AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2006

Fabrice Santoro

FABRICE SANTORO: I don't really know how. I was very disappointed when I lost the third set because I was leading 4-2. After that, I was I feel like I need a break, no, because I was very tired. I recover a little bit during the fourth set, try to be ready for the fifth, and it worked.

FABRICE SANTORO: I was starting to cramp, yeah, a little bit. My legs was very stiff.

FABRICE SANTORO: Well, temperature is like, what, 38, something like that. The court is maybe 55. It's very tough to play. It's very tough to move. Even with ice bag during the changeover, even with the hat, all in white, it was very, very tough to play good tennis.

FABRICE SANTORO: Yeah. I mean, for the marathon in the French, for sure, there is no chance we can do the same match today in Melbourne. When we played that long match was like 20, 22 degrees. It was a good temperature to play tennis. But today, it's way too hot to play. I mean, I don't know what is the limit to play tennis here.

FABRICE SANTORO: Yes, but we play outside for four hours without the roof, five sets. Now the girls start with the roof, one hour. That's true, huh?

FABRICE SANTORO: Maybe we can move down the heat condition. I think they are not allowed to send matches after, what, 38 degrees or something like that, 36 or 38, I think. We could put at 32, 34, maybe.

FABRICE SANTORO: Not the most difficult one, no. I got more tired in some of the match I played in the past. Now when I start to be very tired, I know how to deal with that. I know trying to choose the points I have to play, trying to choose the game, even the games or the sets that I have to play, because I can't play every point, every ball at a hundred percent.

FABRICE SANTORO: Yes, it's one of the most for sure because it's a Grand Slam, because it's a very good opponent on the other side of the net. After leading for one and a half hours, I was down a break in the fifth. When you lose the third, lose the fourth, and you're down a break in the fifth, like 6-1, 3-1, against a good player like Gaudio, there's little chance to come back.

FABRICE SANTORO: And no one else will play like this after I don't think.

FABRICE SANTORO: I think it's easier to learn a normal game than my game. My forehand, it's tough to learn. You can learn on the other side. Try explain the guy you have to hit your backhand like this, slice. But a slice forehand, it's unusual. Or you could say that I have two backhand, too. Backhand here and backhand here.

FABRICE SANTORO: I could do that, but I wouldn't be there if I will think like this on the court. I like to be out there and give my best. I like to fight until the last point. Today I think I was very close to lose, but even if I lost, I would be very happy about what I did on the court because I gave my best and I tried to beat him as hard as I can. Even if I choose a good point, I have to choose the point, the most important point, when I was going for like three and a half hours. I just like the fight on the court, that's all. That's why I keep playing.

FABRICE SANTORO: After the third set, I was very tired. If I play the fourth set hundred percent and I lose it, the match is over for me, I can't play the fifth. I thought it was better to put a lot of ice in the changeover in the fourth, try to breathe, walk around in the shadow at the back of the court, just play without any -- I didn't run in the fourth. I think it was the best choice. Even if it was hot, by playing a fifth set, it was 45 more minutes on the court, I think it was the best decision for me to win the match.

FABRICE SANTORO: I mean, I think Tim can play a lot of good matches in the future, still, if his shoulder is okay and his back is okay, too, because he has a great volley, he can serve well, he has a great offensive game. I saw him in Doha against Richard Gasquet, he was playing great tennis. For me, the motivation, since I'm a kid until now, I just plan my whole life thinking about tennis. I don't want to have any regrets. As long as I feel that I can resist to the guys, I'm happy to be there, no? I won't play to be ridiculous, you know. If I play tennis now, it's because I like to be on the court, I like to work, I like the fight, and I know that I still am a pretty good player.

FABRICE SANTORO: Maybe night session, I don't know. Not sure. If it's 40 degrees, it's better for me, because then you close the roof, you put the air-conditioning and we play. If it's like 35, 36, that's terrible.

FABRICE SANTORO: 42 is better.