14/11/2010 18:18 CEST - Interviews

Soderling

Q. Can you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and tell us how good it feels.
ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, it feels great. You know, I don't have a very good record in finals, and especially here in Paris. You know, I lost two finals at Roland Garros.
Of course it's great to reach the final in a Grand Slam and also in a Masters Series, but I think a final is that one match you really want to win. I'm really happy that I played well today, and now I'm here winning the title.
It feels great.

Q. Before you made your breakthrough to get to the first French Open final, did you believe that you could, at that relatively late stage of your career, turn yourself into the player you are now?
ROBIN SODERLING: Um, yes. I'd like to think so. You know, I always knew that when I played my best tennis I could beat everybody. But it was just a matter of, you know, doing it match after match, not only one or two matches here and there, you know.
That's what I improved the most. You know, now I really feel like I can beat a lot of good players, even though I don't play my best tennis. I don't think I'm a much better player now when I play my best compared to when I played my best a couple years ago.
But when I'm not at my best, I'm much better now, I think.

Q. Have you ever had a feeling like you had just now on the court? If so, when?
ROBIN SODERLING: No. It was really great. You know, I was extremely nervous before this match. I didn't sleep much at all this night, you know. I'm really wanted to do well today, and I'm really happy the way I started the match. I came out playing really well.
Then after the first set it was a little bit easier for me even though he started to play a little bit better. You know, I was a bit more relaxed and I was going for my shots. At the end, you know, I think I played a really good tiebreaker.
I'm really happy that I played my best tennis when it really matters.

Q. Your career took a huge leap forward after your first French Open final. Then another final. It's a big achievement. Do you think winning this final, which is not normally the best title in the world, is a bigger achievement than the two Roland Garros finals, or is it...
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, of course winning a title is always bigger than losing a final. But I think if you reach a Grand Slam finals it shows that you played really well. Now I did it two times in a row, and it shows it wasn't a fluke.
So I don't know. Of course I'm really happy with this title, and of course I think the title is what everybody remembers. I mean, not many people or players remember who lost in the finals.
So it's mixed. You know, I'm really happy with both things.

Q. You had two great results in Paris before on clay, and here you go winning the tournament on the fastest surface probably on the circuit. What does that say about your ability to adapt?
ROBIN SODERLING: I mean, it's a great feeling, because now I really feel like I can do well on every surface. I mean, that's what you have to be able to do if you want to be on top of this game.
All the top players, all the top 10 guys can play well on every surface. I think if you look at Rafa, I mean, he's an unbelievably good player, but maybe a couple years ago he was much better on clay; now he plays so well on every surface. That's why he's No. 1.
I'm really happy that I can handle every surface.

Q. Could you tell us, what was the plan today to play Gaël?
ROBIN SODERLING: Well, I was trying to play aggressive, because I played against Gaël last week in Valencia and I played really well. He's a great player and he's moving really well. He doesn't miss much.
My chance is to be aggressive and make him run. That's when I play my best tennis, also. So I think it's always a pretty good matchup for me against Gaël.

Q. You're going to be ranked 4 in the world; how does that sit with you?
ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, I just heard. I'm glad I didn't know it before this match.
Well, it's a great feeling, of course. No. 5 is not bad. I think No. 4 is a little bit better. It's going the right way. Of course, now my goal is to be No. 3, and then we'll see.
But it's not easy, you know. I have to keep on playing really well. But I think if I can play like this, I think I have a good chance to stay in the top.

Q. When you won the match, the celebration was a bit of a surprise. You fell to the ground on your back. You mentioned before Rafa. That was more kind of Rafa celebrating. Did you ever celebrate that way when you won your previous titles?
ROBIN SODERLING: No, I don't remember. You know, I tried to not show any emotions on court, because I know at the tiebreak, you know, I just wanted to be very focused on every point, you know, even though I was up 6‑1 having a good chance to win it.
I try not to show anything. Then when I won that last point, I just felt so happy and I felt so relieved. You know, I really wanted to win this match so much.
I don't know. I didn't know what I did. I was just happy.

Q. If you had any advice to give to Gaël before the Davis Cup in three weeks, what would it be after watching him this week?
ROBIN SODERLING: Um, first I think he should take some rest because he played really well and he played a lot of matches the last couple of weeks, and I know how tough it is. He played extremely well.
If he can rest and then practice well, then, of course, you know, I think when you're playing Davis Cup final it's like playing a final here or a final in a Grand Slam. I think he wants to win. Everybody wants to win very much.
Then, you know, I think it's gonna be tough for the French players in Serbia because the crowd's gonna be very supportive. But they need to focus as a team, and I think, you know, they have a really good chance to win.

Q. Do you think that Gaël missed the beginning of this final or you put the pressure on him?
ROBIN SODERLING: I think we both actually were a little bit nervous in the start, in the first couple of games. I was able to break him, and then after that, you know, I felt a little bit better. I was able to play a little bit more aggressive.
But of course I think maybe in the beginning he didn't serve so well. I think that was the big difference compared to first and second set. In the second set I couldn't break him. Even though I played good I couldn't break him because he served really well.
And then of course the tiebreak anything can happen. Even though it was two straight sets, it was very tough, especially the second set.

Q. How much of a confidence booster is this title ahead of London?
ROBIN SODERLING: This is great. I think I played very good last week, and this week, too, on a surface that's pretty similar to what it's gonna be in London.
And of course winning matches against ‑‑ you know, I played a lot of good players this week. It gives me a lot of confidence. I think, you know, playing in any Masters, when you play the top players of the world, every match, you know, can be a Grand Slam final.
I think you need to believe in yourself, and I think that can make a big change. I'm feeling really good right now, and I'm gonna have one or two days of rest and prepare for London.