I did this Biofile with 2013 Australian Open #10 seed and quarterfinalist Nico Almagro at the U.S. Open back in 2005…
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 179
DOB: December 21, 1985 In: Murcia, Spain
Childhood Hero: “For me, my hero is, in all of my life, is Pete Sampras. Is nice tennis, nice sportsmanship. And I look always for him and I try to become the same as him.”
Nickname: “Nico.”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to play PlayStation games and computer. Soccer. And stay with my family at home – for me is the best.”
Favorite Movies: “All the films of like comedies and like this.”
Musical Tastes: “Is pop. Spanish pop – El Canto Loco.”
First Job: “I don’t know [smiles].”
First Car: “BMW red.”
Early Tennis Memory: “My first match at Roland Garros, with Kuerten two years ago (2004). I lost 7-5 in the fifth. My first time and I played so good. I tried to win but couldn’t. I started two sets down – 7-6, 7-5. The third set won for me (6-1), the fourth 6-3. And I start the fifth 4-0 down. I get 5-4 in the fifth. I serve deuce. And after (that) I can’t do anything more and I lost 7-5 in the fifth. It was good experience for me.”
Favorite Meal: “Pasta, spaghetti carbonara.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Haagen Dazs lemon [laughs].”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I think about my family. I speak with my coach. And after, I’m ready to play.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Now I think is my greatest moment. (Why?) My ranking, I traveling so much and I love to play tennis.”
Most Painful Moment: “Mine? I don’t remember that [smiles].”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Nadal. All the Spanish players.”
Funniest Players: “Gaudio, Zabaleta, Nadal, Moya, Feliciano Lopez, Verdasco.”
Toughest Competitor Encountered: “Federer. He’s number one and for me the most difficult to play with him.”
Favorite Vacation Spot: “At home with my family.”
Favorite Tournament: “Roland Garros.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Honesty, sincerity.”
"My hero all my life is Sampras."
mat4 · January 22, 2013 at 2:20 am
Dan, Scoop,
Dan, you asked me in the other thread about Rocchus commentary after a match in a small Belgium tournament. Here are the interesting comments John (the poster, I checked, he really played that tournament and lost in the second round against O. Rocchus) wrote (and he writes very, very well).
“Que vu l’inflation du volume physique des joueurs actuels, la seule manière efficace de lutter contre le dopage sur le circuit serait d’intensifier les contrôles au niveau junior, car c’est à cet âge, vers 14 ou 15 ans parfois, que des gosses, souvent inconscients de ce qui leur est administré, commencent à se faire « charger » par leurs parents ou coachs ; que l’argument selon lequel tel ou tel joueur – suivez mon regard, amis de la corrida – serait « naturellement » puissant physiquement à 17 ou 18 ans est non pertinent à cet égard ; qu’il ne lui revient pas de reprocher à ce type de joueur – suivez mon regard, amis de la paella – de maximiser ces gains professionnels mais qu’il ne plaindra pas s’il venait à faire un infarctus à 40 ans ; que si les pratiques de dopage sont plus massives auprès de certains cultures tennistiques – suivez mon regard, amis de la vodka et du tango – elles sont néanmoins généralisées au sein du top – suivez mon regard, amis de l’emmenthal.”
Here, he accuses Nadal, the Spanish, Argentinian and Russian players in general, and Federer.
Note that John doesn’t quote names, and doesn’t reveal everything that was said. But he notes that OR is a doctor, if I understand well.
mat4 · January 22, 2013 at 2:24 am
To translate the quotation a bit:
He thinks that testing should start at the age of 14, 15 years, and that doping is rampant among juniors already, and generalized in certain sporting cultures and among the top players.
mat4 · January 22, 2013 at 2:37 am
Finally, the name of the author is John Pitsey.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 8:37 am
It’s an interesting development that Rochus is talking. He might end up getting squashed like an ant though.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 9:21 am
I don’t see Fed’s name listed in the quote.
