Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175
DOB: February 12, 1987 In: Pau, France
Tennis Inspirations: “My hero is Pete Sampras. I was so thrilled because I play San Jose and Pete Sampras made an exhibition. So I ask him to speak with him and I take a picture with him. I see him and I can speak with him. It was a very good moment for me.”
First Tennis Memory: “I think when I play my first tournament, I was so happy because when I take the trophy it was my first one. I keep this and this is always in my room. I was so happy (age 7).”
Hobbies/Interests: “I love football. I play football when I was four years to 14. It was difficult for me to choose between tennis and football. (Position?) Attack. #9.”
Nickname: “Jim.”
Last Book Read: “I don’t like to read, so. I think the last one is when I was young in school.”
Favorite Movie: “Meet Joe Black.”
Musical Tastes: “I listen to everything in music. I like one singer in France – Christophe Mae.”
Current Car: “When I won Stuttgart last year, my present was Mercedes D350 Coupe. I win this car so I love this car.”
Favorite Meal: “I think I love the good steak.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “I think it was when I was a junior, when I win Wimbledon. And in 2008 in Roland Garros I beat Nalbandian in five sets. And I make a very good tournament. I go up in top 100. So I think it’s my two best moments.”
Most Painful Moment: “I think it’s after my junior – during six months I win only one or two matches. So it was a difficult moment for me.”
Favorite Tournament: “It’s Wimbledon. I love Wimbledon, the atmosphere, conditions, everything.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “I don’t have so many friends in tennis. I have my friends in my city and in tennis – it’s okay – I have friends but it’s not good friends [smiles].”
Funniest Player Encountered: “I don’t know. On the court, I think Gael Monfils is good [smiles].”
Toughest Competitors Encountered: “I think Nadal is very tough to play against.”
Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer – I love his game. I love his attitude. Before it was Safin.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “I don’t remember.”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “No.”
Which Match Were You At Your Very Best: “My best match – I think it was against Nalbandian in Roland Garros. Because I was two sets down and I win in five sets. It was my first five sets (win) and my first top 10 (win). After two sets down I say I have nothing to lose. I take so many risks, I go to the net every time. After, I take confidence. I don’t know, it was like a dream. I hit the ball and every time it’s inside. Court 2. I love this court. It’s small.”
Strangest Match: “I think it’s against Monfils in junior Wimbledon semi final. We stopped six times because it’s raining. It was very tough because we get on the court, we play one game or some points, then we come back to the locker room. And we stopped six times in the same day, so, very strange.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “In general, the respect. And when somebody says something, they make it true.”
"Federer - I love his game and attitude."
Steve · January 21, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Nice to see that so many players admire Fed & Sampras.
Scoop Malinowski · January 21, 2013 at 4:17 pm
Tomic said “a lot” of the players in the locker room “idolize” Federer. In some ways Federer is bigger than the sport itself. Nobody wants to beat your idol. This weekend I had the pleasure of meeting one of my hockey idols at the Tampa Bay vs. Washington Capitals game and in a biofile he said tennis is his favorite sport to play. Later I began to imagine if we ever played a match on the court and I would not want to play him or beat him, wouldn’t even really want to compete with him in any way, because I have too much respect for him. It’s a weird thing. Bet a lot of tennis pros have these feelings playing Federer. A lot.
Andrew Miller · January 21, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Yeah you got to take out your idol, he has to be just another player. I read about Nadal that before his RG matches against Federer (I think his 2006 title) he watches clips of himself beating Federer in the 2005 semifinals. He had to see himself in the past beating Federer on the clay to see himself beating Federer for another big title. So Nadal basically had to convince himself, even though he knew he beat Federer, that he could beat Federer. Crazy mind tricks these players play.
Scoop Malinowski · January 21, 2013 at 5:12 pm
True, you do have to play crazy mind tricks in tennis, how else can you come back from 06 05 holes like some players have. I started doing it too, like if i blow a 40-love lead, i try to convince myself that i just overcame the 0-40 hole and got it back to deuce and try to replace the angry feeling with a fake happy feeling ) I bet pros have a lot of crazy mind tricks, if hackers like me use them.
Steve · January 21, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Wise thing is to have idols that are retired. 🙂 I personally loved how casually the 19 yr old Sampras beat down Mcenroe & others.
Scoop Malinowski · January 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Sampras was one of Federer’s idols but he had no problem kicking his butt at Wimbledon. Federer is very unique. I remember at one US Open press conference several years ago during first week he actually said he felt guilty at times for his success, couldn’t believe he said that, I was right there with Richard Pagliaro. Going to put this in my Federer book. Surprised no media took that quote and used it, it’s like they all missed it. Fascinating quote by Fed.
Steve · January 21, 2013 at 7:01 pm
Kicking his butt??? You obviously never saw the match. I can lend it to you.
Scoop Malinowski · January 21, 2013 at 7:50 pm
Yes I did see it live as a matter of fact, it was an unforgettable match, but you are right, the match was very close and maybe terms like “nicked” or “edged” would better describe the victory, it could have gone either way, very close match.
Steve · January 21, 2013 at 8:49 pm
I always though Fed idolized Edberg and perhaps Becker more. I believe his racquet choice was more based on Edberg.
Scoop Malinowski · January 21, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Not sure of the % but Fed has stated his heroes were Pete, Becker and Edberg, he said this in the Biofile we did in 1999 at US Open. Probably a 33% equal split for each.
loreley · January 22, 2013 at 5:19 am
Jeremy Chardy. Another non-reader 😉 Very nice guy though.
I’m not surprised that Federer said this. In Switzerland they don’t put themselves above others that much.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 8:40 am
Here’s part of the quote Loreley, but I will save the rest for the book )
Q. Last night Andre Agassi said when he has a match as easy as his was and as easy as yours was today, he doesn’t feel sorry for his opponent. Do you?
ROGER FEDERER: No, I don’t. I used to. That was a problem for me. Like I had the feeling the guy deserves it more than I do. That’s a horrible feeling to have inside. Especially when I was playing juniors or coming on Tour. No, that feeling is definitely gone. That’s good.
loreley · January 22, 2013 at 12:44 pm
I look forward for your book.
Jesse · January 24, 2013 at 5:26 pm
I’m surprised by how many players respond to the favorite ice cream question with “vanilla” or “strawberry”. Are they not adventurous with their desert choices? Or they don’t eat desert often enough to try other flavors? No Ben and Jerry’s strawberry cheesecake or something exotic like turkish coffee ice cream?
Scoop Malinowski · January 24, 2013 at 7:11 pm
LOL Jesse. Tennis players are generally rather conservative and the ice cream flavor test affirms it )