A. MURRAY/P.Starace
6‑3, 2‑6, 7‑5, 6‑4


Q. What a fight, but what a strange match. You played a really good first set, and then what happened?
ANDYMURRAY: It happens a lot in five‑set matches. Momentum makes a huge difference. I got broken at the beginning of the second set when, after a long game, I had a long game the first service game of that set, as well. Maybe if I had managed to hold that game it could have been different.
After he broke me, he started playing a lot better. I left a lot of balls in the middle of the court. His backhand in the first set was landing very short, and once he got ahead in the second, he started hitting a lot better.
You know, I was playing further behind the baseline. You know, his big weapon is his forehand, and he managed to make me move a lot with that afterwards. But the most important thing is I found a way to win, and I'm obviously very happy to be in the next round.

Q. The third set was quite something. You go way down, and then 10 points in arow. What was going on there? You seemed to be frustrated about your gripand about quite a few things, and then it all came together.
ANDYMURRAY: Yeah, I was obviously frustrated. I was playing very well, and then, you know, let him back into the match. He was obviously dictating a lot of the points. I think that's going to be normal. But, you know, it's very slippery at the end of the sets when they brush it.
I struggled a bit with my balance. You know, he played a lot of good dropshots that I wasn't able to get to at first. It wasn't that great. Obviously I managed to turn it around by playing a little bit more aggressive. I got the ball deep into his backhand and came to the net quite a lot.
I mean,there's a lot of things I've got to be pleased with today, and some things that I'll work on for the next match.


Q. Already in Monte‑Carlo versus Fognini you were down 5‑1, and then you won.
ANDYMURRAY: 5‑Love.

Q. 4‑Love, 5‑1. (laughter.)
ANDYMURRAY: I think it was 5‑Love.

Q. Anyway, so today was it more or less the same situation. Was it completely different? How did you manage to cancel the two set points? Because one was very difficult.
ANDYMURRAY: Well, I mean, I just went for my shots. I think I maybe hit ‑‑ I definitely hit one winner on one of the set points. But you just have to try and stay focused. I made him work hard at the end of the third set.
I didn't make as many mistakes, and just focused on every point. I wasn't worrying whether it was set point or not for him. I just tried to serve well and play aggressive, and I did that.

Q. What about string tension? Was there much difference to the tension that you finished the match with and what you were using in the second set?
ANDYMURRAY: No, I played with the same tension. It's just very different conditions today than obviously my first match. It was cold. You know, it was obviously a bit chilly. I mean, also from the stands it's tough to tell, but I was speaking to Djokovic after the match. You know, even when it might feel like a slight breeze, on the big courts it does make a huge difference. From one of the ends it was tough to sort of play aggressive.
I felt like I was getting pushed further and further behind the baseline. You know, it wasn't anything to do with the,I guess, the string tension. It's just tough conditions to play, and it was cold. The court felt quite damp, and obviously my opponent was playing well. So I'm just happy I managed to find a way to win.

Q. I will not ask about Roland Garros, but about Wimbledon. With Wimbledon, which tournament you would like winner in the future?
ANDYMURRAY: Which tournament?

Q. Yes.
ANDYMURRAY: I'd love to win Wimbledon, obviously. Well, any of the Grand Slams. I think that's what I think all of the players would love to win. You know, Wimbledon would obviously be great, being sort of in front of the home crowd.
I've always loved the US Open since I was growing up. So if I had to pick, one of those two.

Q. Which style of game you like between Federer,Djokovic, Nadal if you are like spectator?
ANDYMURRAY: I actually loved watching Santoro. I think he just played his last match today. He was probably ‑‑well, I mean, I was watching some of his match on the TV yesterday, and just always entertaining points.
When I watch tennis, that's what I like to watch it for. I think Nadal is also like that. He always has a long rallies; he hits some great passing shots. You know, he has great energy on the court.
So, I mean, Santoro for the, I guess, different style of play and for the entertainment. Out of the top guys, Nadal,I like watching.

Q. I was going to ask about Santoro, too. I was wondering, as a player who has a fair amount of variety, I guess you would even admit you don't have as much as him. What do you admire most about his game?
ANDYMURRAY: He's just so different. I mean, he can hit the ball particularly hard. But he's been around, I think this is his 20th French Open. He's been around the top level for so long and kind of played through a kind of transition in the game where a lot of people thought that it was just power.
You know, it was taking over. You have guys like Roddick serving 150. A lot of the clay courters with huge forehands. I guess,he's just kind of a bit of a throw back. He doesn't remind me of any of those guys. He uses slice pretty much off his forehand all the time. Very rarely hits topspin. You know, he volleys great,anticipates the game well.
Yeah, he can do everything. I mean, he just doesn't have as much power as maybe he would have liked. I'm sure if he did have more he could have won Grand Slams, because he has every shot.

