Fernando’s feelings before the start of the US OPEN

Some words from Fernando published in the Chilean newspaper “Las ultimas noticias”

[Translation by the webmaster]

What is the goal this season ?

To go to China, in the Masters Cup, in Shanghai. I’ve started the year far but I’ve learnt a lot. With Larry, I improved a lot, I’ve improved a lot my volley. I feel more experienced and relaxed. And, this helps you a lot, especially to win important points.

What is the difference between the Fernando who hitted strong and the one today who won matches, especially when he doesn’t play well ?
The facility to come to the net, now, I can serve and go to the net. To make my opponent know that I have other strokes than my forehand and the serve.

About the fact that he’s going to face, Jiri Vanek
The first match in a grand slam is always difficult to play, because you have to be accustomed to the court, the change of the balls.

His point of view about Jiri Vanek
Complicated. It’s an experienced player, and it’s also complicated to start the tournament with someone who played the qualies, because they already played 3 matches and you, you start. Even if I practiced a lot, it’s not the same thing when you play a match.

Exhibition in Santiago, in Dec, Gonzalez vs Agassi

It’s not 100 % confirmed but Fernando will play an exhibition with André Agassi in Santiago, on Dec. 9th.

Last time Andre visited South America was 18 years ago, he’ll do some promotion and a clinica with the children

US OPEN DRAW

R1 : Gonzalez vs Jiri Vanek
We finally know, Fernando’s first opponent, it will be the player from Czech Republic, Jiri Vanek. It will be their first meeting and Vanek is ranked 100. The first tough match could be in the third round, vs A. Murray who played great lately, and then, if Fernando wins, vs Davydenko.

Yesterday, Fernando practriced with the player from Croatia, Ivan Ljubicic and then, with the spaniard, Fernando Vincente. Fernando is optimist about his chances in NY. He gained many confidence.
And, Fernando decided to play the doubles tournament, with Mardy Fish. He was searching a partner who will help him to finish the points very fast, which will allow him to protect himself for the singles. Fish has a good net game.
Good luck to Fernando, I hope he’ll continue to offer us some great moments on court !! VAMOS Y BUENA SUERTE !!!

Commercials with Fernando

Here are some commercials with Fernando :

Palta Hass & Adidas

Fernando’s interview after the semi-final

[interview from the MS website]

August 19, 2006

A. RODDICK/F. González

6-3, 6-3

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Fernando, did you feel that you did yourself justice today? Did you feel that you played as well as you could have done?

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: No, no, I feel that it wasn’t a good day. He broke me in the first game, so that’s very important in these kind of matches. Especially if you play against Andy, that maybe sometimes you cannot break him in all the match, and if you give a break, is a huge advance.

So I didn’t feel really good today in the court. I feel little bit heavy and I couldn’t move as well that I was doing, doing last week and this week.
But, anyway, Andy was serving really good and he didn’t let me do anything.

Q. Why did you feel heavy? Was it the climate?

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: No, little bit tired. I mean, little bit. But, anyway, I mean, when Andy serve, we didn’t play many points. He was serving huge. He was winning two or three points just with the serve. He puts you a lot of pressure. When you have to go and serve, you cannot make a mistake because sometimes he can play a little bit more relaxed when he serving that good that he was doing.

Q. How do you think his return game was?

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: My what?

Q. His return game.

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, it was okay. I mean, he’s a good player. He’s one of the best or maybe the best server in the circuit.
And if you are serving that way, I mean, is easy to play the other game, you know?

Q. Could you have done anything different?

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: The beginning. Maybe I didn’t have enough today, but the beginning was really important. I mean, early break, it’s kill you with Andy.

Q. Was it nerves?

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: A little bit. I mean, normally, you get nervous in the beginning of the match and you try to play some long points to get into the match.

Today was really, really different.

Q. He said he’s really trying to expand his game beyond the serve, working on his net game, return game.

FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, he was returning better. But, I mean, he do everything with the serve. I mean, when we play the baseline point, I feel that I can win most of the points.

But after, when the match — maybe in the second set he was playing better and better because, you know, if you know that you gonna win your serve, you can play. I mean, you can make other things.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports…

El Mercurio Deportes today

Aug. 14th-20th : MS Cincinnati

Hard Court – 64 draw

1/2 F :  Roddick df Gonzalez

Andy Roddick def. Fernando Gonzalez in straights sets 6/3 6/3. Fernando was another time at the doors of his first final in a Masters Series. It was his third semi-final of the year after Monte-Carlo & Toronto. A. Roddick def. F.Gonzalez in 86 minutes mostly with his big serves and 91 % 1st serve during the match. Fernando didn’t start very well the match, he lost his serve at the beginning, he broke again, later, in the 9th game. With that victory, Roddick confirms his superiority on Fernando, Roddick is one of Fernando’s black beast. The positive thing is that Fernando played great during the US hard court season and should come back to the top 10 very soon.

Next week will be a week off, Fernando will have a rest & prepare for the US OPEN in New-York city.

1/4 F : Gonzalez df Ferrer 6/2 6/4

Fernando def. Ferrer in straights sets 6/2 6/4 with authority. I watched the match and Fernando played very solid and I was especially very impressed by his first set played perfectly. The second set was tight, with many breaks from Fernando & David, Fernando made some unforced errors but finally won the match. The results with his new coach, Larry Stefanki seem to pay now, Fernando, seems to play with a serenity, and don’t hit each ball very hard, his backhand is better, maybe Larry told him that his backhand is not bad and that he can do many good strokes with it, he uses the slice backhand a lot now. Well, a new Fernando is back and he’s very pleasant to watch. He’s not only a player who only hits the ball very strong. If Fernando is lucky with his US OPEN draw, he’ll go very far, because he seems to be in a great shape and very confident.

3R : Gonzalez df Wawrinka 7/6 7/5

Fernando defeated the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in straights sets and qualified for the quarters of the MS Cincy. He will face tonight, the spanish player, David Ferrer. Fernando is leading and the last meeting was in Wimbledon this year and D. Ferrer won.

2R : Gonzalez df Fish 7/5 7/5

Fernando took his revenge on the Athens Olympics Games, he defeated Mardy Fish in straights sets 7/5 7/5. Fernando will face in the next round, the player from Switzerland, Stanislas Wawrinka. Last meeting was in Roma this year and Fernando won. Wawrinka def. Nalbandian, one of the black beast of Fernando. So, with Nalbandian & Federer out, Fernando has good chances to advance very far in the tournament. Let’s hope, he’ll take advantage of this.

1R : Gonzalez df Massu 6/4 6/4

Fernando Gonzalez defeated Massu in straights sets 6/4 6/4 and will face in the second round, Mardy Fish. It will be the revenge of the semis of the Olympics Games in 2004. It’s the moment to take the revenge Feña !!

Commercial for la Tercera with Fernando

El mercurio – Aug. 19th, 2006

Fernando is on the cover of El Mercurio, today

ATP Play of the week – Gonzalez vs Ljubicic (Toronto 2006)