Online Matches, Interviews, etc

[louisellp]

I thought we could have a new thread....

If you find an online match - or interview - or video, old or new, borrowed (but not blue.... ) that you think should go here - post it here

Thanks to Reiko for the first one.

[Louisellp]

Originally posted by Reiko in December Exhibitions.

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Check out this:
www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=114167&page=3

Copa Argentina LIVE and REPLAYon-line. You can watch Mariano - Moya!
In the beginning of the match they have a little interview with Mariano, too.

[Louiselllp]

Source of Article - MTF

www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=114208

Article: Nalbandian, Coria, Gaudio, and others speak about the other side of tennis

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The Argentine Legion speak about the other side of the professional tour
This is a very well written piece about the side of the tennis tour that most people don't see and it gives a great insight into what the players are feeling and it's not always a good thing, though many of us would love to play on the tour.

Best of all these are written in their own words and that is rare these days and this was a good sample of opinions there.

Thanks of all thanks to Michelle and Em for translating this excellent piece.

Yes, there will be the usual clowns in here with the trolling, but that is to be expected.

espndeportes.espn.go.com/news...ten&type=story

The legion speaks and says a lot

The Legion talks is the new book of Ediciones Al Arco in which 12 of the best Argentine tennis players surprise all with their confessions.

Says Gaston Gaudio: "For a tennis player, family is the worst to have." For Jose Acasuso: "Tennis is an ambience of egoism and much jealousy." Juan Monaco continues: "You always hope that something happens to your rival, even if it were your friend or the one that you shared a room with the night before."

The book of journalists Ignacio Uzquiza and Fernando Bianculli consists of a series of interviews with Jose Acasuso, Agustin Calleri, Guillermo Cana, Guillermo Coria, Juan Ignacio Chela, David Nalbandian, Juan Martin Del Potro, Gaston Gaudio, Juan Monaco, Mariano Puerta, Martin Vasallo Arguello y Mariano Zabaleta.

"If the books serve to illuminate, La Legion habla enlightens one about the most valuable surface (aspect) of tennis: the experience of the players. I have read practically every book regarding the theme: some seemed good, others not as good, and the rest not worth anything. The value of La Legion habla resides in the WORD of the players. They tell their stories, offer up their opinions, transmit to us their (life) experience," opinions Guillermo Vilas, author of the prologue.

As Vilas indicates (signals,) the book trides to show, from the mouth of the protagonists, that tennis isn't just prestige, fame and money. It is also egoism, extreme competition and almost constant loneliness.

These 12 Argentine tennis players leave no theme without discussion and also expound up on their visions of the work of the Argentine Tennis Association and the conclusions that came about following the series of Argentines sanctioned in doping cases.

The following is a selection of some of the most compelling fragments from the interviews.

"What is tennis?" Its my way of life, my job, even though I have had the privilege of doing so because I like it. When I had to leave school to dedicate myself fully to tennis I began to take it more as a job than as a pleasure. With time I came to believe, that even if i like it, I am not passionate about the tennis." (Jose Acasuso)

"Did the Association give you a hand when you were an amateur?" In this moment, no. To the contrary. The boys from the Interior (of Argentina) have always been treated with prejudice. This (current) leadership, I don't know how it treats them because since I have been with Morea I have not been an amateur so I have not really been involved, but I can assure you that it used to be that the boys from the Interior were always screwed (treated like nutse.) (Agustin Calleri)

"Is the ATP discriminatory?" Its discrimination from an economic standpoint, like any multinational corporation. Its just another of millions that there are in the world. Point being that I accept it, but I'm not buying into it that it is a group of players that decide (players union) because it isn't like that. (Guillermo Cañas)

"What are the pros and cons of being a professional tennis player?" "The main con is the falseness of your surroundings, not just from the players, but from everyone. In tennis, it's very normal to go from being the worst to the best and vice versa. In Argentina you're either God or you don't exist. When you're doing well, everyone surrounds you, and if you don't get the results, you're left all alone, or in other words, surrounded by the people who really care about you. That's why sometimes I may have been aloof or conceited because I never let anyone enter my circle of trust. You know how it goes and that there are heaps of people who latch on to you during the good times and then disappear". (Guillermo Coria)