Q. Do you identify with him at all because of your variety?
ANDYMURRAY: I mean, I guess in some ways,but his game style is very different. I was watching yesterday. He was like playing chip charge or first serves, and I've never done that in my life. So he's a little bit more unorthodox, I guess. But some things we do similar.

Q. When you speak about clay court, we all speakabout shots, spin, footwork. But what about concentration? Is it more difficult to keep concentration on clay with the length of the rallies, or the length of the sets?
ANDYMURRAY: Yeah, on clay, I think that is apart that's very important. Because on hard courts, when you're ahead, you can kind of just keep serving well,finishing the points quickly.
You know, on clay, there's always time for you to get sort of back into the match and find your game, even if you're struggling. You know, therefore, you kind of expect guys to sort of raise their level throughout the match.
You know, that's one of the things that someone like Nadal does well. He plays very well from the start. You know, he obviously does get a bit better as the match goes on, but he doesn't have many ups and downs.
Obviously I had a bit of a down today. But like I said, you can always sort of find a way to come back.
But, yeah,the concentration on clay is very important.

Q. Starace was No. 27 in the world; now he's104. Do you think he played better than he expected? And also, have you ever played a player who made so many dropshots against you as he did today? This is also because sometimes you are a little bit behind, or only because he has a great touch and he surprised you somewhat?
ANDYMURRAY: No, he plays well. I think obviously on clay, it's his best surface, but his results maybe on the other courts haven't been that good. So, you know, I think if you want to sort of have the consistency in your ranking, it's very important to play well on all of the surfaces. So, you know, maybe if he played better on hard c ourts, that's obviously going to be better for his ranking.
And with the dropshots, like I say, I was struggling a bit with my movement. I guess he exploited that. He hit a lot and hardly missed any.
In a couple of the important points at the end of the third set he hit some dropshots, and I got to them. I think even on the set point, you know, he hit one, and I started to read it a little bit better as the match went on. But he definitely hit it well.

Q. Anybody that made more dropshots against you, do you remember?
ANDYMURRAY: I don't know. Maybe Djokovic hit a few dropshots against me the first few times I played him. But,no, as consistently as well as that, I don't think so.

Q. If I could ask you about Wimbledon,if I have right these days, virtually all your matches are on Centre Court. With the coming of the roof, do you think in a way that might help you out a little bit in that you wouldn't have to sit for hours and hours and even days waiting for the weather to clear? Will you miss doing that, just sitting around and killing all those hours?
ANDYMURRAY: No, I mean, if you play on Centre Court, I think it's an advantage, like playing indoors, as well. The court, regardless of which surface it is,when you play indoors, it does make a big difference to the atmosphere.
Obviously there is no wind or anything around you. Nosun. So, you know, it makes it a little bit easier to play. I grew up playing indoors my whole life, so I'll be hoping that it's raining more this year than in the past.

Q. And the most important key to getting through all those hours of rain delays when there's nothing to do?
ANDYMURRAY: It is tricky. I didn't have to deal with it that much. A couple of times ‑‑ actually, maybe once I had to stop because of light and come back the next day. It is a difficult thing to do.
You know, the rain delays, yeah, I mean, because each time you step on the court, you kind of, you know, I don't know, something feels just a little bit different. It doesn't always feel the same every time you step back out there. You know, it's a tough thing to do. You just have to try and maybe take your mind off tennis.
Because at Wimbledon, there could be ‑ like the final last year. There could be so many breaks that you need to be able to not think about the match.

Q. What is the main thing you want to improve in order to feel 100% comfortable on clay?
ANDYMURRAY: Well, I just want to win more. I mean, it's not like ‑‑ you know, I played my first against Chela. Go out and hit the ball very well and played a good match.
Today I started well and let my opponent back into the match, you know, but found a way to win. I obviously would like to play atthe same level all the time like I did against Chela, but sometimes it doesn't happen.
You know, like on the other courts, I normally find ways to win, you know, when I'm not necessarily playing my best. I hope I can start to do that more on clay.

Q. Do you have plans to watch the football tonight?
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah. I don't know where I'll watch it, but I'll definitely, definitely besit ting and enjoying.


(via www.rolandgarros.com, photo/Getty Images)

Andy Murray - Roland Garros 27. May Interview