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The Biofile: Tommy Robredo Interview 2004
3 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios, Scoop
This is the first interview I ever did with Tommy Robredo, it was in 2004 at the US Open player lounge café, I still remember this interview because Jelena Dokic was sitting at our same table while Tommy ate and answered my questions simultaneously. This Biofile is in serious need of an update interview, but it’s still an interesting read about a still evolving champion at the early stage of his professional career.
DOB: May 1, 1982 In: Barcelona, Spain
Childhood Heroes: “I like different things of everyone. Sampras forehand and serve. Agassi’s return. The volley of Edberg. Things like this.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to do a normal life like a kid. Going out, cinemas, the mountains, doing activities in the sea also. Fun things like this.”
Nicknames: “I don’t know, it’s tough, because all people call me Tommy always.”
Early Tennis Memory: “Well, when I saw pictures, when I was really young, like maybe two years hitting with the racquet some balls. That’s my oldest memories.”
Favorite Movies: “Braveheart, Gladiator, Swordfish, films like this.”
Musical Tastes: “Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Rasmus.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “Just try to know exactly against who I’m playing. And then just I’m trying to do my job. I’m normally very relaxed. I do this because I enjoy this. And I hope to get into a groove and just enjoy the match. If I’m playing good I can win. If I’m playing bad maybe I will lose. But it’s just a consequence of the game. I think the most important thing is just to play.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Well maybe this year when I won my second title in Barcelona. At home with all the crowd supporting me. Was the greatest moment. On Saturday in the semifinal it was my birthday and it was nice.”
Most Painful Moment: “When I was fifteen/sixteen and I have my second consecutive back injury. And I have to stop for half a year again. Because I stopped when I was fourteen/fifteen for half year. With a plastic thing here (points to lower back) to protect. Half year then I start playing. Next year at the same moment I had the same pain. I went to a doctor and he say to me I have to wear it again. And it was really bad for me.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Well, when you’re playing great and you see the other players running so much. And you can see him that he cannot beat you that day because you are playing great. I think you get a lot of fun then. When it happens to you.”
Favorite Meal: “Seafood.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Macadamia nut, then luche leche. It’s a Spanish thing, almond thing. It’s from Spain but it’s really good.”
First Car: “Renault Cleo (gray).”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Well I think all the Spanish guys have a really good relationship.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “I think Albert Costa is very funny. Fernando Vicente’s really funny.”
Toughest Competitors Encountered: “Always the number one and number two players on the Tour. Because they are always better than you with a little more experience.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “Well, first thing – home. Because I’m traveling all year. And then I like to go to different places – mountains, party, disco, Ibiza, Miami, places like this.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “To be easy, not to be…easy to talk with someone normal, not to be so up or in a lower level. You can talk to anybody.”
"it's just a consequence of tennis"
Dan Markowitz · August 31, 2014 at 8:41 pm
Love that response as to why he plays. Just to have fun and when he plays well, he thinks he’ll win which is what he said before the Kyrgios match and it came true.
Scoop Malinowski · September 1, 2014 at 8:48 am
How about Robredo saying he had to miss two six month stretches as a teen. That’s a big setback. I hit with a guy who was even with Ginepri as a junior and he said he had a knee problem that made him miss a year. He said in that year he missed he didn’t get worse but when he came back he was astonished how much better all of his peers got in that one year. Who knows maybe if Robredo doesn’t have that year off (combined) for the back injury, maybe he wins five to eight majors. That hiatus must have stunted his growth as a player.
Dan Markowitz · September 1, 2014 at 10:55 am
True, we’ve heard that happen before–didn’t Istomin get in a big car accident–it’s rare, but I’m sure it can’t help your game and position in the ranks. That being said, maybe it’s added to his longevity all the time he’s missed, less wear and tear on the body.