to see that we have so many Spanish players, and I hope it’s going to continue this way.

Q. I don’t know if you saw this video, a video concerning karaoke here in Roland Garros which is a parody of Shakira and Nadal.

FERNANDO VERDASCO: Oh, yes. I heard about it. I don’t know why. Why do you always ask me to answer these questions about these things?

Yes, the karaoke. We did one last year, as well. Novak always wants to be the funniest, the star, but he loves this. He loves being a showman. He likes it.

So you should ask Rafa if he enjoyed this imitation or not. But to tell you the truth, I don’t really know how Rafa took this, but I know Rafa. I don’t think he really very much liked the video. But anyway, who knows? Maybe he enjoyed it.