TMS MONTE CARLO

April 15, 2003

Carlos Moya

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

CARLOS MOYA: Just to put the ball in (smiling). That's all what you can do. But today conditions were very tough for both of us. Was supposed to be a nice match to watch for the people, and I think they didn't enjoy much. But, you know, we did our best, and I just -- I was just focused to put the ball in and waiting for his mistake.

CARLOS MOYA: I think so, because the wind was changing, you know, was going everywhere. Was really tough to play today.

CARLOS MOYA: Well...

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I think so. I mean, I think I didn't play well, but I did what I had to do. Mentally, was tough match to play. And, you know, I could win in straight sets so, you know, I'm very pleased, even playing in such conditions, to be able to win.

CARLOS MOYA: Uh-hmm.

CARLOS MOYA: I mean, when I am in Mallorca, I practice with him. Whenever he has something to ask, I try to give him my advice. That's all.

CARLOS MOYA: I think he's very good, and you never know what can happen because he's still very young. But he has a lot of potential. I think in two years maximum he's going to be Top 10 player. That's what I think.

CARLOS MOYA: With who?

CARLOS MOYA: Juan Carlos Ferrero?

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I didn't know Ferrero when he was 16, but he started to win satellites and all this stuff when he was 18, so I think there's no comparison at that age.

CARLOS MOYA: I think he's the best 16-years-old player that I have ever seen. Because from the Spanish players, Albert Costa was very good, but I think was still playing satellites when he was 16 years old. Corretja, I think the same. So, I mean, he's very mature and he has many things to improve, but I think he's great player.

CARLOS MOYA: I think right now Gasquet is like -- he plays like a veteran, like he's been on tour for a long time and he knows what he's doing. I think Nadal plays more like his age. He still has many things to improve. But to be honest, I think he has more potential than Gasquet. But they both are gonna -- they will have a bright future, and they can have a rivalry like Agassi and Sampras had maybe.

CARLOS MOYA: Looks like (smiling).

CARLOS MOYA: I knew something was going to change because you cannot play a whole match with breaking serve and he was breaking mine, had to change. But I tried to put the first serve in and, you know, play.

CARLOS MOYA: It was not a question of serving, it was question of, you know, putting the ball in after the ball was coming, you know. And before, on the first games, I was trying to hit the ball hard and hit to the corners, and didn't work. So I tried to put the ball in and, you know, be patient and waiting for his mistake.

CARLOS MOYA: Not this week (smiling). I mean, these conditions I think are not the best for the sleeveless. But next week in Barcelona I guess.

CARLOS MOYA: Maybe, maybe the young guys playing in Mallorca, maybe they wanted to play because they saw me on TV and they saw that I am doing well and, you know, if I am able to do well, they think that they can do it also. So in terms of that, I think there's an advantage, I think, for Mallorca, and sometimes I am there.

CARLOS MOYA: I don't know.

CARLOS MOYA: There's Nadal also, you know, soccer player. Yeah, we have like the world champion diving, but I don't know.