Interview en anglais après sa première victoire sur le circuit ATP à Stuttgart face à Gasquet sur le site de l'ATP Tour.

First Time ATP Winner Spotlight: Juan Martin del Potro




Juan Martin del PotroArgentine teenager Juan Martin del Potro (pictured) captured his first ATP title at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart on Sunday, defeating second-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-5. Match Report

The 19-year-old becomes the sixth first time winner of an ATP title this year. ATPtennis.com caught up with the Tandil resident after his maiden triumph.

You had an incredibly tough draw to win your first ATP title, beating four seeds, what are your thoughts on this week?
It has been the best week of my life. I started to play very well in the second round against Simone Bolelli. When you beat good players on this surface you want to keep playing, you don’t want to change anything.

As a young junior player, did you ever dream of winning an ATP title? And would you expect to win it as a teenager?
When I was young, I always dreamt about my first ATP title, a Grand Slam or winning the Davis Cup. Now this is my dream and I have to savor this moment as I’ll never feel this moment again.

You have been struggling this year with back problems, is this the best you have felt all season? Have you had any problems lately?
Yes, I started to feel better at Roland Garros when I started to work hard on my physical strength and tennis. I feel as if I have improved a lot. Now I have to continue to improve as Ernests Gulbis, Marin Cilic and I are the young players and a lot of people are expecting good things from us.

What did you do so well this week to win five matches in a row and capture your first ATP title?
When I served for the match, I didn’t miss easy balls. I hit a lot of first serves into court. Against a top player like Gasquet that is important.

What goals did you have coming into this season? Now that you're back in the Top 50 and have won your first ATP title, what would you like to accomplish the rest of the year?
I would like to win more ATP titles, Masters Series events and go further at the Grand Slams. Now I feel I can win tournaments and play well against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. I think I could win on every surface.

You reached a career-high No. 44 in November last year. How would you compare the way you are playing now and back then?
Yes, I think I’m playing better now than last year. My improvement has been slow, but I’m happy with my biggest weapon: my serve. I have to keep improving in order to beat the top players.

You have had your best results on different surfaces. What would you consider as your favorite surface? And what are the strengths in your game?
After this week, that’s a tough question. When you win a title on clay, they say you should keep playing on the surface. I like hard courts.

How would you look at the state of Argentine tennis right now?
I’m stronger than yesterday or last week, but Argentina has players that can compete on every surface. Next week Calleri or someone might win the next tournament. We all try our best and hope to win many titles for Argentina.

Who introduced you and got you started in tennis? And is there anyone who has really helped you get where you are today?
I used to play football, so the coach who trained at the same club gave me a racquet. I played with some other children and that’s how I started. When I won today, I was thinking about my family and friends who have helped me to reach this level.

Was there any player(s) you admired and looked up to while growing up?
I really admired Lleyton Hewitt growing up. I’d love to achieve what he has done. For me, he is the best.

http://www.atptennis.com

très bon match aujourd'hui

On espère

In 5 weeks, Del Potro has made the leap from raw talent to maturing pro.

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/thewrap/2008/08/the-next-jugger.html

épatant ce garçon, il est à 22 victoires consécutives

Oui épatant. Ca fait 1 année qu'il fait de très bons résultats mais peinent toujours à accéder aux derniers tours des grands tournois. Je me souviens qu'il avait quelque peu inquiété Nadal à RG sur un set.
Cette série sera peut-être un déclic.

C'est 17 victoires ... mais quand même

Bof, le Badest a bien gagné 2 tournois en début de saison
J'attends toujours qu'il prouve quelque chose en MS et GC
Bon malgré tout faut admettre que la branlée administrée à Haas était assez impressionnante
A voir à l'USO...

Tennis - ATP -Washington - Del Potro écrase tout

Et de 18. L'Argentin Juan Martin Del Potro, tête de série n°2, a signé samedi sa dix-huitième victoire consécutive sur le circuit ATP en dominant sans coup férir (6-2, 6-1 en 1h22') l'Allemand Tommy Haas (n°4) en demi-finales du tournoi de Washington. Vainqueur des trois derniers tournois qu'il a disputés - Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel et Los Angeles -, Del Potro admet qu'il a même oublié comment perdre... «Oui, un peu, a souri le jeune Argentin (19 ans) après son succès. Mais demain (dimanche), je peux toujours perdre en finale donc je dois continuer à bien faire.»

Cette saison, seul Rafael Nadal a réalisé une meilleure série que Del Potro, avec 32 succès consécutifs. Débordé tout au long du match, Haas a dû reconnaître son impuissance sur le court : «J'ai essayé de l'amener un peu au filet mais je n'en ai pas eu souvent l'occasion parce que j'étais sur la défensive...» Ce dimanche, la mission du Serbe Viktor Troicki ou du Russe Igor Kunitsyn, opposés dans la seconde demi-finale, s'annonce très compliquée face à la nouvelle terreur du circuit.

Trouvé sur ce lien: http://www.lequipe.fr/Tennis/breves2008/20080816_213141_del-potro-ecrase-tout_Dev.html

Il a tapé du gros dans ces tournois ?

Korolev, Schwank, Bolelli, Kohlschreiber et Gasquet à Sttutgart

Devilder, Hanescu et Melzer à Kitzbuhel

Fish et Roddick à LA

Mouais...Roddick se fait passer dessus par tout le monde depuis 3-4 mois
Haas reste un client sérieux sur dur mais bon j'attends de le voir face aux vrais cadors du circuit...Gonzalez, Horna, Karlovic...
Ah il a battu Simone qui joue pourtant top 3... bon point pour lui

Isner et Haas à LA

Ca c'est le risque d'enchainer autant avant un GC
Nadal m'inquiète aussi à ce niveau là