Interview with Kohlschreiber after win over Chiudinelli

Written by: Staff on 10th June 2010

Interview with Kohlschreiber after win over Chiudinelli |

The following interview is Philipp Kohlschreiber’s press conference following his 6-4, 7-5 win over Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.

Q: Congratulations. Next round you will probably play Federer. Is it an advantage to play him that early in the tournament or a disadvantage?

KOHLSCHREIBER: I think it’s always a disadvantage or that the draw isn’t necessarily optimal if you meet the best player in the quarter, but what can you do. You just have to deal with it. On the one hand, I’m looking forward, but on the other hand I also know that he is the player, who is the toughest to beat. I have not yet succeeded. So, also this time it will be difficult. But I will try to speed things up right from the start, see and hope that I will have a good day to play a close match. Maybe that will shake him, who knows.

Q: What do you need to improve?

KOHLSCHREIBER: Overall it was a solid, very good match. I started really well. I got a bit annoyed at 4-1, double break up; there were three balls, he didn’t get back properly, hit with the frame and were a bit slower and I did a mistake like in the first match. I got a bit annoyed because I had also practiced these situations yesterday and then did the same mistakes. But overall there were not a lot of weaknesses. Fortunately I was double break up and played well. Then, at the end at 5-5 and 6-5, I closed the match with tow really nice games.

Q: If you play like today at the beginning you could make life difficult for him?

KOHLSCHREIBER: Yes, it would be great if I started that way. I was exactly where my opponent placed his shots. Of course it was luck that I read all his serves and knew the corner. It was a dream start. But it is obvious that it can’t last throughout the whole match. I will have to play like today in order to have a chance.

Today, I played really aggressively and made a lot of direct points and served well myself. Apart from the break, the first set was really nice.

Q: What strategy will you have for the match against Roger?

KOHLSCHREIBER: I think I shouldn’t wait that his shots will get more precise and more difficult. For sure, he’s the best grass court player. I will try to be the first to put him under pressure. However, that’s easier said than done. I will try to be aggressive on my returns, try different things – I shouldn’t be saying too much now (laughs) – attack his serve. Mix things up, so he wouldn’t know that I will stay back all the time, play serve and volley sometimes. Maybe I will succeed in making him think a bit. But I will definitely have to stay aggressive.

At the beginning you usually win your service games, but then he will not make any mistakes, return every first serve and play some unbelievable shots, and then things get difficult. Last year in Wimbledon he won 6:1, 6:2, 6:7, 6:1.

I hope that I can play a close match because I believe that he wouldn’t be that relaxed at 4-4 than if he was break up. An early break shouldn’t happen.

Q: Will there be a special Federer preparation?

KOHLSCHREIBER: No. I felt good today, moved well. I like the Centre Court. There’s not a lot to say. I shouldn’t overanalyse things now. It will be a terribly tough match. I trained with him here. I don’t know whether that’s an advantage or disadvantage, but it was fun. I will enjoy tomorrow and stay aggressive. It’s like playing Nadal on clay. You shouldn’t wait for him to push you to the wall with his spins, but stay aggressive. That’s what I will do against Roger.

Q: A few words regarding the World Cup: what do you expect from Germany in South Africa?

KOHLSCHREIBER: Ich will try and watch as many matches as possible. I will be in Wimbledon by then. I hope that they will make it far. I believe they can make semis or finals. I doubt they can be World Champion, but I hope so.

Read Chiudinelli’s Q&A after the match: Click Here

Topics: Balls, Best Player, Close Match, Fi, Games, Gerry Weber Open, Marco Chiudinelli, Mistake, Opponent, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Switzerland