“Here, he accuses Nadal, the Spanish, Argentinian and Russian players in general, and Federer.”
mat4 · January 22, 2013 at 9:30 am
@Steve:
The allusion are the following:
Emmenthal is a cheese from Swiss; and then, the quote was:
“les pratiques de dopage […] sont […] généralisées au sein du top – suivez mon regard, amis de l’emmenthal.
So, he accuses all the top players, especially some from Swiss.
Then, paella is from Valencia; is it an allusion to a player from Valencia?
Scoop:
It was a private conversation after a match. The poster didn’t write it all, of course. I quoted what was important, but you could read the comments for more information.
In no place names were mentioned but here.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 9:36 am
If he doesn’t name names then I have to call BS to his accusations.
Maybe he can’t name names cause he has no evidence just some sour grapes.
mat4 · January 22, 2013 at 9:51 am
@Steve:
The poster didn’t write names — it is quite understandable. But I have no doubts that in the conversation in the bar Rocchus wasn’t that candid.
Of course he doesn’t have proofs. If he had, he would have certainly revealed them.
But it seems that even the guys at the top think that there is doping in tennis, since they urge for more blood testing.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 10:00 am
Better have some concrete proof if they’re gonna sully players like Federer, Nadal with these allegations. Even if Rochus did somehow have positive test proof, I still think he’d be squashed. But I don’t think any proof exists.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 10:51 am
I’m sorry but I don’t take this drunken conversation in a bar seriously. If Christophe wants to step up then he should but not like this.
Mitch · January 22, 2013 at 11:07 am
Almagro really snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last night. Hard to believe that Almagro was so close to the semis of a hard court slam.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Mitch, Almagro played great but when Ferrer raised his level at crunch time in set three and four and five, Almagro buckled every time. When Ferrer raised his game, Almagro was helpess and was unable to raise his level and this was the difference. Fascinating match it was to see.
loreley · January 22, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Everyone talks about Djokovic beeing superhuman, but nodbody is wondering about Ferrer.
He plays his 3rd tournament in a row. Semifinal Doha, Champion Auckland, Semifinal Australian Open.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 1:16 pm
Good point Loreley. If he was winning majors they’d be wondering.
Mitch · January 22, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Almagro choked. Ferrer did raise his level at key moments, but instead of playing the patient, aggressive tennis that put him in the position to serve for the match three times, Almagro was too passive and at times impatient in those three games.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 1:50 pm
Good biofile though. Another Samrpas fan. NICE!
Good to hear he loves tennis. Sometimes you can’t tell which players are having fun out there besides the Dog. & Tsonga.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Mitch you could feel it. Every time Ferrer was cornered in the third and fourth sets at the end, he turned into a wall and did not miss, he grunted with desperation, he was clearly raising it. Almagro did nothing different, he felt the extra pressure Ferrer was putting on him and buckled. Ferrer held the key to the match in his hand, Almagro did not know how to seize hold of that key.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 2:34 pm
I love Almagro’s passion and love to play you can see and feel it, but he was strangely mute yesterday, as if he has too much respect for Ferrer. He’s at his best when he’s fired up like against Berdych )
Mitch · January 22, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Almagro succumbed to his own doubt, not Ferrer. If Ferrer was so strong in the third set and fourth sets, how come Almagro broke him in every game that he had break chances. He was 5/5 on converting break points at one point, and scored 4 breaks in the fourth set.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Speaking of Birdman. Those droppers were tough to watch considering his hamstring.
Steve · January 22, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Strange things happen when you play your countryman/friend. Even Djoker plays strangely against Tips. Chang and Courier played differently against the other Americans. They are either way too nice & passive or super amped up to right the little wrongs and pecking orders lifelong tennis battles from juniors up.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Ferrer’s raised level of play and intensity caused the doubt and subsequently, the errors. Almagro battled but Ferrer was too strong in the moment of truth.
Scoop Malinowski · January 22, 2013 at 7:38 pm
It’s clear Ferrer has a mental edge of Almagro. A considerable one at that.