Press conferences : 2005


PRESS CONFERENCE OF MARIANO PUERTA

Thursday, 20th of October, 2005


Q. What do you think was the key point for which you lost the match?
He took me to my limits from the beginning. He served really well, too. I'm happy because I played a good match at a high level. But somewhat disappointed because it was an opportunity to add points towards the Masters.
Anyway, I still have chances, so let's see. If I keep working, reach my goal.

Q. Don't you think the problem was your return? You weren't really sure about those.
Yes, I wasn't feeling comfortable with my returns. But, as I just said, he was serving really well today. The first time I returned a second serve was late in the match. It was difficult to return his service, yes. High speed.

Q. What do you think David is capable of doing, as you've seen him today?
I think he can reach this weekend. I saw him play real good tennis on the court. He served and returned very, very well. He's been moving fast. He's been playing great tennis since the beginning of this year. He has many chances of getting far into the tournament.

Q. It is difficult to compare matches against different opponents, but when did you play better, yesterday or today?
Yesterday I returned better. But I must say that their serves are different. David's serve was getting to me lower. That was difficult to return. Then I think I played good tennis. I don't think I played worse today than yesterday. But I had an opponent that played great tennis from behind the baseline and made things difficult for me.

Q. You still have a mathematical possibility of playing in the Masters. Would you go?
Yes. Even as an alternate.

Q. Are you going to play Basel?
Yes, and Lyon, which is a tournament that can give me points for the Masters. And, yes, I'll go to Lyon and to Paris. That's the end.

Q. Have you calculated what you need to get in those tournaments?
I must add more points than Davydenko, that's what I know. I'm not really sure about the points I'm missing. It depends on him, too, of him not adding points in Paris, and me winning matches.

Q. You don't want to talk about Roland Garros?
No, and you know it.

Q. The qualifying round, Argentina at Belarus.
When was it?

Q. Last year.
No, I wasn't there.

Q. This year, any way you're going to play in Slovakia? You played in Slovakia?
Yeah. I think it was a fast court. I think Spaniards also felt it this way. It was within the rules. When you play in Slovakia, you always have difficulties.
We were looking forward to winning the Davis Cup. We were working together. We put a lot of effort on our side. We are looking forward towards next year. We need to think about the Davis Cup as our first priority.

Q. Yesterday you said the anti doping system worked okay. Do you know the difference between the ATP, ITF, control system? If everything works okay, what is the sense of changing things? What's the point?
I don't really know. That's a thing directors and the organizational body knows, not me. I'm not informed. I cannot express my opinion.

Q. I wanted to ask about the crowd, how the crowd supported you.
Great. That was great. Exceptional support, yeah. When I left the court, I noticed. Yesterday, I did too. People were very polite. It's normal that they supported the Spaniard. But I feel grateful, too, and optimistic, hoping to come here next year.

Sent News to a Friend:
From*
To*
Comments