Henman def. Tursunov 賽後訪問 - 美網 Tennis

T. HENMAN/D. Tursunov

6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You must be very pleased with that.
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, absolutely. I've been on the receiving end of, you
know, defeats from him in the other Slams. Yeah, just the whole nature
of the match -- not only the level of play but the support, the
atmosphere out on a big court, it was fantastic. So, yeah, it's good.
I appreciate the situation, this being my last tournament.

Q. How long has it been since you've played that well?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, no, it's been a while. I think I played very, very
well against Moya at Wimbledon. But, you know, besides that, I wouldn't
say there's a lot else to talk about this year. So, yeah, it's fantastic.
I think that's probably been one of the frustrating aspects, is that I've
been able to play, you know, very well in practice. But, you know, it's
an overall consistency thing. I think that can be dictated by, you know,
my body, some of the back issues I've had. But I felt great out there.

Q. Must have been nice not to have gone out in a straight sets defeat
today.
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, no, it is. It's difficult. You know, he is a tough guy
to play, as you guys have seen better than most. But I think the
conditions played a big part. You look at all the other matches we've
played certainly in slams, it's been so much heavier. That gives him
such a margin for error, I think most importantly on his second serve.
When it's heavy, it's cold, I think in both Australia and Paris, he can
be so aggressive with his second serve. It's really never going to fly.
Whereas today, with me being aggressive, looking to chip charge, he
starts to feel that a little bit more. The ball starts flying, he starts
to serve double faults. There's a cumulative effect, start having an
impact and start making him think a little bit. I think add to that I
was -- the balls on the court help me a little bit on my serve, give me
a little bit extra. You know, that combination was very, very good today.

Q. Is there any sense that there's a release, having done what you've
done, your approach is slightly different?
TIM HENMAN: Well, I don't I think in some respects it would be easy to
say yes. I think in other respects, you know, I've been able to play,
you know, with a lot of freedom over the last couple years. I definitely
reflect on, you know, early, middle parts of my career where I was almost
out there trying, you know, too hard. There was sort of self inflicted
pressure. No, you know, I think I look at the way, you know, I played
a lot of tournaments in 2004, you know, I was playing in a similar
fashion. But there's no doubt, you know, when I've struggled with my
injuries, then it can be frustrating, and that's always going to have
a knock on effect of your sort of state of mind on the court. But I
feel really good physically on the court. I was obviously, you know,
going to enjoy it mentally. I played really well, as well.

Q. Compared to other wins in your career, what degree of satisfaction
do you get from this?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I mean, you know, if I had lost in straight sets
today, I don't think it would have been the biggest deal in the world.
But having said that, yeah, to play against him of all people, having
lost to him on four of five occasions, and play that well, it's great.
It certainly leaves yeah, sort of leaves a good taste. And it's
something I can build on definitely. Because I am, I'm keen I think
when you say I've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain, I think that's
spot on. I feel like I want to play these last two events and give
them everything. You know, if I do play well and go out on a high,
whatever that means, it will mean a lot to me. But on the other, you
know, side of the coin, you know, if I hadn't won today and things didn't
go according to plan at Davis Cup, it's not suddenly going to tarnish
my career in any way, shape or form. So, yeah, I think with that attitude,
it could bode pretty well.

Q. Can I add on a fashion note? JP will be spinning in his grave seeing
you after such a good win wearing Cambridge blue.
TIM HENMAN: Oh, yeah. I can't please everyone (smiling). Blame adidas.

Q. Earlier today Marat Safin said that when he looks back on his victory
here, he kind of thinks, So what? It was in the past, nobody cares. I'm
wondering what you think of that when you look back on your career? Do
you think people do care?
TIM HENMAN: I care, yeah. Yeah, I care about my career. I think there's
a few others that do, as well.

But I'm not quite sure what the point Marat is trying to convey there.

Q. He's saying he doesn't want to live in the past; that you have to
live in the present.
TIM HENMAN: Sure, absolutely. But you can still be proud of your past
achievements. But, you know, from a sports point of view, you're always
living for today and trying to do your best today. Maybe that's what he
was trying to get across.

