Nicolas Almagro Interview
Sunday, June 1, 2008
French Open
THE MODERATOR: Questions in English?
Q. You've had good results on clay, but never past the second round here at Roland Garros. What's the difference this year?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: I speak Spanish?
THE MODERATOR: English.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: I don't speak English. I speak Spanish.
(From Spanish) Well, I think the major difference compared to before is that I am more mature, I'm calmer on the court, and I think this is something you noticed today.
I mean, the atmosphere was not in my favor, and that was not always nice. They were making a lot of noise, and I don't know if that was for any specific reason.
But I understand why Rafa says that the French support their players quite a lot. But I managed to remain very cool, very calm at all stages. I had opportunities when I was three breaks down. In the past I would have lost a set, and then I would have lost my focus. But I matured as a person and as a tennis player.
Q. So you worked with a sports psychologist for some time?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Well, I mostly worked with my family on this, and I worked with Antonio, my coach. But did I work on anything specific? No, not really. We worked on my daily life. I tried to decide what I wanted out of life.
Maybe I was not very much aware of that in the past, and I am today. I have gained confidence in my tennis and in myself, and now I can reach the quarterfinals here.
Q. After the match point, you combed your hair and also suck your thumb. To whom that gesture was aimed at, and what was the meaning of it?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: (From Spanish) Well, the hair, that was a bet that I had with my team. It was a bet. So now I won. At least they're going to lose the hair, and this is something I kept telling them every day.
I said, Everything goes through my hands and my legs, and if I could play the way I've been playing on clay for a while, I could make it, and I don't know if they believed it or not. Yet tomorrow, I'll shave the head.
As for my thumb, as for three people who will be mothers. One for Conchita Martinez, the wife of my manager. She just had a baby. The other is for my sister‑in‑law who just gave birth to baby Lucia. The other was for Sandra, the wife of one of my friends.
Q. So does that mean you'll be bald when you face Nadal? You'll have no hair?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: My family, not me. I have this hair. No more.
Q. Rafa has lost just 22 games in four matches. He's playing well.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: How many?
Q. 22.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: (In Spanish.)
Q. You played him twice on clay and lost, but the last time was 2006. What are your expectations for this match?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Well, I think last time I lost on clay was in semifinal. That was a very difficult match. I was 7‑6 in the first set, and then I lost a second set.
But we both grew up together as players. He managed to cope with being No. 2 and having all this pressure, and everybody was saying, You're No. 2, No. 2.
But he managed never to get No. 1. That was difficult for him, as was for me; he's No. 1.
In 2006 I was in the ranking ‑‑ I think I was 30th. Now I'm in the top 20, and I really have improved my tennis. I think this is the most important.
Q. It's emotional management, would you say, is the reason for your improvement?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: (From Spanish) Yes, you're right. In the past, Rafa was a nonaccessible (sic) opponent. But when he played in semifinals, it was, Let's see what happens, so to speak.
And today things are going to be different. I'm going to play my tennis. I'm going to try and see if I can win.
Q. Are you going to shave the heads of other people, or are you going to shave your head, as well?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: No, my head is far too big for people to be able to shave it. (laughter.)
But my team is going to look pretty nice with a shaved head. As for me, it wouldn't be great. This is what we should all do. You know, when you achieve something big, they shave the head of the player.
Well, they'll have to pay the price. I'm going to shave their heads. I'll take the razor. I don't know if I'll shave just part of it. We'll see.
I don't know how my father is going to react when I shave his head. I won't do that to my mother, because this is the person who is the most important for me in my life. We speak on the phone every day.
I know she's in Spain at the moment, and the only thing she could see was the last set of this match. I signed her name on the camera when I walked out of the court, because I wanted to give her this victory. I know that this is going to be very moving for her.
But I was very moved, as well, because I managed to win this victory here in Paris. I don't think anybody but my mother can feel the same feelings as the ones I feel at the moment.
Q. What happened when he threw the ball on your side of the court?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Well, I run to avoid to be hitting by his racquet. The second set was very strange, and it was interrupted by the rain. At that time I talked to Antonio. I was a bit nervous, but this is probably also due to the fact that this is "the" match I wanted to win.
