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| Q. How did you find the speed of the court? NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think it's slower than the last year. I didn't want to comment too much about the court until I really feel it on the match. So today I felt really good. I think it suits to my game. But I think it's a little bit slower than the last year's surface. And the center court is quite different. That's my opinion. |
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| Q. You did well on Rebound Ace. What do you think of this surface? Do you prefer Rebound Ace or do you prefer this? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: I just accept the conditions and try to find a solution to win as many matches as possible. That's the only thing I can say (smiling). Q. Do you find it slow? MARCOS BAGHDATIS: Yeah, I find it a bit slower, that's for sure. The bounce is not the same. Rebound Ace was bouncing high, was much faster, but that's the way it is. I'll think positive and try to find a way to win matches. |
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| Q. Do you think the surface is appreciably different this year? Is it quicker? SERENA WILLIAMS: The only thing I feel different is it's not as bouncy, so I don't have to worry about tearing my ankle apart, so that works in my favor. Other than that, I don't feel that much of a difference. Q. The ball speed feels the same? The bounce doesn't feel higher or lower? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think it feels higher, and sometimes I think it feels lower. I'm really not the right person to ask about a court, like I'm not the one. |
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| Q. What did you think of the court speed? JUSTIN HENIN: I don't know exactly what to say about the courts. I don't have really something I can say. I don't have the feeling -- I feel it's a good deal for me. It's a good balance. It's not that fast, it's not too slow. I know a lot of players complained pretty much about it. But, yeah, I don't feel a big, big difference. For me, it looks fine. Q. No big difference? JUSTIN HENIN: Last year, I don't know. From two years ago. I forgot about two years ago (laughter). But it's -- no, balls are flying at the beginning and then become pretty heavy so it's a bit strange. |
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| Q. More information about how these courts react to different spins versus the Rebound Ace? ROGER FEDERER: I was going to say it's the same as last year. Now you want to hear the difference. Honestly, there's not much of a difference. I think the only big one is during the day, if it's really hot, I think the ball is bouncing really a lot on Rebound Ace. It's not uncontrollably, but it was quite different to the night sessions. Whereas the night session it was rather dead. I think this is a bit more even throughout day and night. I think that's good for the players. Honestly, I think that is the biggest difference. You know, there is still this spring in the court, which is a bit softer than when you walk out in the US Open. It's like concrete, more or less. It's really hard. And it's not as sticky maybe as last year. It's a bit more not slippery, but I think it's just a bit more healthy on the body, this one this year. Q. Slice is not as effective? ROGER FEDERER: It is effective, that's why with spins and slice it's the same. Yeah, it's more on the footwork it's different, I would think. Q. You still think it's too slow? ROGER FEDERER: You know, balls fluff up quite a bit. So towards the end, before ball change, I mean, the balls are heavy. It's tough to bang them down for an ace, you know. Depends on who you play, how you play. You can, you know, shorten the points beforehand so balls stay really quick all the way through. It depends on who you play and how you play, honestly. We'll see how it goes, who you play. But I was feeling good tonight. I didn't think it was crazy slow, which was okay. That's why I think it's pretty similar to last year, to be honest. |