"Is the Davis Cup one of your goals?" "Yes, for me, yes, it's one of my goals. But, I mean, there are lots of things...you might go and play Davis Cup and earn 10 000 dollars and you go to a tournament and earn 50 000, that's why it's difficult and I understand those who refuse to play a tie. I understand them and I have also sometimes said no. People don't see that side; you say no and they accuse you of not playing for your country. I have put aside a lot of things for the Davis Cup and nobody knows that. When I played in Canada with el Gordo (Agustin) Calleri, several guys had said no, and we weren't even in the World Group. I lost money for playing that tie because we didn't earn a cent in prize money and I travelled with my coach and had to pay for everything - his hotel, his fare. I remember that the captain at the time, Franco Davin, had to pay the meals with his own credit card. There are heaps of cases like this. I was always the alternate and I never complained. Another time, I was on my way to Punta del Este and they paged me at the airport because Cañas had got injured. And then I refused the call-up to play in Belarus because the clay season was approaching and it was just one week before, and they killed me!" (Juan Ignacio Chela)

"At one point you said you felt like giving up. Why?" "Because there started to be pressure, sponsors; I was 16 and people considered me to be a rising star, they started talking about me and that scared me a bit. Giving up school was also quite hard for me because I started to miss my friends, and the long trips made me miss my family a lot, we only spoke once a week. So I started to think: "What am I doing distancing myself from everything I love at such a young age?" and I stopped playing for a month. But that period made me realise that tennis was for me and that, since I had the opportunities, I couldn't waste them." (Juan Martin Del Potro)

"Are there schools of ideology in tennis like there is in football, for example?" "I, in particular, am of an ideology which I'm not sure is good for tennis. In footballers terms, it's closer to Menottism than Bilardism. (Menotti, the beautiful game and Bilardo played a more structured and pragmatic style for the non football lovers in here.)

When Nadal beat Federer in the 2006 Roland Garros final, he said later in the press conference: "I didn't play well but I knew that if I was courageous and strong, I could win." I don't believe in that, and it's bad. But it's an ideology that is so deep within me that I can't get rid of it. It's even a point of permanent discussion with my coach. He says to me: "there'll be thousands of times you won't play well" and now, after a ten year career, I realise I probably played well ten times in my whole life." (Gaston Gaudio)

"Did you ever have to share a room with someone you had to play against the next day?" "At a professional level, no, we each have our own room. But at a Challegers and Futures level, I often had to sleep in the same room as the guy I had to play against the next day. I wanted to kill him! It's a really weird feeling because, if nothing else, you think: "I hope this kid sleeps badly so I have more chances of winning". And you think that even if they're your friend. You always hope something happens to the other person". (Juan Monaco)

"There is often criticism towards you because of your approach to tennis: always professional but perhaps a bit too relaxed". "I live life. I think that helps but anyway, there are people who don't think so..." (David Nalbandian)

"Why did you come back to play?" "Because I wanted to end my career on the court, I deserve it, and to do the impossible to finish with a good ranking. I had dreamed of it since I was a young boy. I always wanted to be the one who stopped the tennis, and not have the tennis stop me. That's why I fought so much for all this. And I came back to play to be up there. Because I always felt I was going to come back and play". (Mariano Puerta)

"What does Guillermo Vilas mean to you?" "Guillermo is a role model we all had at one time or other, which has been torturous for many people, including me. He was the best at everything, as a role model and professional. He trained eight hours a day. His image is so deep rooted that at one point, I ended up hating him because all my coaches would tell me I had to train longer and not just four hours." (Martin Vassallo Arguello)

"There are some things which are normal, much more so than for other people. For example? The facilities you have to be able to get anything. From things to do with money to celebrities. For example, I remember once I was practising in Madrid and they invited me to the Real Madrid training session. I think that would be a dream for a lot of people, and I, thanks to tennis, had the chance to be with all the Argentinian and foreign players from the team.

