DAVIS CUP - SPAIN vs AUSTRALIA

December 10, 2000

Javier Duarte

Q. What does this game mean for you?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It means a lot, a lot of happiness. I had the chance to win it, and it was great to win the first Davis Cup title for Spain. It was very, very hard, but I fought a lot during the game. We came out 3-1, but I want to make it clear it's a victory of all the team, not only of mine, it's a victory for everyone.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Nothing really. Just the thought that we did it, that we won it. It was a dream come true. I was very emotional at the end. But really I didn't think anything in particular.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I was tired at the end of the third set because we were playing every point. He's a player that plays every point. After losing the third set, I was a little tired, but then I got a couple things and got up again and ready to play the fourth set.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: A lot of tension. We wanted to win. But I played it like any others, like I played all the match points I had. I had a couple, couldn't make it. Third one, couldn't make it. Finally, it came with the fourth one.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The fans were great. They were really into it. I would give them an 11 out of 10. On Lleyton Hewitt, I would like to say he's always like that, so there's no big change between the games that were played before and today.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, he did actually at the end before the ceremony. He said, "Good game." We just shook hands. Same thing with all the Australian team, they congratulated the Spanish team on the victory.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I thought he would be tired, but actually he wasn't. He played pretty hard. I played very, very well. I was very happy to give Spain the decisive point of the final.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, yes. There's always hope. There always needs to be hope. But it was very, very tough to win it, so we need to enjoy and celebrate this one, then we'll think about upcoming finals and titles.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It was great. It was one of the best victories of his lifetime, actually the best, he says. With the King, he met him before. It was great. It always feels great to be around the King and the Queen.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: Yes. When it was 3-1, we decided we were not going to play it. Both teams decided that. The final score is 3-1. We agreed upon it.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: Well, I think today the title is the summary of everything of this generation. It's the best ever generation of Spanish players, not only these four, but everybody. Unfortunately, we can only have four players on the team. It's going to be hard to repeat this group of players in history. I also want to underline that they're very young. Their average age is very young.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: Perfectly. It's easier to play home. We'd rather play on clay. Away, it would be tougher. But with the players we have, they're proven players who have won on different surfaces. First going into second rounds, then quarterfinals and finals in different tournaments. They've proven they can win. We play very good on hard. Grass might be our toughest because we just don't play enough on grass. I'm looking forward to play on hard with these players because I know when we go on the road, we're not going to be playing on clay, they'll put another type of surface.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: I think maybe an executive could answer that a little better than I. It's just the result of a lot of years, many years of work. You don't get this in a week, in a day, in a month. It's in years. These kids have worked many, many years. They were born into tennis, most of them, with the Olympics in Barcelona. This tells you how much time they've been working and fighting hard to accomplish this. This is just the earned prize after these many years of working hard.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: Yes, we're definitely going to be betting for the team. We have leaders, but there's no thieves, no horses, we're just the team. It's common sense the way we've done things. When you use common sense, things just work out. I want to highlight Alex, it was a special final for him as he was asked to not play on the first day. But I was very surprised, greatly surprised, with his reaction. I just want to highlight that.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: This is your first funny question in the whole time (laughter). Juan Carlos carried the game very, very well. He was very superior in the first set. The second one was really hard, especially the tiebreak. But after winning it, the Australian team was going uphill. Hewitt came back, really fighting like he always does, won the third, also a tough set. The final, just the last points were marvelous. Juan Carlos played marvelous.

ALEX CORRETJA: I don't want to be unfair and not give Juan Carlos all the credit. He was great. He's a great tennis player. We know he's a great human being also. I want to go through a little bit through the games. First Albert really taking Hewitt to the wire and really making him work hard on Friday to earn a victory, Albert playing, very, very good. Then Ferrero defeating Rafter, who did a great job. We also played great in the doubles. Today, when I was in the locker room, it was 2-0 for us in sets, it was tough to get ready mentally because I was expecting Juan Carlos to win, but I tried to relax, I kept thinking that Albert was the one more cheering in the locker room. I was reading a magazine, but I was watching more tennis than reading the magazine. It was being a little bit uncomfortable not knowing the outcome. I had eight racquets ready, I had three dishes of pasta. I want to give credit to Juan Carlos for this big win.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm very happy either being a Real Madrid fan, that everybody was happy for my win.

ALBERT COSTA: It's good to be followed by everybody, that everybody around the city and the country are following us and being aware of what we're doing and happy with our win.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. In fact, last night when I was going to bed, I thought about it. I was dreaming and celebrating. It just became incredible. I never expected it that way. It's a very, very happy feeling.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know if it's going to change it, but it's definitely a great, great experience for the future for other tournaments. It gives me a lot of confidence, having this opportunity, taking profit of it at the age of 20. It's very important for the future.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: Well, it could be five, six, seven, eight, depending how many people we want to bring over. I understand your question. I can not answer it right now. Now is time to enjoy. We have to think in the future with the Federation, talk it over, see how we're going to do it - if it's going to be one captain or ten captains.

JUAN BALCELLS: In fact, yes. It's gone well for me. First in New Zealand I was able to win, avoid dropping into division two. In the finals, I was able to beat Australia. It seems that continent is going to be good for me. There's not going to be happy, but I don't really care about it.

ALBERT COSTA: Somebody has to lose. In four ties we've only lost two points. Somebody has to lose. It was once one doubles and myself. That happens. I feel a winner as everyone. I'm very, very happy.

CAPTAIN DUARTE: He wants to thank everyone. It's been a great event. Everybody has worked hard. Thanks for your support. It's been great. You work with us 98%, that's enough. Thank you very much.