I was probably not playing my best tennis, and this is when he said, Calm down. I am calm. I know you can make it. And I managed to win this game. That was encouraging. I jumped twice.
I came back to 4‑4. I've won my serves and tiebreak. I had a set ball against me. I served as I could. Closed my eyes, and I returned very hard.
He lobbed me. I thought, Oh, my goodness. But I was very lucky and I managed to win the second set, and I took a deep breath. I was two sets ahead and I felt, You can't lose this match. And, yeah, I won it in three sets.
Q. In an interview with you you said that your two idols, Nadal and George Lorenzo.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Nadal wasn't much; he is a model for me. He is a great friend. Well, he still is. Might change on Tuesday. But when we were young we played a lot in Spain, and we have many things in common. We are supporters of the Real Madrid. We also like Barça, and I'm a great friend of George Lorenzo.
I met him for the first time this year, but we started talking to each other on a daily basis, exchanging text messages, and he told me many things that I'll keep for myself.
But these are things that helped me build my confidence and this is what I demonstrated, and he does it in this sport.
Q. You got advice from Lorenzo?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: No, no. We just talked as friends and as professionals. That helps.
Q. Do you think you can win against Rafa?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: No, I don't want to answer this question, because we'll see what happens. This is a press conference. Let's not talk about it.
Q. And what about George? How did you meet him?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: I met him through a friend. He is one for the best sports professionals in Spain, and I see him as world champion in the very near future.
As for Eto, he plays with Real Madrid, and I was introduced to him by Jonathan, a friend that we both have.
Q. How will you win against Rafa?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Scoring more points than he will. I have to play my best tennis. I am aware of the fact that this is going to be a very tough match. I'll do my best, and who knows?
Q. At one stage apparently he played an ace. Somebody shouted. You looked around, and this is probably one of the moments when you reacted most. I don't know what you did.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: No, no, this is not what happened. In fact, he served. That was on a break point, I think, and the line judge says Fault. To me, it's fault. I checked the mark, and it's from another ball.
And people thought maybe I'm trying to steal a point, so I asked the umpire. Well, the umpire comes down. He says, Good ball. The ball is in.
And he said a few words to me. He was not very happy, but it was an important moment for me. I thought, keep calm and keep playing, and I managed to win the game at the end.
Q. Do you have dreams?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Do I have dreams? Well, I dream about being happy. And I am happy at the moment.
Q. As a tennis player.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Well, I'm even more happy as a tennis player. At this moment, I'm just living at the moment. I hope it will last as long as possible.
As for my dreams, I dream I'm playing here next Sunday. Nobody said I had to pay to be there.
I know it's not going to be easy. It wasn't easy for me to reach the quarterfinals, and I really want to have a break and focus on my match with Rafa.
Q. You said Rafa is No. 1 to you. Is it something personal, or is it because you consider Rafa is a better player?
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Well, to me, Rafa is No. 1 because he demonstrated that. He was champion here, finalist in Wimbledon. The way things are going, he's so calm, so humble on the court, and he worked very hard to achieve what he has achieved.
And at the same time, he's very close to us. He helps us when we needed that. He is a wonderful friend. To me, he is No. 1. Quite clear he is No. 1. And I wish he is No. 1 to everybody, because he is going to win against Federer.
Q. Rafa has already analyzed your game.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Oh, he has, has he? Can you tell me what he said?
Q. Make you run and have you defend.
NICOLAS ALMAGRO: Oh, that's what he said? Well, I'll try not to run then. I'll try and make him run. I'll try and make him defend. (laughter.)
And he better be careful, because the best offense is a good attack. But I do think Rafa is a very good player on every shot, and he's left‑handed. It's always difficult to play against a left‑handed player.
So all I need to do is play my game, my tennis, be strong in my forehands, don't give him any points and score more points than he will. At least I want to make this match last as long as possible. And I think I need to take initiatives.
I'll try and play my tennis, which is probably not the tennis he likes best. But he says he wants to make me run and defend. Well, I'll try and be as aggressive as possible from my baseline, of course.
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