You might think that this is normal, but when you stop and think about it, you say: "What am I doing here eating with Ronaldo or Beckham?" I even played tennis with the prince of Monaco. I was training in Monte Carlo one day and they came and told me he wanted to play, so he came and we played for a bit. Over time, these things become so normal that they end up being insignificant. In any case, they're things that happen to elite tennis players, there are heaps of players who don't even come close to experiencing these situations..." (Mariano Zabaleta)




End of Article.
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[Corina2605]

Interview with M in Ole dated 30 December 2007. I will try my best to translate, but it's not that easy as I am out of practice and there are some spoken expressions. But I will try :)Sometimes I translated freely.

www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2007/12/30/01574780.html

El Negro quiere

Tras un 2007 sin pilas, Zabala quiere recuperar terreno en el 2008. "Que sea un año clave", pid

RICARDO GOTTA [e-mail]



—¿Vas a festejar el año nuevo en San Pablo?

—Vos estarás pensando: ''qué carajo va a hacer en San Pablo este pibe...'' Ja, ja. Yo no lo sé... En realidad estoy tratando de volver. Espero que éste sea un año clave para mí. Lo quiero hacer a fondo, tengo que hacerlo ahora. Yo jugué este año hasta el US Open y después nada más. Cuatro meses. No tenía ganas, no estaba lesionado, me pasé cuatro meses en casa.

Mariano Zabaleta está exhausto tras el entrenamiento con Pablo Cuevas, poco después del mediodía, en el rato en que el sol pegó a pleno en Punta del Este. A la noche definiría la final del torneo uruguayo ante David Nalbandian. Se ríe de sí mismo. Está muy divertido. Más allá del bien y del mal.

—¿Te pegaron los 30?

—Ja, ja... A los 21 dije que iba a vivir en el campo, con hijos, familia... Ahora no.

—¿Estás en pareja?

—No, estoy soltero y feliz. La estoy pasando bien. Cuando estoy en Argentina la paso increíble. La verdad es que me siento un agradecido de la vida por todo lo que tuve y lo que tengo.

—¿Volvieron las ganas?

—Yo siempre fui un tipo muy expresivo, siempre tuve pilas, pero algo hizo click... Les dije a mis entrenadores: estoy cansado. Chau, hasta nuevo aviso. Tuve un año muy complicado, con lesiones. Y volví y recuperé ranking. Eso te mata mentalmente.

—Tenías más presión que cuando estabas 50ø.

-Sí, claro, viejo... Tenés la presión de jugar challengers, ganar, sabés que tenés más nivel que los demás. Me salió bastante bien. Ahora estoy con ganas y contento de poder empezar este año estando en varios main draw.

—¿Cuál es tu objetivo?

—Ir paso a paso este año. Tratar de jugar, regular, estar bien físicamente. Si juego regular, siete puntos todos los partidos y gano, voy a subir en el ranking.

—Volvés al ruedo, a pasear, minas, guita...

—Sí, pará. No me quejo pero no podés joder mucho, tenés que entrenarte duro. Es una vida muy solitaria.

—¿Te jode o estás acostumbrado?

—Es raro, ¿sabés? Me gusta, lo extraño. Pero cuando estoy ahí viajando, puteo, y cuando estoy en Argentina es como que estoy acostumbrado a estar solo...

—¿En el circuito qué hacés además de jugar?

—Fulbito con mi preparador fisico y otros jugadores (lo mira a Cuevas, que dice "sos muy malo"). Después, mucho tiempo en la habitación. Películas, chat.

—¿Qué ves?

—Veo muchas series, compro temporadas enteras y me gusta verlas.

—¿Cómo te ves a los 40?

