Status: 2001 Davis Cup winner for France; Winner of four ATP singles titles (Toulouse 1999, 2001 & 2002 Rotterdam, 2004 Doha); Career-high ATP rank #17 in 2000; Career wins over Federer, Agassi, Ferrero, Costa, Hewitt, Henman, Robredo, Grosjean, Ljubicic.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 155
DOB: April 3, 1976 In: Chartres, France
First Tennis Memory: “Me and my brother (Julien) just hit some balls down in the building where I live.”
Tennis Inspiration: “Edberg.”
Nickname: “Scude.”
Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Football, surf, ski.”
Last Book Read: “Harry Potter, but I don’t think it was the last one.”
Favorite Movies: “I don’t know. The last one I saw was with DiCaprio, Inception.”
Current Car: “Nissan (black).”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Davis Cup (won both singles matches vs. Hewitt & Arthurs to clinch 3-2 vs. Australia in Melbourne).”
Most Painful Moment: “When I decide to stop my career (in 2006 because of shoulder injury).”
Favorite Tournament: “Australian.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Arnaud (Di Pasquale) and Marat (Safin). And the French players.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Marat [smiles].”
Toughest Competitor: “Agassi. I beat him once – in Dusseldorf.”
Which Match(es) Were You At Your Very Best: “It was finals of Davis Cup (vs.) Hewitt in Australia. The feeling was unbelievable. I can do what I want.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Doubles in Rotterdam, I was playing with Rosset against Safin and Kiefer. There was great moments. Marc missed easy smashes and me and Marat were laughing, we were on the floor, during play, 10 or 15 minutes. Unbelievable. Rosset was missing – he was on the net – he kept missing. Miss the ball. We were on the floor.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “No, I don’t have.”
Strangest Match: “I don’t remember the year – I think it was 2003 or 2002 – during three tournaments in a row I lost first round with match points [smiles]. After Australia – Marseille I think Rotterdam and I don’t remember the third one.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Today, Federer and Nadal.”
Interesting Fact: Escude is the first player in Open Era to win three matches in a Slam after losing first two sets – at 1998 Australian Open where he reached SF before losing to Rios.
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty.”
Escude led France to the Davis Cup
NAME · August 25, 2010 at 4:01 am
I passed by that match but didn’t notice Escude.
I did bump into Delic who was walking around. Interview him. He seems like a nice and intelligent guy. His background is interesting and I think he would have something to say.
Youzny is walking around with nothing to do. So there’s another subject. And he’s a bit strange. I was at that match in Miami where he hit himself on the head with his racket so hard he was bleeding (the match against Almagro on the Grandstand court). Anyone that would do that would be a good interview.
Continuing with the off Escuade comments. I’ve watched many Nadal practices over the years and am always so impressed with the way this guy deals with the public. Raining today stopped his practice around noon or so. Cilic took off. Nadal stuck around and signed autographs, on both sides of the court. And he always takes time for this. It’s such a small thing and the fans love it. I don’t understand why more players don’t take a bit more time. But Nadal always does.
Scoop Malinowski · August 25, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Youzhny was hitting on grandstand yesterday with Schuettler. I did Biofile him, very very nice chap too. I agree about Nadal, after his hit with Cilic on Armstrong, he signed all the autographs on the side for fans then, get this, he didn’t escape out the tunnel to exit. He went over the side and walked up through the crowd and signed more and took photos! With one security guard just one. A real champion of the people is Nadal. He is a people’s champion.
You missed Escude, he was there with his pal DiPasquale, sitting on the bleachers. Seemed nobody recognized him but me. What a fine and unique all court player he was. Oh, and Delic I did his Biofile too several years ago, very good Biofile also.
NAME · August 25, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I’ll have to find that Youzhny one. Thanks.
Did you see Querry ? He was watching Harrisson from the seats on the West side of the court. That guy is always smiling. If you biofile him, ask him what drugs he uses.
Scoop Malinowski · August 25, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Yeah Q was just hanging out with Nainkin watching the action by the Sloane Stephens match. Pretty accessible guy. He’s super cool, super nice. FYI, you may have missed the former European based US Open semifinalist who was hanging out, he was top 10, qualified for Masters once back in late 80s early 90s. I think I was the only one who recognized him. Once coached by Mats Wilander and put a beating on Medvedev on grandstand when Medvedev was #5 in world.