TMS MONTE CARLO

April 19, 2000

Julien Boutter

Q. It is a nice feeling to come back twice in two days in the interview room?

JULIEN BOUTTER: I thought it was only once a week and after I was rid of it. But I am not going to complain.

JULIEN BOUTTER: No, not even in practice and I didn't see him play many matches. I tried to gather some items of information here and there. In fact, they were good information.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Well, you have to play high and keep him on the forehand because with his backhand he hits very early and he distributes the game. These conditions were special because the sun was setting down and half of the court was in the shadow. It was really shadowy and the ball left easily the sight of your eye. So this made the conditions difficult. He didn't adapt at all. My serve is a bit better than his and it made the difference. I tried to push him down during the whole match and it went well.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Yes, it is true, but it is part of tennis. We talked about it yesterday, the fact of taking things as they happen, whoever is the opponent. Simply speaking, I am satisfied with tennis. I am able to repeat some patterns sometimes in my game without heating up to much, as we say, and I am satisfied about that particular point. If you play players in the qualies it is all right, but they are of the same ranking I am and what I am pleased with is my level of game rather than the opponents I had.

JULIEN BOUTTER: It was indoors, therefore, different and the opponents had the same ranking I had, so things were completely different. Indoors it is another way of hitting the ball. I had no fear. We worked hard in the French stadium in Roland Garros and we worked hard in the gym to prepare this type of game on clay. It went relatively quickly because last week I qualified myself. I played Cagliari, Cagliari. It is a satisfying result.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Not very much. I know his name, but I know he has a very good backhand. It is the same thing I am going to spy on him here and there to get the necessary information. Normally it is the work of my coach.

JULIEN BOUTTER: I don't know, but he is efficient.

JULIEN BOUTTER: I have a very simple relationship with money. If you have money, all the better. If you don't have any, too bad. When I was a student I didn't have much money, but it doesn't change much. Except that now I can foresee the future without fear.

JULIEN BOUTTER: In fact, when we started, it was a bit difficult. I started playing tournaments in the summer. I had about 40 to 50,000 Francs savings. So during the tournaments I was trying to choose a low price hotel. Of course, I was eating as much as I wanted, but I was trying to save money and the system we were working on was a percentage. When I was winning, the coach earned something and if I didn't win, he had nothing. Little by little the situation changed. What is most important in this is the human adventure. It is a little company firm we created. We have strong and intense relationships.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Quite so like here in this interview room, it is okay. Of course, there are moments where I am a bit tense on the court but it is normal to be afraid or to be stressed.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Before each match we talk with David during a quarter of an hour and we discuss about what is going to happen. Generally I don't have many surprises with what happens on the court. Of course, there is always some uncertainty.

JULIEN BOUTTER: I take these things as they come. I am in this tournament, I am happy, we will see when the tournament will be over. It is true that I would like to have this wildcard. Now I believe it will be possible. When is the limit for registration for Wimbledon? Maybe I could be in the draw.

JULIEN BOUTTER: I played on center court twice already.

JULIEN BOUTTER: Yes, I was surprised because there were many people.

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