—Casado y con... Ja, ja, ja... Me gustó mucho el emprendimiento que hicimos en la tele, eso me encantó. No descarto seguir viajando como entrenador, pero hoy en día me costaría mucho.
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TRANSLATION:

El Negro wants

After a 2007 without batteries/energy, Zabala wants to recuperate in 2008. "That it will be a key year" he wishes.

Q: Are you going to celebrate the New Year in San Pablo?
A: You will think "what carajo () this guy will have in San Pablo", haha. I do not know. In reality I am trying to return. I hope that this will be a key year for me. I want to do it in depth, I need to do it now. I played this year until Us Open and after that I didn't play anymore for four months. I was not injured, but I was not motivated. I stayed at home for four months.

Mariano Zabaleta is exhausted after a practice session with Pablo Cuevas, shortly after noon, in the moment when the sun hits Punta del Este completely. In the evening he will play the final of this Uruguayan tournament against David Nalbandian. He laughs at himself, he is very funny, beyond good and bad.


Q: Do the 30 years worry you?
A: Haha. When I was 21 years old I said I will be going to live in the country with kids, family at the age of 30. Now nothing of that.

Q: Are you in a relationship?
A: No, I am single and happy. I am doing fine. When I am in Argentina I am doing great. The truth is that I am very grateful for my life, for what I had and have.

Q: Has the motivation to play returned?
A: I have always been a very expressive guy. I always had energy, but something made click... I told my coaches that I was tired. Chau until further notice. I had a very complicated year, with injuries. And I returned and I recovered in the ranking. This kills you mentally.

Q: Do you feel more pressure than when you were top 50?
A: Yes, of course. You have the pressure to play challengers, to win, you know that you have a better level than the others. I managed this pretty well. Now I am motivated and happy that I am able to start this year playing in several main draws.

Q: What is your goal?
A: To go step by step this year. To try to play regularly, to be well physically. If I play regularly, seven points every match and if I win, my ranking will improve.

Q: Back to the bullring, to troll, girls, ...
A: Yes, I can't complain, but you can't have too much fun, you have to practice hard. It is a very lonely life.

Q: Does this bother you or are you used to it?
A: It is rare, you know. I like it, I miss it. But when I am travelling I mess around, but when I am in Argentina it is like I am used to be alone.

Q: When you are on tour, what do you do besides playing?
A: Fulbito with my physical coach and with other players (he looks at Cuevas who says "you are very bad"). Otherwise I spend lots of time in the hotel, watching movies or chatting.

Q: What are you watching?
A: I watch lots of series, I buy entire seasons and I like to watch them.

Q: How do you see yourself at the age of 40?
A: Married and with ... haha. I liked very much what we did for tv, this I loved to do. I do not rule out to continue to travel as coach but nowadays it would cost me a lot.

[Corina2605]

We are being spoiled.. there is another article-interview with Mariano in today's Clarin. Very nice and positive article

www.clarin.com/diario/2007/12/30/deportes/d-08001.htm

TENIS: TORNEO DE PUNTA DEL ESTE Y CIRCUITOS INTERNACIONALES/ EL TANDILENSE FUE UNA PROMESA QUE NUNCA EXPLOTO DEL TODO Y HOY ANDA POR EL 104º PUESTO DEL MUNDO

A los 29, Zabaleta todavía quiere seguir peleando
"Yo al ranking no le doy bola. Son momentos en la carrera de un jugador", dice

Por: Hernán Castillo


El Negro anda a pura sonrisa y repleto de carisma. Sabe que le "llega" a la gente y en el partido del viernes, ante el uruguayo Pablo Cuevas, tuvo otra muestra: el "Vamos Mariano" espontáeo desde cualquier rincón del estadio del hotel Conrad, se escuchó varias veces. Ahora Mariano Zabaleta, en la previa a la final del Torneo de Punta del Este ante David Nalbandian, cuenta: "Pasó un año raro. Empecé a full, pero después del US Open dejé de jugar. Sentí que no tenía más ganas. No pensé en retirarme, pero no quería entrenar. Se ve que necesitaba dos meses de vacaciones. Ahora hice una pretemporada espectacular y me siento muy bien. Con muchas ganas de arrancar con todo".

