TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 23rd of January 2015. A.Seppi d. R.Federer 6-2, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. An interview with Andreas Seppi
Q. Did you surprise yourself today?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, of course. You know, to beat Roger first time, especially in a Grand Slam, best-of-five, is a special moment for me. Of course at the beginning I just went on the court to enjoy the match and to play my best tennis. Yeah, but especially after the first set, then I felt, you know, I am there, I am hitting the ball very well. I start to believe that I can do more. Yeah, then I think very important was the second set tiebreak. And, yeah, it worked out pretty well.
Q. His record against you is very imposing, 10-0. How do you go into a match trying not to think about that?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, I mean, as I said, I went in the court of course to, first of all, enjoy the moment. You don’t play every day on center court, full stadium in a Grand Slam against Roger. I was pretty calm, I have to say, from the beginning. Also in the important moments. Maybe it was the match where I felt more comfortable in my life also with my emotions. I think that help me for sure in the end of the match a lot.
Q. What did he say to you at the end?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, I can’t remember well. But I think he said, Unbelievable last point. Congratulations, something like that.
Q. You had a lead back in 2012 against Djokovic, also up two sets. Did that ever enter your mind when you had the two-set lead against Federer and then maybe lost the third as well?
ANDREAS SEPPI: I wasn’t thinking about anything, I have to say, about this match. As I said, I was very calm. I really enjoyed the atmosphere out there. I was not thinking I’m leading two sets to love or two sets to one. It was going to the end, the match, so just if I could do that any time, it would be great, yeah.
Q. Is it still such a moment to play against Roger Federer compared to five, ten years ago?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah. I mean, especially for me it’s always special moment to play against him. I know him a long, long time. He had so many great results. So step on court against him for me is always something special. Yeah, it’s always different than against anyone else.
Q. What does this win mean for your career? Biggest one so far?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, of course. It’s first time I beat him. I beat once Nadal in Rotterdam when he was 2 in the world. Was also a big win. Against Roger, you know, I never went close. I never had the chance. To have this win in my career, it’s for sure something big, yeah.
Q. Your countryman, Bolelli, played Federer before. Did you get a chance to speak to him and get some advice?
ANDREAS SEPPI: No, not really. I didn’t ask any advices or anything. I mean, it’s tough to ask some advices because, anyway, Roger, you know how he plays. You know him well. I just saw the first set yesterday. I think, yeah, Bolelli played a great set, and the rest I didn’t see. I didn’t talk to him after the match, I have to say.
Q. The way you play, beating him, did it tell you anything about yourself as a player which you didn’t know before?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, of course. Now I know that I can handle also some very difficult moments or some big pressure. Maybe I’m a little bit more mature, you know, on court. Especially, yeah, I know myself a little bit better. Yeah, it’s for sure a big confidence for the next upcoming matches.
Q. Did you feel that playing in the day helped you? Was the court faster? Do you feel like you would have had the same victory if you played in the night session? How different are the sessions?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Actually I like more to play in night session, I have to say. I like more play without sun. It’s not so hot. I mean, for me it’s also better if I play at night, I have to say. But, I don’t know. The conditions were not so hot I think today. Maybe at the beginning, but then during the match was pretty okay. So comparing to maybe yesterday or two days ago, so…
Q. Was it faster?
ANDREAS SEPPI: No, no, no. I don’t think it was faster than the other days. I mean, for sure I like to play on faster surfaces, but I think also he do. So I think, yeah, it’s pretty even.
Q. How about the match point, that shot, how did you see it coming and how highly does it rank on the list of shots you’ve hit?
ANDREAS SEPPI: Yeah, was for sure a strange shot. At the beginning I thought I couldn’t even reach the ball. Then, yeah, when I hit it, I didn’t saw it going there. I just saw when it bounced in. Was, yeah, for sure one of the important shots of my life.
Q. Have you watch it on video yet?
ANDREAS SEPPI: No, not yet. I will.
