June 4, 2007
Tournament Official: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, welcome. First question please.
Q: Was it emotional for you?
E: Yes, very much. Every match is emotional and this, well, this has a history to it.
Q: You were hitting partners back then.
E: Um, yes, uh, yes we were.
Q: He now trains with Andy Roddick in Florida?
E: I dont, I, um, dont really keep up so I wouldnt, I mean, you guys would know better his whereabouts.
Q: When he was dating Lindsay Lohan did you--?
(Emmanuel looks at his manager.)
Q: Or when he was living with Jessica Simpson after her divorce, how did you cope with--
(Emmanuel looks at the tournament official)
Tournament Official: Ladies and gentlemen, please. Please questions only about the match. Thank you.
Q: How did you feel after the first match?
E: Well, it had been just under 5 years since we last played so there were nerves and it always takes time to adjust to someone s game, to his serve especially.
Q: Was this the biggest problem for you? His serve?
E: Ya, his serve s improved tremendously over the years and he can hook it, send it in with a spin, sometimes real flat and heavy. But he s pretty solid on both wings, too, so I had to adjust. My plan was to hit to his backhand, which I did, but after the first few games, you know, you kinda get it that that s not the best way to get winners or to force errors.
Q: So you dont think that time in rehab affected his game?
E: Um, I, um...
Tournament Official: Next question please.
Q: You won the first set 7-5 and then lost the second set 6-3. What happened? Was it nerves?
E: I was obviously real happy about winning the first set. That was a big accomplishment to go 1 up. I thought I was pretty level headed going into the 2nd. I just think he, um, well, got into his groove. His serve, in particular. He went up 3-0 before I was able to figure out how to return and how to keep mine from getting broken.
Q: So were you disappointed that the match was suspended because of darkness?
E: Yes and no. I mean, yes, cause I was losing but no because I thought I could really swing more freely. I was warmed up.
Q: Takes you two rounds?
E: Sometimes longer but with a little bit of wine... (laugher in the audience)
Q: Was the lack of light a distraction? Did it contribute to you losing the second set?
E: Well, no. The most distracting were those sets of gay men sitting on the benches watching us. Especially the ones licking their ice cream for an hour. I mean, come on guys, how long does it take to finish an ice cream. Especially soft serve. (Laughter in the press galley.)
Q: Speaking of which, in the interviews before the finals, Drew was talking about your serve and how it s pretty weak.
E: Ive tried to work on my serve and somedays it s on and some days it s off and I keep at it. It was real streaky, especially in the 3rd but, you know what, I won so...
Q: What do you attribute your victory to? You were down 5-2 in the final set. He was serving for the match.
E: Ya, that was real tough. I could see me back in the locker room wishing I had forced myself into the game and then I decided, I decided, to get myself in the game. I just wanted to keep the ball in play, to give myself a chance and I kept thinking of Serena, we had dinner the other nite, and how she s pulled herself out of so many losing situation and turned it around. I started to just fight, to just hang on, hitting some passing shots and forcing errors. I tried to stay pretty calm even when I broke him at 5-all to go up 6-5. I had to really calm down to serve it out but I thought how great is this? Im down 5-2 but I came back so that I can serve this match out on my serve? On my racket?
Q: And you won the game at love.
E: It was pretty nice.
Q: What did you learn from this tournament?
E: That you can learn from the past but it s already the past. I have to move forward, charge the net more. I can do more than hang in there. I can win.
Q: So this victory was pretty sweet?
E: Ya.
Q: If you had to choose, which is better? Your Diors or this win?
E: (a wide grin).
Tournament Official: Thank you ladies and gentleman. Thank you.
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