Fernando Gonzalez
F. GONZÁLEZ/V. Hanescu
6‑2, 6‑4, 6‑2
An interview with:
FERNANDOGONZÁLEZ THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.
Q. Once again, you played very good tennis. Would you say you're playing your best tennis ever right now in Paris?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I think at the average I am. I may have more peaks sometimes playingmaybe huge match, and then play not really well at the next one.
I think this year I'vebeen playing in a really good level. So,I mean, I think I play good every match, almost every match. I'm enjoying every time I go on to the courtand every time I go into practice. Ithink that's really important for me.
Q. Have you done something special preparing Roland Garros this year?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Not really. I play only two tournaments. Ihave an injury, went back home, get here not that early as I used to do it forthe Slams. Now I've been playing for toomany years, and I just need to adapt to the conditions where I'm going to play.
I got here on Wednesdayto play on Monday, and I have to adapt to the jet lag and everything.
Now I'm practicing less tennis, but, I mean,with more intensity. That's reallyimportant.
Q. Couldyou tell us something about your injury, the circumstances? It was curious.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: It was curious. Let's call it curious. (laughter.)
I was signing autographafter one of the matches in Rome. They called me from the other side of thecourt, and I went like running after the match and twist my ankle.
I went back to the locker room because itwas really painful. That's how ithappened.
Q. You'vehad four straight‑set victories, playing very well. Is there a particular part of your game thatyou're most pleased with so far, the one you've been playing here?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I mean, I tried to win every point. That's first point on everything.
And then I'm trying to,you know, not be risky if I don't need it. Maybe I got a break, and then I can start to hit my huge shots. But now I try to play a little bitconservative sometimes.
When I have to use my shot, I use it,because I know I'm going to win the match with my forehand and my serve. I have to use it, anyway.
Q. Thatmore conservative approach...
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: If you can call it conservative.
Q. More patient, maybe?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, more patience and ‑‑ I know I'mgetting old. I'm enjoying more if I run,you know. Normally few years ago Ididn't like to run too much, and now I'm enjoying that part.
Q. Is any of that from your new coach?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: On tennis? Of course. Absolutely. He help me a lot. He knows me long time ago. We been practicing together. He was one of my best friends on the tour andin tennis.
But the way now that Ilike to run I think is by myself. I havea treadmill at home, and if I have nothing to do I just run a little bit.
But it's really important, I mean, becausehe knows me a lot. Some days I practicehalf an hour, and the next day I practice two. Depends how the way ‑‑ I have to find the way to enjoy my job.
But I never feel that it's a job,because for me always tennis is a game.
Q. Ithink your nickname is Mano de Piedra. Can you explain to us where that comes from?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: I have many. I like more when they call me Fenya.
Q. Which means?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Fenya is like Fernando in Chile. It's more close to the people. Mano de Piedra was a boxer from Panama.
When he hits with theright, it was a knockout, normally.
For me, maybe can be a knockout for thecrowd, because sometimes they both go far away.
Q. You'vereached already twice the quarterfinals at the French Open.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Three, three times.
Q. Three times already at the French Open? What does that mean to be in the semifinals for the first time?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Means a lot, because I'm only one matchaway. It's going to be tough forsure. But I'm really excited. I've been in the quarterfinals already a fewtimes. I'm looking forward, because Ihaven't played too many hours and I played a good tennis.
I enjoy the way I'mplaying and really realize how to play in a big stadium. So hopefully I can win the next match.
Q. Was it from a very young age that you would hit such a big forehand, orwhen did you...
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Normally, always. Always I like to play that way. When I turned pro, I saw that I didn't hitthe ball hard enough, so I try to hit it harder and harder.
And after a couple ofyears, I realize that I was one of the bigger hitters on the tour. So that's why I hit the ball really hard.
THE MODERATOR: Spanish questions.
Q. You were solid on the court, and your backhand was good. You won many points. You were aggressive with your backhand. Now, of course your forehand isexcellent. Your serve is very solid. In general, you played well. Today we thought that you would use all theseshots. Did you expect more resistance?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, you know, it was a great match. I didn't serve as well as the day before,unfortunately. I was losing some type ofpace. Apart from that, yes, all theother shots were really good shots for me.
When I'm on the courts,you see, I'm ready for all sorts of things. Of course, you want to win each point. But when I was there on the court, I felt I had the upper hand. I would control everything.
I was up 4‑0, and I saw I was about to winthe first set. Then I saw the matchwould continue a little, and I had to find another break.
Q. Itseemed in the past you didn't feel that good, but today was better.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yes, I could do what I wanted with myforehand and backhand. I have theimpression that perhaps you didn't get my point. I was very happy in the past 20 or 30matches. My tennis style is good.
Sometimes in the past Ihad peaks and troughs and peaks and troughs; whereas now I'm more regular and Ipractice a lot.
