Percy896's Tennis Forum

Not_Even_Amateur · Finalist Joined: 10 Dec 2005 Posts: 1585

TENNIS Magazine: Hey stevos thanks for agreeing to come for a little chat with us here at TENNIS Magazine. How are you right now? How are you outside of tennis I mean?

stevos14: I am great, this has been a great year for me. I recently bought a new house up in the Muskokas of Ontario (in Canada of course), and me and my girlfriend have had a great time there on weeks off. I just feel much more relaxed these days, which I think lets me play much better tennis.

TENNIS Magazine: You have started this season surprisingly well. Well surprisingly to some, fellow player Not_Even_Amateur actually tipped you to have a great year and "shutup" your critics, so far you have definitely done just that! How do you reflect on the season, and your career, so far and what are your forthcoming aims?

stevos14: Well, where do I start? I mean, the two titles to start off the year were a huge boost to my confidence, and it has just built from there. In terms of my career, I think earlier on, I beat a few of the up and coming players in a few tournaments, and I let it get to my head a bit. I think that led to my slump last season, where I didn't have it in me to make the final push for a title in the latter stages. Then this year I also won my first tier III, and made a tier 1 final in Australia, and everything else has been working great ever since.
My aims are right now to make the quarters, at least, of the French Open. I think my achilles heel, and the thing most critics have got on me about, is my somehow inability to win two matches at a Grand Slam. I have made it my main focus for the clay season, just practicing to get to that point. If I can get there, emotions will be very high for me!

TENNIS Magazine: The same player also named you, with leftys_rock, as a dark horse for the French Open title. Do you agree with his prediction? How do you feel about this? Is it unwanted pressure or do you completely agree with him?

stevos14: I don't feel pressure from someone picking me, it's not going to affect my results. I've seen a lot of players completely stress out about it, and go into uncontrolled fits of terror when they are picked to do anything. I will refrain from naming them since I am sure everyone knows.
I'm not sure if I agree with him though, at least for the title. I mean, going from the round of 32 to a title is a lot to ask, but I do believe I can make it to the later rounds, yes.

TENNIS Magazine: And finally, who do you think will win the French Open?

stevos14: PSALT. He will definitely win it, he is playing well, and I think his game will smooth out just in time for Roland Garros. He is a good clay-courter, even if he denies it, and made the final last year. Other players that I think have a great chance are Not_Even_Amateur of course, he is playing astounding tennis lately, and beat me in straight sets.

A dark horse would be Jbors, he is not doing great right now at all, but a lot of the time players who aren't at the top of their game somehow bring it up at the right moment, and he could be one of them. Just a hunch.

However, I would really love for Yodavitch to win. He is a great guy, and we are good friends. I think he deserves it the way he has been playing, and his comeback from last year has been remarkable!

TENNIS Magazine: Thankyou very much stevos for having this extended interview with us. We hope it gave the readers an insight into the man behind the mask! We wish you the absolute best of luck for the rest of your career...

_________________
Tennis is in the mind...
not the body.

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