FIRST-TIME WINNER SPOTLIGHT: HORACIO ZEBALLOS - 網球 Tennis

Vina del Mar, Chile
by ATP Staff | 10.02.2013

How does it feel to win your first ATP World Tour title, beating arguably the
best clay court player in history?
It is an incredible feeling. I had never imagined being able to win a title
or defeating the best clay court player in history. The feeling is unique. I
wish this moment could stop in time and never end, but if it stops, I will
for sure remember it my whole life.

Now almost an hour after the match, how many texts have you received?
My phone battery died from all the texts that I was receiving from my family
and friends, so I’m now charging it and I imagine I will continue to receive
more texts from my friends.

You are 27. As a youngster growing up, was it always a dream to win an ATP
World Tour title?
I think that I never imagined winning a title. When I was little I always
dreamed the simple thing of being on a tennis court… And getting to a final,
and having Rafa in front of me, who I’ve seen so many times on TV, is what
I've always dreamed.

Not only was it your first title, it was also your first Top 10 win. How does
that feel?
That’s a very nice fact you just told me, I didn’t know. Like I said, is a
unique feeling, I’m still thinking that I will wake up at any moment.

The last Argentine to beat Rafa on clay was Gaston Gaudio in 2005. What are
your thoughts on that accomplishment?
Wow, so much time has passed, no? This is very nice to know… Beating Rafa is
the most important victory of my career and it will most likely be the most
important one of my entire career.

上一個在紅土打贏Nadal的阿根廷人是Gaudio，Zeballos接班?

You played Rafa at Roland Garros and lost in straight sets, so what was your
game plan going into today’s match?
I tried to aim at all the lines and make all of them (laughs). I also think I
was a little lucky. But I also have to point out that I felt very good
psychologically. I stood the whole match and the pressure of playing against
Rafa. I think that this had to do a lot with it, staying calm.

今天的戰術就是拼邊邊角角，幸運的是大部分都拼贏了。當然更重要的是整場保持冷靜，
沒有因為(丟了第一盤、第二盤搶七盤末點沒拿下、第三盤一開始被破發)而放棄。

Three of your five wins during the week were in three sets and you beat four
seeds en route to the title. What did you do well to win those matches?
I feel like I’m in the top of my physical condition and I noticed that in
the long matches. This makes me feel calm… and the maturity that I gained
through the years helped me as well.

You are only the third player to beat Rafa in a clay-court final, joining
Djokovic and Federer (twice each). What does that mean to you?
It’s a dream, it cannot be real…. playing against them it’s a honor and
now being able to win makes me too happy.

第三位在紅土決賽打贏Nadal。

You were in the Top 50 in 2009 and then dropped off the last three years.
What is your goal for this season?
To enjoy tennis, keep playing, and sharing this with all the best players of
the world… This is my only goal. I just want to enjoy myself.

Growing up, who were your idols and what did you like about their games?
There are so many players. I tried to learn from many of them. When I was a
kid, I liked watching Thomas Muster and Goran Ivanisevic, who were also
left-handers. Also, there was Gaston Gaudio and of course now Roger Federer.

網球偶像有Muster, Ivanisevic (都是左手的) 年齡較近的有Gaudio和Federer。

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