TMS MONTE CARLO

April 19, 2002

Sebastien Grosjean

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I've had an ultrasound again (laughing). It was good results. I'm moving better and better. I was absolutely not bothered today. Sometimes I have a bit of fear before hitting balls that are far from my reach, but I believe the main thing today was that the quality of my shots was good.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's super. I hope I'll do the same. We'll see.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes. It's been twice that they've been missing more than usual. There's also the fact that I'm very relaxed - more than in the beginning of the season. And I play deeper. I am more focused on every opportunity, and I go for it without hesitation. This is also a possibility. But I believe they also miss a little bit more. Normally, Costa doesn't give away many points, and today he missed many shots given the fact that it was a match on clay.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, I had to rest. I had a cast. I couldn't play.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I hope so. I had difficulties. Until Bercy I hadn't won many matches, but I wasn't playing too bad. After the injuries, you feel more relaxed. You try to enjoy yourself because you haven't played for a long time. So I hope it's going to continue here and for the next tournaments.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: There was a total relaxing. The end of the season was overloaded. Mentally, I was out of it. I started losing matches that I should have won. So after that, you start thinking about it and you don't feel like a favorite when you go on to the court, and that also plays a role. Since Key Biscayne with Eric, we said that I had to play as if I was an underdog. Subconsciously, I then feel more relaxed. Therefore, I play better. That might be an explanation.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, I worked quite a lot. After Indian Wells I had almost ten days. Then in Davis Cup we also had very heavy schedules, and this is good also. But still I believe you need confidence and matches under your belt. I worked a lot before coming here, but I didn't play any matches. I went back to the basics for two weeks, and that was positive. But after, you have to play the matches.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes. I was really relaxed. I knew I had to enjoy myself and go for it without hesitation. And the quality of my shots was quite good. I played well - deep on both sides. I didn't let myself be put down by the other one. I'm running less, and I need to keep that quality of shots for the other tournaments.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I often use dropshots on clay. I'm pleasantly surprised by my serve. I'm serving well. I've been quite consistent since the beginning of the tournament. Maybe I'm concentrating more in order to get some cheap points or to start off the point the right way. That's a solution also to keep for the rest of the season - service and concentration.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, of course. One has to continue to play as well. I believe it's also a pleasure to be on the court and to try to enjoy every hit I make. Maybe that's what I was missing most since the beginning of the season.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes. I have no reason to be under pressure. I will just enjoy myself, do what I've been doing since the beginning, going to the net as soon as I get a short ball.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: The day before yesterday I was tired. Yesterday I could have continued after the second set. But today I feel a lot better.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's difficult to think about a five-setter. Before, I have to play a match against Ferrero, so I'm not thinking about the finals at all.