Q: Two years ago, you finished the year ranked 700, last year you ended up 54. Specifically, how were you able to do that?
CHIUDINELLI: Well, I finished low because of injury. It’s obvious that I didn’t have a chance to finish better than 800. I’ve always been around 130, 140. I’ve been twice close to break the 100, twice I got injured for a year or more. This time, when I was on the edge to break the 100, I didn’t get injured. I guess it’s quite simple as an explanation.
Q: You have Roger and Stan and yourself. And it almost seems like you are just quietly moving on and don’t get a great deal of attention. Are you comfortable with that?
CHIUDINELLI: Well, I do get enough attention I guess in Switzerland since I broke the 100, since I play better. I’m quite happy with the attention I get. It’s normal Roger gets the biggest part of it and then Stan now, especially since this year since he’s playing much better again, he gets a lot too, especially in the French part where he’s from. I definitely get the attention that I deserve, I guess I get it. You can see two Swiss journalists sitting here. They are not just coming for Roger.
Q: I understand, but obviously as an English speaker and coming from America …?
CHIUDINELLI: I guess that’s normal, because if an American player is ranked 50, no one in Switzerland would know about him. It’s about the same thing, a Swiss player ranked 50 or 60, in America people won’t know him. I think that’s the same thing everywhere in the world. I guess I just would have to beat Andy Rodick in Wimbledon, maybe I will get some attention in the States as well (laughs).
Q: You’ve been quite successful in doubles, now also in singles. Why are you able to play both so well?
CHIUDINELLI: Well, I appreciate playing doubles. I don’t play it too much, this year has been quite a disaster I must say so far. There are always a few weeks in a year where I play well in doubles. This year is definitely a bit more difficult because I try to focus way more on singles than I use to, because everything goes so well right now. We still play doubles today and I hope to defend that title and play here on Sunday. But if we won’t, it’s not a big deal either. If I can’t play doubles in a way that I feel fresh, having had too many matches, then I will try and play doubles as well.
Q: I saw in the ATP media guide that your goal is to reach the Top 50 ranking. With where you are currently would you like to reach the Top 40? Can you do that?
CHIUDINELLI: It’s always step by step. I started the year 57, so the Top 50 were quite close. Everybody said, you’ll take it in no time. Unfortunately, I didn’t break them yet. I’m 60 at the moment. Most of my points coming up from August onwards. I wasn’t too happy with my year until like a month back. Now, things start to get better again. That’s why my goal remains the 50 and then, if one day I break them, definitely we can speak about the forties. But, I try and take it easy.
–From press conference following Chiudinelli’s loss to Kolhschreiber, 6-4, 7-5, at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
Read Kolhschreiber’s Q&A from after the match: Click Here
Topics: Andy Rodick, Break, Disaster, English Speaker, Guess, Laughs, Moving, Stan, Swiss Journalists, Swiss Player, Switzerland, Weeks In A Year, Wimbledon