Q. You will play against Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
TIM HENMAN: I saw him play a little bit before the grass court
tournaments in England. He was impressive. He played some great tennis.
I don't think he's too dissimilar from Tursunov. He's a great athlete,
serves big, hits the ball aggressively from the baseline. But I think,
you know, if I can play in the same fashion as I did today, play at the
same level, then I think I'll create opportunities. I think I'll have a
good chance.

Q. Has the back settled down a little bit?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, it's good. I think after I lost in Cincinnati, you
know, I was probably hitting every other day, then just doing a lot of
work in the gym. That's the best way for it to settle down. I felt great
on the court. And I think it will be fine tomorrow. It's just, you know,
I understand once you start playing back to back, the work load increases,
it can get sore. But I think I should be all right.

Q. What do you have to do when you go off court? What have you had done
to you?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, just straightaway get on the bike and start to, you
know, loosen things up, then a lot of stretching. Then, you know, pretty
long massage, a lot more stretching. A lot more stretching tomorrow, just
to keep my lower back, you know, the joints, the muscles, as loose as
possible. I think I should be okay.

Q. Since you've announced your retirement, have you had many messages
from other people within the game or people that aren't around any more,
Andre, Pete?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I mean, obviously a lot of I think most of the people
are aware of it. Most of the guys in the locker room are aware of it.
Yeah, I've had a lot of very favorable reactions, which is nice. You
know, I'm sure I'll get more and more when I'm sort of back home and
stuff.

Q. Any ones that surprised you?
TIM HENMAN: I think there's a few surprised that I'm retiring now. No,
none that really stand out particularly.

Q. As someone who has had to endure your share of aches and pains as
you've gotten older, is it worrisome to see a young star like Nadal
hobbling so much at this point in the season?
TIM HENMAN: I just think it's the nature of the beast. When you're
built like that, you play like that, when you're playing on hard courts,
I think it's almost inevitable. And, you know, he's got to manage it as
best he can, as I'm sure he will. You know, I've had a few niggles, but
I look at my career, and since '95, I guess, I only missed two slams,
missed very few tournaments. I think that's something that I did manage
very, very well in my career. I think I'm fortunate that my sort of body
type and my game is relatively stress free. You know, Nadal is a
different story. His game is physically so demanding. He's putting
so much strain on his body. He had stress fractures in his foot, didn't
he? He's got obviously tendinitis in the knees, which I think a lot of
guys are suffering with. You've got to manage it as best you can. You
know that that's always going to be that will always play a part in his
career.

Q. 10 years ago when the tennis world, as usual, gathered here for
the US Open, word came in about the tragic death of Princess Di. Can
you reflect on the impact it had for you.
TIM HENMAN: It was obviously the most tragic circumstances. She was
buried on my birthday, I think, the 6th of September. I think we'll
all remember that. Obviously it being my birthday, I'm going to
remember it more clearly. I think I was in Tashkent at the time playing
a tournament. Just to watch the pictures, I think it, you know, was an
incredibly difficult day for everyone, let alone her nearest and dearest.
She will always be remembered, that's for sure.

Q. What do you think we can expect of Andy Murray at this tournament?
TIM HENMAN: I think, you know, it's difficult to say. He's obviously
had a really difficult last three or four months, however long it's been.
But I think, you know, he's been saying some encouraging things. He's
been practicing with an attitude that I think is encouraging. And I think
that's the most important thing. I think, you know, if he can play well
at this tournament, it would be nice. I think he looks like he's moving
in the right direction, and that's what he needs to do. I'm not saying
when you're injured you're wasting time. That's unfortunate. But you've
got to make sure that you are moving in the right direction at every
opportunity. An he definitely looks like he's doing that.

Q. You practiced with Roger Federer last week. What did you talk to each
other about? Could you share that with us?
TIM HENMAN: What were we talking about? Restaurants, I think, where we
eat, food in New York. Hotel, I think. Uhm, not a lot to do with tennis
I don't think. Tiger Woods a little bit. That's about it (smiling).

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