TMS MONTE CARLO

April 19, 2000

Fabrice Santoro

Q. Was it really impossible to play during this first set; no possible solution?

FABRICE SANTORO: I have not the impression I played a bad match. I think during this first set I didn't play so bad. But unfortunately there was no solution. During the rallies I was condemned to run. As soon as I was aggressive I was counterattacked. I had the impression of remaining there without any solution and only an increase in first serves or taking more risk could have pulled me out of this hell.

FABRICE SANTORO: Exactly. I had many breakpoints and I was not able to convert them. I believe the second set was really encouraging, I was able to change my tactics and to pose some problems to him.

FABRICE SANTORO: As I said, it is the fact that I had no solution as soon as I was trying to fight from the baseline I was systematically counterattacked when I tried to go up to the net. In the end of the set I wondered what to do to reverse the situation. The only solution was to serve well for my first serve and to go systematically up to the net and no longer play an angle.

FABRICE SANTORO: I don't know if you can see it from outside, but when you are across the net from him, it is very difficult to play. If I am behind the baseline I can -- it is difficult to play against that type of player. The only solution is to go up to the net, but you have to go up with shots that are really good attacks and it is very difficult and you have many chances of making a mistake. So is it better to stay behind the baseline and run a lot? I think the solution is to attack although you might miss now and then.

FABRICE SANTORO: It is true I had some difficulties reading his game because he is a player who fixes his opponent behind the baseline. He is able to change his way of playing. It is difficult to anticipate against this type of player. My major problem was that he was making many few mistakes and as soon as you do an average shot he makes the point. That is enough to be a great player. The guy who makes no mistakes during a first set, who serves well in the first serve and who, on a short shot, puts you at four meters from the ball......

FABRICE SANTORO: I feel better on hard courts and he feels better on clay. Maybe I will have difficulties to beat him on clay in the future, but I still believe I can achieve it. Even if he is an excellent player, I am not saying he is unbeatable. I am sure I have my chance and I can beat that type of player.

FABRICE SANTORO: Yes, yes, I will beat him one day on clay. The solution is really being aggressive. If I remain three meters behind the baseline it wouldn't work. So I really have to take some risks. One day he might be less consistent in passing shots. During our last match I had the impression that I was systematically at the net. I lost in three sets in Rome and three sets in Key Biscayne. And I feel that I can beat that type of player. The way out is to be aggressive. You must prevent him from organizing himself and you must push him from the beginning of the rally. This is really difficult to do on clay compared with hard courts. Attacking against the opponent is easy on hard courts. But the trajectories are very surprising, I don't know.

FABRICE SANTORO: Yes, some players play faster than he does.

FABRICE SANTORO: Well, already the score is very severe. But we played more than one hour and a half. It was a real match. During one hour and a half I had the impression that I wasn't able to play one ball. I was there and that is all. I had to hit systematically above my shoulder and it was difficult for me to attack on my backhand. Not only you have to attack but you have to attack well. And when I was attacking not so well, I was being overpowered. His lift is very powerful. Some players have balls which are going faster but are less bothering on clay.