Q.: You are quite happy…
A.: I’m playing at my best again and it’s going better and better. To close it up it would have been nicer, but at the tie break as well… I haven’t been very successful this year and today I’m really satisfied.

Q.: In the first 2 games you both were playing differently…
A.: Yes, in the first couple of games you are always trying to feel each other, after that I felt I had a very good rhythm. Towards the end of the match he was trying to lift his game and he was trying to play better and that put me under pressure.

Q.: Do you think this match increased your confidence because you know you can do some spectacular game on clay?
A.: Well, this year I’ve come and see that I can hit the ball well. Whether it’s clay or grass or hard court, when I’m hitting the ball well and moving well I’m gonna have good results!

Q.: How do you feel knowing that if you win this tournament you can get No. 1?
A.: Really? Then "come on!"

Q.: There’s Kafelnikov…
A.: Well, it’s losing now… I’d like to get one match at the time and if I get to the finals then I’ll start getting excited! I know that right now there are some really tough matches to play. Lapentti is in a very good form now so it’s gonna be a very difficult match. I haven’t been in the position yet so far to have one match and if you win that match you get No. 1, so…

Q.: When was the last time you felt all the components of your game were really coming together?
A.: Maybe it was at the US Open, I felt like I was playing a really complete game, from the base line to my serve, as well as at the net. But here and today it’s properly the best I’ve played in…I don’t know how long!

Q.: Many people say that footwork can be the key for how confident you are.  There are some surfaces many people might regard as similar, where do you  find more comfortable with your footwork?
A.: There are certain times I feel I move very well on different surfaces, but grass has always been the surface that I find the most difficult to move. I think that the best year I had at Wimbledon has been ’96 when I thought I played well. As for the clay, I’ve been brought up on a different style of surface, but it’s a slippery surface. As for rebound ace, the game is slightly different from the hard but it’s easier to adapt to it than on clay.

Q.: Did Agassi seem to you far from his best form?
A.: He started off with a lot of unforced errors. I’m sure he’s not satisfied with the way he played today. In the past I’ve always had troubles with him. I don’t know if it was the way I was playing or if he was playing bad; I’ll take the win any time I can because he can always be very tough for me to beat.

Q.: How many of your brothers will come if you should have to play to be No. 1?
A.: I already have a brother here who travels with me, but I’d like to keep things the same. My parents never flew either for the US Open, I’d like to keep things the same. It’s a long way away so we’ll see …

Q.: Did you visit Rome?
A.: I didn’t have so much time; the only place I’ve seen is Trastevere.

Q.: Agassi said that you broke his rhythm playing from baseline, do you think this means you have improved your baseline play?
A.: Sometimes it comes, other times not. I always tried to work hard but sometimes it’s not there and today it was there. I did top spin, a lot of slice, I mixed it up all the time. I’d like it to be there more often.

Q.: You got a time violation
A.: Yes, I lost my hair clip; I consider it a part of my tennis equipment! I didn’t do it on purpose; I didn’t want to upset the rhythm.

Q.: Did you play Lapenti before?

A.: No. We played once or twice since we’ve been here. He’s very fit and
strong, he plays a very good tennis. If he can beat me, good for him.