Re: Roland Garros 2012
: 09 cze 2012, 17:06
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis ... Diary.aspxROLAND GARROS 2012
Roland Garros Friday Diary: Djokovic Credits Rafa & Roger
Paris, France
Novak Djokovic credits Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for pushing him to new heights.
ATPWorldTour.com takes a look at the news and talking points at Roland Garros on Friday.
Because Of You
Reflecting on what he’s accomplished the past 18 months, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic credited his two biggest rivals, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, for pushing him to reach new heights during his post-match press conference.
“I had a lot of doubts in last couple of years if I could really overcome the big challenge of the two strongest players in our sport, the most dominant players in our sport,” said Djokovic. “I've matured. I got stronger over the years. It's because of them, as well. They made me a better player. This is the beauty of today's tennis in this moment. We make each other better players and better persons on and off the court. So it's nice to see that.”
Rafa’s Reality
Nadal and Djokovic will square off in a Grand Slam final for the fourth straight time Sunday. The Spaniard has lost the last three to Djokovic, including a five-set thriller to the Serbian at this year’s Australian Open, but ended a seven-match final losing streak to Djokovic in Monte-Carlo.
When looking at the entire context of their recent encounters, Nadal said, “My level in Australia is similar to today's level. The surface was faster, the conditions were more complicated, but yet I played an excellent type of tennis. I was defeated during the final, which might again happen this year. So after losing the final in Australia, I thought, however, I'm satisfied. I played good tennis. I'm satisfied with my tournament so far.
“I was sad because I had been beaten; yet I was proud, proud of my style, the way I had fought back. There was a passing shot, a backhand along the line which I missed, which was otherwise easy. But that's sports. We have to accept this. And the fact of winning or losing is one thing, that's true, but we should never forget the reality of things. I won in Rome and Monte-Carlo because my tennis was better against Djokovic.
“Sometimes you have positive streaks; sometimes you have negative streaks. They don't come out of the blue. So it's all very nice to look at things from a distance or afterwards. But one should be careful in doing this so as not to come up with misconstrued ideas. We have to look at reality.”
Roger Casts His Final Prediction
When asked who he thinks will win Sunday’s singles final between top seed Djokovic and two-time reigning champion Nadal after losing his semi-final match to Djokovic, Roger Federer went with the player he’s lost to on four occasions in the title match on Court Philippe Chatrier.
“My pick is not a surprising one. I obviously pick Rafa. I think he's the overwhelming favourite. We'll see how it goes… I'm sure it's going to be a good match. I have no idea what the conditions are going to be, if it's going to be rainy or slow or fast.”
Impersonating Djokovic
Second-seeded Frenchman Stephane Houdet won his first Roland Garros title after saving two match points to edge Shingo Kunieda 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(6) in the men’s wheelchair final.
“I thought about Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and I said to myself, 'I’m going to do a Djokovic'. I believed in myself right up to the end,” said Kunieda, a former veterinary surgeon. “I played really well in the first but when he came back in the second I started asking myself questions. I had to get my game back on track.”
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