WIMBLEDON

July 4, 2002

David Nalbandian

MODERATOR: David Nalbandian. Who would like to start?

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Excuse me?

DAVID NALBANDIAN: What is that?

DAVID NALBANDIAN: A little bit, yes. My first time in Wimbledon being in semifinals I think is very good result for me. I hope to be ready for tomorrow.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know (laughter).

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Nobody. Is difficult name. No, I think I'm a little lucky in the draw. But I think I was playing very good in the tournament. Today I think Lapentti is a great player. I was two sets up. Then I think I was a little bit nervous or something like that. He start playing good again. I think was a difficult match, like every match is here in Wimbledon. But I think I was practicing very good before in Argentina in grass courts. You know, my first time in grass, being in semifinal, is great.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, I do.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, they change the schedule, and I never know it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think I going to sleep here (smiling).

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, yeah. You know, when I was Juniors, was semifinalist, then was default or walk-over. For me was terrible. But, you know, the life have a revenge, and I'm here again, semifinals again, so is not so bad.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, I do. I born Argentina.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, nothing.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Not much. Seven courts.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, all Argentinian players were practicing on there before Wimbledon, so that's it. Just a few courts.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, it's natural grass.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: In Buenos Aires.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No. I think John is a great, great player. I think I have a long way to be like him.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: For us, very difficult play on grass. For all Argentinians, is very difficult. But I think the first matches was very, very important for me to take confidence and a great feeling, well. And then I starting playing very good. I have to play tomorrow semis.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I start playing for Boris Becker. When he won here the first time, I just started playing tennis. So he was my idol forever. I don't think I play like Becker, but he was my idol, for sure.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Not much. He's a very, very good player. He's in semis also, so he must be playing very good here. I think he has very good results at last US Open. I think he do fourth round or quarters. He beat Henman there. I think he's a very good, talent player. Is going to be a tough match.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, never.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Before, I play Centre in French Open.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think the same here. He was talking with me before the match. If I won, or he won, is going to be difficult tomorrow play first time in Centre Court. We never play in the stadiums in Wimbledon. I think is a bad decision from the referee. But I don't know. We have to play whatever they say, and that's it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Is very different play in central or Court No. 1 and outside courts. The visual is different. The feeling is different. And I think the players who was playing before in central court have a more chances or different, so they know the feeling, they know everything. I just play Court No. 2 quarters, so is a big difference.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think every players, they come here, and he say, "We can't play here on grass." And I think you can do everything. I think it's not too difficult -- is difficult, but not too much. If you are focus, if you think you can do everything. But I think if you come here and you say, "I can't play," you never going to do it. But if you come and you say, "Okay, I'm going to try, I'm going to enjoy the games," that's big difference.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I born in Unquillo, a very, very small city. I start playing when I was five years in hard courts. I don't know. The town is 20,000 peoples, so it's very, very small. I like that. I always back home. It's great for me, Argentina. Cordoba is great.