Just enjoyed this live interview with Fena on ESPN. Some good answers given!!

I think that he is one of the nice guys, one of the real characters on the tour too.. :ok:


Chat with Fernando Gonzalez

Welcome to The Show! On Tuesday, professional tennis player Fernando Gonzalez will stop by to chat some tennis.
In Gonzalez's eight years as a pro, he's accumulated 243 wins in singles matches, including seven titles. He's already played himself into the finals of the Australian Open this season. Gonzalez has been playing at the Pacific Life Open this past week.

Send your questions now and join Gonzalez right here on Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET for all the answers.



Buzzmaster: (4:02 PM ET ) We're getting Fernando right now! Send in those questions.

Buzzmaster: (4:04 PM ET ) Fernando is here!


Cal (Michigan): You have been using your slice backhand a lot during your matches this year. Is this a tactic that Larry Stefanki has encouraged you to use?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:05 PM ET ) Yeah, I've been working a lot on it in my game, because I can save a lot of energy and keep the ball really low.

LeAnn Houston,TX: how do you handle being away from home so much?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:05 PM ET ) It's tough, but you get used to it. When you're younger, you may have one week off and fly home. But when you get older, you get used to the travel and see other things in the world. But you always miss home.

Ben Getz Havre de Grace, MD: I really enjoyed watching your style of play at the Aussie Open. I was wondering about your views on the Finals and playing against Federer.

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:06 PM ET ) It was a really good experience. A good tournament. I was feeling really really good. It was a good experience for my career and my life. I had a chance to win a Grand Slam title.

joshua at massachusetts: your my favrotie tennis player and our family is from chile!!!!

ARK (Baltimore, MD): Greetings Gonzo. I saw you playing in the finals of Washington DC a few years ago against Tim Henman. Great match. What training exercises do you employ in your workout regime with regard to footwork? Come back to the DC event and have a great "rest" of the year!

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:07 PM ET ) I do a lot of things. I'm really fast. That just comes with me. It's genetic, but I need to work a lot of endurance. I had some troubles a few years ago when I played longer matches. But I've been working on it. I don't lift as much weights anymore.

Munich Germany: What do you think about your chances against thommy haas?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:08 PM ET ) I think I have a really good chance. I beat him the last time, but every match is different. It's going to be a tough match for me, but I think I'll have a chance to win.

Chris (Boston, MA): Hi Fernando, What is your favorite tournament to play in and why? What is your favorite surface to play on? Chris from Boston

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:09 PM ET ) That's a tough question, but hard court is my favorite surface. My favorite tournament is at home, I like playing there, but also Miami, French Open, Wimbledon, I like playing there as well.

sportsfreak (Cleveland, OH): Your reaction to Fed's loss in the 1st round of Indian Wells?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:09 PM ET ) It's a weird thing. Finally he lost. He was winning too much! He was winning every week. Roger is really good for the game.

Naveed (Michigan): What impact has your coach Larry Stefanki had on your game?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:10 PM ET ) He's been a good help for me. I've noticed my improvement in my game. It's been fun to work with him. He's helped me work with a lot of things.

Todd Greensboro, NC: What do you like to do off the court at tournaments and how do you like to have fun at home in Chile?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:11 PM ET ) I have a lot of fun when I go back home. All my family and friends are there. It's a good time for me. You don't have many days off in the tournaments, but when you do, you can visit many places. It just depends on where you are and what you like to do.

Patricio (San Francisco, CA): Hola Fena, how important is the davis cup for you. Do you think Chile will ever win it?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:12 PM ET ) For me, Davis Cup is one of the most important events of the year. Unfortunately, we lost this year. The problem that we have is that other countries have four or five top players that they can play. We have really good competitive team.

Lane (Kukuihaele, HI): Who is your favorite tennis player of all time? Have you had a chance to meet or play him?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:12 PM ET ) Boris Becker and Andre Agassi are my favorites.

Toronto, ontario: I just would like to say that you are one of the most ecxiting guys to watch play..and good luck against Haas You've done it the last couple of tournaments and i'm sure you'll do it again..A huge huge huge fan Eric Pinto

Patricio, San francisco, CA: How does it feel to always have a group of chileans following everywhere in the world? Does it distract you? Do you like it?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:13 PM ET ) I love it. No matter where you are, you have the support. They're really noisy and they help you a lot. It's a big support for me.

Jason: Hi Fernando- I was really inspired by your play at the Aussie Open. I was wondering what kind of grip do you use on your forehand?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:14 PM ET ) I don't know exactly what the grip is, but it's the Western. Sometimes you can close it up a little bit, but just a little bit.

Jason Lewis (Ocean Grove, NJ): You had such an amazing run at the Australian Open. Since then, you're results have been mixed. Where is your confidence level heading into the Pacific Life Open?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:15 PM ET ) My confidence is getting bigger, because you know that you can make your chances in tennis. You try to take advantage of those moments in tennis.

Naveed (Michigan): A lot of European and South American tennis players said that they might have been a soccer player if not a tennis player. Is that also true for you?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:15 PM ET ) Yeah. I really like soccer. I love to go to the field when they have matches in Chile. It was soccer and tennis as my favorites at a young age.

Lane (Kukuihaele, HI): If you weren't a pro tennis player what would you be doing right now?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:16 PM ET ) I don't know, really. Since I was young, I've been wanting to be a tennis player.

Duncan, Richmond VA: Hello Fernando! You've always had a very powerful game, but lately you are mixing things up very well and showing a lot of variation. Do you think you will try to serve and volley more? You have a great serve and great touch at the net, and I think you could be great at serve and volley.

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:17 PM ET ) I'm going to try and mix it up. That's very important in tennis. That's one of the good things that Federer has. You have to keep improving and try to mix it up.

Jennifer Michigan: What do you think is the most important thing right now in your tennis career?

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:17 PM ET ) Try to keep healthy. That's really important in this game, because you have to play many tournaments in the year.

Fernando Gonzalez: (4:18 PM ET ) Thanks for chatting. I had a really good time. I hope to see you soon.