TMS MONTE CARLO

April 19, 2003

Carlos Moya

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Carlos, please.

CARLOS MOYA: If I was upset with my serve?

CARLOS MOYA: I think the serve wasn't the key of the match. I mean, the whole first set I didn't lose a serve, so I wouldn't say that's the key. I think the key was that game at 5-all. I had five breakpoints, I think, and I wasn't able even to put the ball in. So then we got to the tiebreak and few mistakes I made. Then, you know, he won that set. And was little bit unlucky in the beginning of the second set. First game I had breakpoint on his serve, then I have in two service games 40-15, and he broke. So, I mean, he played very solid today, and I think the conditions didn't help me at all. Today was one of the heaviest conditions in Monte-Carlo that I ever played. I needed some speed, some help from the weather maybe, and a little bit sunny would have been perfect for me. But still I think he played a great match. He deserved to win today.

CARLOS MOYA: Yeah, I think so.

CARLOS MOYA: I think so, yeah. I played him just two times before this one. One was like four, five years ago. He was 17 years old. In Buenos Aires, I mean, the conditions were much better for me. It was sunny, fast court - I mean, clay court, but fast. Today, all the balls were coming back. I was hitting very hard, and the balls were coming very deep. So I have to give a lot of credit because he played really well today.

CARLOS MOYA: I mean, he's very quick and he knows where to put the ball. You know, he has very good hands. All his balls are going very deep. I try to make him run like crazy, and he was running really fast. He force me to take more risk than I used to take, and to hit more balls than I used to hit, you know. But I think he's a great player and I cannot tell you just one thing that impressed me from him because he's very complete. For sure he's gonna be in a better position.

CARLOS MOYA: Well, it's gonna be tough match. Ferrero is playing very well and he's very confident because right now he was supposed to be home, you know. He saved against Gaudio 5-3 down, a set and 5-3. Then against Mantilla, 7-5 in the third. So when you win those matches, they give you a lot of confidence. And you can see, I mean, quarters and semi, he won very easy, playing very well. I don't know who is gonna win, but is gonna be tough match, a lot of rallies. I don't know if the weather is like today. I think with the sunny weather and faster conditions, I think Ferrero would be my favorite. But is a day like today, I mean, Coria can take advantage of it.

CARLOS MOYA: You cannot ask me that, I mean...

CARLOS MOYA: Not at all. I mean, I don't know him very well, but what I know, I mean, he's a good guy and I don't think he was guilty at all. If he was, he paid already for what he did. But I don't think he did anything. I never thought about this, not at all.

CARLOS MOYA: What do you mean? You mean anyone in particular?

CARLOS MOYA: You have?

CARLOS MOYA: I'm asking you. You have suspicions or not?

CARLOS MOYA: Yeah, they want to know maybe. You want to know what he thinks (asking the journalists)?

CARLOS MOYA: I mean, not any in particular.

CARLOS MOYA: I don't know.

CARLOS MOYA: I don't know what I'm gonna do. It's still two months away, maybe three. So you don't know what's gonna happen tomorrow even so.

CARLOS MOYA: I will see. I cannot tell you anything now. Probably I play, but I cannot tell you 100 percent.

CARLOS MOYA: Of winning? To win it?

CARLOS MOYA: To play well, yeah. I think I have chances to play well. To win it is something different (smiling).

CARLOS MOYA: I think I'll play (laughter).

CARLOS MOYA: I don't know. I am playing well. I will say I'm one of the contenders, you know, one of the players to watch maybe, one of the favorites. But, I mean, I'm playing really well. Even losing today, I'm happy the way I hit the ball. He just played very well. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. So I just want to get there healthy and fit, winning a few matches before I get there. Once I get there, you don't know what can happen. First rounds are very dangerous. So if I can get to the fourth round, then more chances usually. But I have to take it step by step.

CARLOS MOYA: I play Barcelona, Rome, Hamburg, Dusseldorf.

CARLOS MOYA: Yep.

CARLOS MOYA: Not everything. There's a week between Barcelona and Rome.

CARLOS MOYA: He wanted my T-shirt (smiling).

CARLOS MOYA: Well, he asked me for my T-shirt in Buenos Aires; he asked me today. He's gonna have a good collection of Nike stuff from Moya (smiling). It never happened before.

CARLOS MOYA: Soccer, yeah. Still, he beat me, you know. So I don't know, but was funny.

CARLOS MOYA: If I play in Barcelona, for sure he will ask me again. So he will have a whole collection, you know, so... I will give him anyway, if he ask me.