Q. What about your feelings today? Do you feel the same, or do you think you have to change something?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: No, these are different feelings this year,because you see, this year I have not played long matches. Last year these were five‑set matches duringthe third round and it was very tiring.
But I always thinkabout the future, what's going to happen next. What's important is for me to feel that I'm fit, in great shape for thenext match.
Q. How can we compare your shape today with what you felt in 2007physically, and what about your tactics and technical shots?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, you see, the peak I reached was in Melbourne in 2007, andthat's when really I felt I was floating. My level was extremely high, but I felt too good almost; whereas today Idon't feel that good, even though my tennis is at a very high level.
So I'm quite ready tofinish the end of the year and the season of my career.
Q. Do you think that here during the French Open you can play a really nicetournament? Djokovic is out and you canprogress?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, you see, I want to progress. That's true. But what really counts is perhaps not the past. The past is over. I want to focus more on the presenttime. I shouldn't think too much aboutthe longer run.
All matches aredifficult, you see. And when you startthinking too much, that's when it becomes tougher and tougher.
Q. (Off microphone.)
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, youknow, I always dream to do more. I haveobjectives in my mind. That's true. I have dreams. I have objectives.
Q. Who would you like to play against? Is it Murray or Cilic?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, these two are really good players. They've played well already. I can tell you they're going up. They're climbing the mountain. As I say, we'll see.
Well, this week I wasalways the favorite.
Q. Which one would you prefer?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I've not played against Murray for a whilenow. As far as Cilic is concerned ‑‑well, anyway, I don't like choosing.
Q. What do you feel as you're going to reach the semifinals? Do you feel fit? You've said you've already played against Murray.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, you know, I didn't play for long hours,so it all depends on the opponent, if he's played long matches or not.
With Murray, it's going to be really tough. You know, he's doing well, and hereeverybody's going to try and win all matches. I think Murrayis No. 3, and he deserves it, I can tell you, so it's going to be a difficultmatch.
Q. What do you think about the antidoping rule? Rafa criticized the system. And even his coach and his uncle, they askedthe players to think about boycotting the Olympic Games, not to turn up duringthe Olympic Games.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, it's always difficult to changerules. You know, we keep on travelingall the time, so it's very difficult to tell people where you're going to beand when, where you're going to be in the upcoming four months. Nobody really knows.
It's maybe the case forus, the players, we keep on traveling. We have antidoping checks. Wehave nothing to fear. In other sports,maybe they have to be stricter. But asfar as tennis is concerned, you know, we're all very clean as far as dope isconcerned, so we have nothing to fear.
You know, if you have to tell people whereyou are at every single minute, to me, that's not something verypractical. I know for the other playersit's not going to be easy, either.
Q. Hanescusaid he thought you were really in good shape. Before that, you would make more unforced errors; whereas today you'remore self‑assured. You trust yourself.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: More self‑confidence? Yes, I have gained trust. That's true.
I'm more conservativeand more prudent. I try to enjoy therallies when I run on the court. In thepast I didn't really enjoy this, and now I enjoy it very much when I can runmore.
Physically I feel really fit. He's a good player, Hanescu. I played against him a long time ago. Nothing to do with the tennis he played today.
Q. Mentally,would you think about reaching the finals?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I've always dreamt about this. But reaching the finals, you know, is a longtime down the line. I'll try and takeeach match as it comes. These are toughmatches. It's always difficult toanticipate too much.
Q. What about your serves today? Ihave the impression it was really okay for you. You felt good when you were hitting the ball. Is it because you're faster now? You have good footwork? Hanescu was fast on the court. Was that difficult for you?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I've played many matches here in RolandGarros. The conditions sometimes weretough today, but I felt good. I was atease.
He really hits thelines, and these are flat shots that he plays. When the ball bounces a lot, he was not really at ease. That gave me more confidence.
Q. What about your coach, Martin Rodriguez? What about the assets he gave you?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I feel calmer, more serene. I free up my game, if you will. I have a better backhand, and I enjoy the wayI played better than before. So I'veworked on all these aspects, and I've changed a number of things as far as mybackhand is concerned.
That's when I realizedthat I've improved considerably. Thiscoach has been really excellent to me.
Q. Well, your coach said that the first thing is to dream about the semis,and then the draw was good for you, mainly for the third and fourth round. Would you share the same views with yourcoach? That is, the draw was good foryou. It was favorable. Is it something you decided to make the mostof?
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, I always feel fit, you see. I'm always ready for the next match. And this thing about the draw, good draw,poor draw, well, you see, sometimes it's the other way around.
I had to play againstHanescu. Sometimes I played againstother players, as well, whom I defeated, as well. So, now, okay, I'm going to reachquarterfinals, and I think I can win the next match.
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