Q. What are your thoughts after that match?
I thought it was good. Played well. Played maybe two bad service games, but you're always going to have acouple of moments like that in five‑set matches. I came through all the tough situations well. I played a solid tie-break, and I was obviously very happy to win in straight sets, because he's been playing very well.
Q. What did you feel was the key, especially at the end of that second set?
Oh, I kept a good length, you know. It was windy on the court. Watched a little bit of Nadal/Soderling. It's tough to keep the ball deep, and I was able to do that in the tie-break. And he made some mistakes, which happens sometimes.
You know, for him, that set was more important than for me. If he went down two sets it's going to be tough for him to come back. He maybe overpressed a little bit. But I kept a good length and served well.
Q. How do you feel about your game on clay, in general? Do you think that's the best you've everplayed on clay?
I'm playing well, yeah. I mean, you don't get to the quarters of the French not playing good clay court tennis. This clay court season has been good. I made semis in Monte‑Carlo and the quarters in Madrid, and now the quarters here at least.
So, you know, it's been much better than in previous years. I try and keep improving.
Q. With Novak out and Rafa struggling and Roger dropping the odd set, do you think this tournament is a bit more open than perhaps people thought originally?
Well, I mean, Novak is the only one that's lost. I think he obviously didn't play the best yesterday, and that's what happens in Slams.
Each time Fed's been struggling a little bit, he's come back well. Rafa, I'd be surprised if he didn't come back and win that match.
So, I don't think it is necessarily makes it more open. You still have the top two players in the world, or three, still in. You know, guys like Verdasco, Davydenko, are still all tough players that are in the tournament.
Q. What do you think about the anti-drug system control? Rafa had the criticism about that. What do you think about? Youlike? Dislike? Disagree, too?
I said at the time that, I never think about the drug testing every day. Not once since I've been here have I thought about being drug tested, In the morning before matches or where I need to be for an hour.
It's just not somethingthat you ever think about. I guess more so if you feel like you're hiding something, then maybe every morning you wake-up hoping no one comes.
I guess it's something we've got to deal with, but I don't think that it's necessary with so many tournaments in the year we play. I'd rather get tested at every single tournament in the year and then three or four times during the off‑season, rather than have to make sure you're in a certain place for one hour a day.
Because it's very easy to not to remember it. I don't see why we should have to think about that when we have rest weeks. I think, we should be able to have a little bit more of a normal life, I guess
Q. What do you think about Fernando González, your next round?
Very tough. He's won all of his matches very easy so far. He made semis in Rome. He's got a huge forehand. You know, serves well. He loves playing on clay. He's going to be a very difficult match. I have to play well.
Q. You've practiced against him a couple of times I think this week. Have you learned anything from that?
No, I've watched him play a lot, and I think in practice you don't necessarily play against ‑‑ it's not the same as playing against him in matches.
You know, he's very unpredictable, which makes it tough to play against him. I have to play a very consistent match and keep the ball deep. You don't want to leave the ball in the middle of the court against him.
Q. Is there a sense of pride about being the third British man to get tothe quarter-finals here? Does that have a special meaning for you?
Every time you sort of do something like that, yeah, it's nice. You know, Tim obviously made the semis here, so it would be nice to try and match that.
But, more I guess for myself I always felt I could play well on clay. But I just needed a bit of time to find my game.
Obviously the results have got better because I've played more matches on it. That's nice, but I'll try and go further.
I thought it was good. Played well. Played maybe two bad service games, but you're always going to have acouple of moments like that in five‑set matches. I came through all the tough situations well. I played a solid tie-break, and I was obviously very happy to win in straight sets, because he's been playing very well.
Q. What did you feel was the key, especially at the end of that second set?
Oh, I kept a good length, you know. It was windy on the court. Watched a little bit of Nadal/Soderling. It's tough to keep the ball deep, and I was able to do that in the tie-break. And he made some mistakes, which happens sometimes.
You know, for him, that set was more important than for me. If he went down two sets it's going to be tough for him to come back. He maybe overpressed a little bit. But I kept a good length and served well.
Q. How do you feel about your game on clay, in general? Do you think that's the best you've everplayed on clay?
I'm playing well, yeah. I mean, you don't get to the quarters of the French not playing good clay court tennis. This clay court season has been good. I made semis in Monte‑Carlo and the quarters in Madrid, and now the quarters here at least.
So, you know, it's been much better than in previous years. I try and keep improving.
Q. With Novak out and Rafa struggling and Roger dropping the odd set, do you think this tournament is a bit more open than perhaps people thought originally?
Well, I mean, Novak is the only one that's lost. I think he obviously didn't play the best yesterday, and that's what happens in Slams.
Each time Fed's been struggling a little bit, he's come back well. Rafa, I'd be surprised if he didn't come back and win that match.
So, I don't think it is necessarily makes it more open. You still have the top two players in the world, or three, still in. You know, guys like Verdasco, Davydenko, are still all tough players that are in the tournament.
Q. What do you think about the anti-drug system control? Rafa had the criticism about that. What do you think about? Youlike? Dislike? Disagree, too?
I said at the time that, I never think about the drug testing every day. Not once since I've been here have I thought about being drug tested, In the morning before matches or where I need to be for an hour.
It's just not somethingthat you ever think about. I guess more so if you feel like you're hiding something, then maybe every morning you wake-up hoping no one comes.
I guess it's something we've got to deal with, but I don't think that it's necessary with so many tournaments in the year we play. I'd rather get tested at every single tournament in the year and then three or four times during the off‑season, rather than have to make sure you're in a certain place for one hour a day.
Because it's very easy to not to remember it. I don't see why we should have to think about that when we have rest weeks. I think, we should be able to have a little bit more of a normal life, I guess
Q. What do you think about Fernando González, your next round?
Very tough. He's won all of his matches very easy so far. He made semis in Rome. He's got a huge forehand. You know, serves well. He loves playing on clay. He's going to be a very difficult match. I have to play well.
Q. You've practiced against him a couple of times I think this week. Have you learned anything from that?
No, I've watched him play a lot, and I think in practice you don't necessarily play against ‑‑ it's not the same as playing against him in matches.
You know, he's very unpredictable, which makes it tough to play against him. I have to play a very consistent match and keep the ball deep. You don't want to leave the ball in the middle of the court against him.
Q. Is there a sense of pride about being the third British man to get tothe quarter-finals here? Does that have a special meaning for you?
Every time you sort of do something like that, yeah, it's nice. You know, Tim obviously made the semis here, so it would be nice to try and match that.
But, more I guess for myself I always felt I could play well on clay. But I just needed a bit of time to find my game.
Obviously the results have got better because I've played more matches on it. That's nice, but I'll try and go further.