-¿Cómo fue, entonces, regresar a jugar y la búsqueda de la confianza para volver a hacerlo?

-Un poco complicado. Hace tiempo que no gano y entonces la cabeza empieza a trabajar. Pero ya soy grande y sé que la confianza me va a llegar apenas logre dos o tres triunfos seguidos.



-Dentrod e dos semanas jugarás tu 10º Abierto de Australia, ¿Tanto tiempo en el circuito puede ser la raíz de ese cansancio que tuviste en una parte del año?

-Debe haber un poco de todo. Yo tengo claro que lo importante es estar bien de la cabeza. Después, tener 29, 20 o 22 años es lo mismo. Entreno con pibes de 23 años y estoy igual que ellos. Quizá cambian los objetivos porque te los ponés a corto plazo. Voy viendo cómo voy, pero quiero terminar mejor que este año, que fui 80º del mundo. Yo me rompo el lomo para seguir disfrutando y ganando.



-¿Está bueno enfrentar a David Nalbandian? Ustedes se conocen casi de memoria.

-Es lindo. Nos conocemos desde hace muchos años y entrenamos muchas veces juntos. El me conoce y yo lo conozco.



-¿Te acordás cuándo lo viste por primera vez?

-El arrancaba como junior con Guillermo Coria y yo ya empezaba a ser profesional. Te juro que ahí ya se notaba que era diferente. Y no defraudó, claro. El juega a niveles que yo nunca jugué.



-¿Mirás el ranking de tu rival cuando lo tenés delante tuyo? Por ejemplo, ¿si es un top ten?

-Nooo. Yo al ranking no le doy bola. Son momentos en la carrera de un jugador y nada más. Por algo un número 10 puede perder con uno que anda por el 100.


_________________________________________________________________

TRANSLATION:

At the age of 29, Zabaleta still wants to continue to fight"

"I do not care about the ranking at all. These are moments in the career of a player."

El Negro walks full of smile and full of charisma. The public likes him and on Friday during the match against Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas there was another sample: a spontaneous "Vamos Mariano" coming from a corner of the stadium of the Hotel Conrad could be heard several times. Now Mariano Zabaleta, tells us before the final of the tournament in Punta del Este agains David Nalbandian: "This year has been strange. I started it at full, but after US Open, I stopped playing. I felt that I was not motivated anymore to keep playing. I did not think of retiring, but I didn't want to practice anymore. I needed two months of holiday. Now I had a spectactular pre-season and I feel very good with lots of motivation to start with everything."

Q: How was it to return to play and to find the confidence to do it?
A: A little bit complicated. I haven't won anything for some time and then the mind begins to work. However I am big and I know that the confidence will come back when I have won two or three matches in a row.

Q: In two weeks you are going to play your 10th Australian Open. Can so much time being on the tour be the root for your exhaustion at the end of this year?
A: It must be a little bit of everything. I know that the important thing is to feel good in the head/mentally. It doesn't matter if you are 29,20 or 22 years old. I practice with guys that are 23 years old and I am the same than them. Perhaps the goals change because they are short-term goals. I will see how it goes, but I want to end the year better than this year, which was on position 80. And I will break my back to keep enjoying and winning.

Q: Is it good to play Nalbandian? You know each other almost by heart.
A: It is nice. We have known each other for many years and we have praticed together many times. He knows me and I know him.

Q: Do you remember when you met him for the first time?
A: He started as junior with Coria and I tried to be professional. I swear to you that already at this time you noted that he was different. He played a level I never played.

Q: Are you looking at the ranking of your opponent when you have him before you? For example if he is a top ten?
A: Noo, I don't care about the ranking at all. These are moments in a career of a player and nothing more. For example a top 10 can lose to a player who is around position 100.