TMS MONTE CARLO

April 14, 2005

Richard Gasquet

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

RICHARD GASQUET: You're starting strong (smiling). Why are you asking that? For sure he played one bad game, but I was the one that won the match. Maybe he wasn't having a very good day, but I really won that match.

RICHARD GASQUET: I was tired. I played many matches recently. I was not lucky because I had many breakpoints. I had breakpoints, I could have won that first set, but that's the way it is. At least I played well during the second and the third, and the result is there.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, this is my strongest shot. When I play well, that's where I am the most efficient. You don't always play your best tennis, which was my case today, but at least I won.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, I knew he was frustrated that he lost the second set. I tried to start very well the third set. Of course I was broken back at 2-1, I played a bad game, but I was able to break him again at 3-2. He started making mistakes, and I tried not to miss.

RICHARD GASQUET: It is clear that when a player fights a lot the crowd is behind him. I was very pleased with that.

RICHARD GASQUET: I feel tired. I also was sick recently. The first three tournaments went well. Now I am tired. But the quarterfinals are coming up, and it will be a great match.

RICHARD GASQUET: I have a lot of respect for him. He's my model, and on top of it he's a very nice guy. But even if I respect him, I'll still try to play a very good match. He's one of the only players I didn't practice with yet. This might seem pretentious, but I will try to win - at least I will try my best.

RICHARD GASQUET: It's true I admire him, but during the match I will have to forget about it. I will do like I did against Safin three years ago.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, but I was tired today, and tomorrow the only thing that can happen is that I will serve better.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, I matured a lot, and I'm ready for Federer.

RICHARD GASQUET: No, it's one great victory among several great matches in my career. It's part of it.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, there is. He's like every other player. Of course he has very few weaknesses, but there is always a shot you can choose to play.

RICHARD GASQUET: Well, he has a very good forehand and he comes to the net very well, so this is the type of thing you need to avoid. He's very strong everywhere, but you have to prevent him from dictating the point with his forehand.

RICHARD GASQUET: I didn't serve well.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes. I can play better than I did today. The greatest victories are those where you don't play your best tennis. It's pretty rare that it happens to me, and that's why I'm happy for this victory.

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes. I was feeling confident. It happens often to me, I'm down 6-5, 5-3, and I win.

RICHARD GASQUET: No. That's why I'm happy to be here and that I won this Round of 16.

RICHARD GASQUET: No, it's not really hot here. It's not like Australia or America.

RICHARD GASQUET: I wanted to bring him forward because he is very strong when he plays from the baseline, forehand and backhand.