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Biofile: Olivier Rochus Interview
9 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Status: 33 year old veteran retired from ATP this week. Won two ATP singles titles (Munich, Palermo), earned $4.7 million in career prize money, even has a clay court win over Nadal, 62 62, also won the 2004 French Open doubles title with Malisse. Reached career high ATP ranking of #24 in Oct. 2005.
First Tennis Memory: A long time ago. Memories when we were at school with my brother (Christophe). We were all the time after school when we were six, seven, eight years old, playing in our garden together. Always like two, three hours every day. Like a mini-court. And we were playing sometimes five hours a day [laughs], doing that. Good memories.
Tennis Inspirations: With my brother, we start together. When we start professionally, he show me the way. We were doing everything together, so it was more him. It wasn’t really looking too much to the stars. It was just my brother and me. My favorite player when I was very young was Pete Sampras.
Pre-Match Feeling: You’re nervous. You don’t know what’s going to happen, if you will feel good on the court or you’re just nervous to be there. But then when you start you feel better. You just try to play and try to do your best. And then you will feel better.
First Job: I was at school till eight. Then I wanted to be a professional tennis player.
First Car: I get a Citroen. I get a contract with Citroen when I was 19. Blue. Very fast car [smiles]. Nice car.
Current Car: I have a BMW (gray).
Favorite Meal: Italian food. And I like ice cream [smiles].
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate and vanilla.
Greatest Sports Moment: It’s tough to explain. I had a few. A few great memories. The first ATP tournament I played in Palermo in 2000 I won it. So it was a great, great memory. When I won in Munich (2006). Some Davis Cup ties, some great wins. A win in Miami (vs. Baghdatis). A great moment -like last year – I beat Djokovic, Soderling and Del Potro. And year before I had some great wins. Great memories you will never forget.
Most Painful Moment: Is when you drop. You’re losing confidence. I get injured three years ago. I had a shoulder surgery. It was pretty tough. Last year I was really maybe playing better. Think to play good again, then I pull my calf muscle. I was on crutches for a month. You are thinking about everything. Will I get back? So it’s tough moment. You are alone there with the physio, just yourself, it’s not easy for your girlfriend or your family with you. You know the other players, they don’t care. They’re just doing their job in the tournaments. It’s tough. You have to take care of this and stay mentally positive and try to get back. That’s pretty hard moments.
Favorite Tournament: I like Wimbledon.
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Golf. I really like to play golf.
Closest Tennis Friends: Of course, it was my brother. I’m also really good friends with Roger, all the players from my age. A person like Michael Llodra, Spanish guys. All the French are good friends of mine.
Funniest Players: Who makes me laugh? Tough to say. Like now, I’m really tired (after a three-set win in Masters Series event). But who makes me laugh – for me the funniest guy was Andrew Ilie. To watch him play was crazy [laughs].
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: Not really. But some matches I was really not there. I was losing 6-0 4-0, losing in 30 minutes, the crowd was there and sometimes you feel embarrassed, you know? When you cannot give your best. And the crowd is there and you feel very stupid. But fortunately there’s not too many.
Favorite Players To Watch: I just like everybody. I really like Roger, Rafa in their own way they are both spectacular and great players. Also, Novak is also a great player.
Best You Ever Felt On Court: In the first two sets against Sebastien Grosjean in Davis Cup about seven or eight years ago. I was losing 4-1 then I won 6-4, 6-1 and then I start to get cramps and I couldn’t play. But since the (being down) 4-1 till the 6-4, 6-1, I never played such a good tennis. I was playing winners on every ball and everything went in. Was amazing. But I couldn’t finish the match [laughs].
People Qualities Most Admired: Character. The fighting spirit. On the tennis court or in life – to give your best all the time. And also to smile and be happy. When you see what happens in the world, tennis is not everything. To smile, to enjoy life I think is important. Some players are [smiles] too much into tennis. Always never smiling. I think it’s important to enjoy life.
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Scoop Malinowski · October 5, 2014 at 3:28 pm
One of the best fighters I ever saw. Every ball he’d be grunting and exerting all out. He had to, being outweighed and outpowered. His skill level was extraordinary. For him to last fifteen years in pro tennis proves it. A fun guy to watch, inspiring, and also a cool friendly sincere interview. Rochus will be greatly missed. Hope the ATP gives him a special sendoff in London, appreciating his superb career.
Dan Markowitz · October 5, 2014 at 9:13 pm
Scoop,
The only player I ever saw walk down to the beach from the courts in Newport, or maybe he drove, but I saw Ollie once just walking around down at First Beach.
Gulbis was the only player I ever saw on the beach in Delray. Rochus and Malisse really put Belgium on the map in men’s tennis.
Scoop Malinowski · October 6, 2014 at 8:44 am
Never saw any players on the beach in Delray either. Did see Matosevic riding a bike near the beach last year, shirtless. Rochus definitely put Belgium on the map for mens tennis with Malisse, but you also have to give credit to Filip Dewulf, who made SF of FO in the later 90s.
Dan Markowitz · October 6, 2014 at 11:33 am
Isn’t that remarkable, two of our favorite tour events are Delray Beach and Newport, both no more than one mile from the beach and the only players we ever saw at the beach were the free spirits, Gulbis, Rochus and Matosevic.
I know DeWulf reached semis of FO, but don’t think of him as a big time player. Rochus and Malisse, they put Belgium on the map.
Scoop Malinowski · October 6, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Well Dan we aren’t exactly scanning the beaches for players all day. I’m sure players many players frequent those beaches which are so close to the tennis centers. Next year we should ask some players if they get out much to the sand and waves.
EddietheEagle · October 8, 2014 at 3:53 am
A veritable slayer of giants considering his diminutive 5’5″ height. Pound for pound, Rochus was among the very best of his time.
Scoop Malinowski · October 8, 2014 at 9:47 am
Eddie, you have to wonder if Fed or Rafa were 5-5, if they would have had comparable success to Rochus. In some ways the example and career of Rochus is more impressive than Fed and Rafa.
EddietheEagle · October 12, 2014 at 2:17 pm
He even holds a career 3-2 record over Dr Ivo. Height isn’t everything!
Scoop Malinowski · October 12, 2014 at 8:53 pm
How can anyone not be a fan of Rochus? If Federer was 5-5, I don’t think he would have won one single major. If Rochus was 6-2, he might have won 20.