On the women’s draw
Looking ahead to the Australian Open and the women’s side of things is looking like another wide-open field. Do you think it will be difficult for one player to exert their dominance at the Slams again this year?
Oh it’s very exciting because again 2019 has been, I wouldn’t say not really constant because we could see that Ashleigh Barty has been probably the one who took a little bit more of the lead on the circuit as she has been quite regular. For the rest we have seen plenty of different things, Osaka having trouble to succeed after coming at the top, being number one and then we have seen Simona Halep playing so well at Wimbledon, we saw Ashleigh Barty of course and Andreescu.  So it has been very exciting and I was maybe a little bit more negative 12 months ago than I am today but the woman’s game, I have seen very interesting things in the past few months and I must say Ashleigh Barty and Andreescu, I was impressed about the level that they have been able to play and it is going to be exciting in special conditions also as we know. 

We’ll see but the woman’s game I think is quite attractive at the moment even if I would like more, really three or four players that we see at their best level all the time, that would be fantastic as we have had on the men’s tour for so many years.  This is what I expect a little bit more from the girls but I have the feeling that something more stable is in movement right now.

Looking at the winners over the last few years at the Australian Open, it is a very difficult place to defend a title there isn’t it?  Do you feel that is because it is the beginning of the season so players are fresher?
Yes, it’s the time of the year where a lot of things can happen and you know what’s important for the athletes is the confidence.  We all need that and sometimes at the beginning of the season you have worked really hard and sometimes you didn’t really recover from the past season and you have to take the time off and start again to practice and work and improve for the next season and you have only a few weeks to achieve that from the end of the year so it is not easy for all the players, you need to go back in the rhythm again and even if, when we’ve built a strong career even, you have the feeling that you start again and some doubts can come and it is a place also that physically can be hard because the weather can be really difficult also.  So it can bring a lot of surprises but it is also what the fans and the people who love tennis, they love to watch this kind of drama also and that’s why it makes this Grand Slam also very special. 

On Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu, she obviously finished the second half of 2019 off strongly with her breakout major win, do you expect her to be able to maintain that form at the beginning of this season?
Well she is very, very interesting and I love the way she plays.  She is one of the girls that we were looking, especially for a few months already and she proved she can reach an amazing level so I think it’s going to be interesting now to see. She has another [statue? 3.58] and she is going to be expected from all the players, all the fans also and she didn’t play much after winning the US Open so we’ll see how she can come back and try to be at her best level but she is the one who can do really a lot of different things on the court.  I like the energy, the passion and I think she is going to be one of the girls for sure, at 19 years old, that we are going to have to pay a lot of attention in the next few months, that’s for sure.

On Caroline Wozniacki
One player signing off after the Australian Open will be Caroline Wozniacki.  Is it sad for you to see one of the bigger names departing before she even turned thirty?  You retired for the second time at 28 but that was largely forced by injury, is it sad to see Wozniacki departing?
Well she has had a great career and she is going to be missed by the whole tour I think.  All these girls, these great names, gave so much to the game so it is sad but it is a new life starting and that is fantastic also.  After tennis I have proven that because we live a great life, it is fantastic to be able to … we are lucky as athletes because we do a sport that brings a lot of emotion and that is fantastic in life.

Personally, that is what I’m living for, it is for the emotions we can share with the people and I only realised that after I stopped.  It is a [lucky] life, a lot of sacrifices, we work a lot for that and when it is finished you need to understand who you are again and how you can life without being an athlete at the top level because it takes 99% of your life but it is fantastic being something new and we can bring all these experiences, everything we can learn and I think it is going to be great also for her.

You stopped after the 2011 Australian tournament, Caroline will obviously stop after this tournament.  What advice could you give her on how to come into a tournament knowing it’s your last or does she just not need any advice and just play ahead what’s in front of her?
Yes, well it is taking every second, every moment.  When I played my last tournament I didn’t know it was my last tournament because I had to stop with the injuries so it is something a little bit different of course but for me it would have been hard to make a choice, I am going to stop this. It is different for every personality but moving into another kind of life is something that has to be prepared but I am not even sure we can be prepared for that because it is really something different.  When I did stop I was giving 200% for tennis, then I stopped and okay, it is time for something else.  It takes a little bit of time to get used to it, it’s another weight off you because you don’t have to work so hard, so many hours every day and that becomes something really different but it’s beautiful as the first life can be so I have no doubt that it is going to be a beautiful moment for her and for the best success we can wish for her, for sure.

I think you only played Caroline once, at the Miami Masters ten years ago now.  How do you remember that match?
Okay, I have not a lot of memories from the match but what I remember is she made me work really hard, that is something I remember, it was quite physical.  Caroline was able to make you play, to play more and physically she was a really strong player, reading the game very good.  Yes, I am reminded of her as a great girl, for sure and also that she made me work really hard that day, that’s for sure.

On Ash Barty
You mentioned earlier on Ash Barty playing at her home tournament with a new added pressure this year, how do you think she’ll deal with that pressure?
I must say I am quite impressed with the way she handles with that.  I had the chance to be in the Perth for the second final and I had a little opportunity to discuss with her and [12.40] introduced and I was impressed by the fact that she was really calm, really cool and she was enjoying the moment.  She was coming from winning the Masters and of course she was confident and the way she did handle I have to say, because after Roland Garros she didn’t have a real down. 

She kept being at the top, at the level and okay, didn’t win Wimbledon and had the win of the US Open and the Masters behind and I think, yes, I was quite impressed with the way that she could stay really her feet on the ground and that is something that shows me that maybe she can take the lead and stay at the top I hope for a little bit of time. Her story also is a nice story, we can get inspiration from that because she left tennis, she came back to tennis, she wants to give a sense to what she does and it looks like she is smart, also emotionally so.  I have to say that I really like to watch her play.

Ash Barty is one of the main contenders for you, who are the others?
Who knows in the women’s tennis today, especially at the beginning of the season?  It’s going to be really open and I think that the names that we spoke about and maybe add a few. If I had to predict for sure, playing in the home country is something really different and difficult and she will have to, yes, there will be a lot of expectations from the fans.

On Serena Williams
Has Serena got a chance of winning this Australian Open?
Yes, Serena, you cannot speak about that without thinking that Serena can be there and at her best.  I mean, yeah, it’s amazing after so many years the motivation is still there, the passion and of course we can say that she is looking after the Grand Slam that she is missing now for a little bit of time but she was there all the time in the finals and competing so hard.  Because she didn’t win a Grand Slam they will say, ah, maybe she is not at her best but who else could do that?  Only her can do that and I think she is just fantastic so I always had the feeling, whatever Serena decides she can get that because she is so strong mentally.  The story proved it was a little bit harder after she came back but between being in a final and winning, okay, there’s a big step but she is probably still in a position to do something, that’s for sure. 

Do you feel she still has time on her side to win that 24th major or is it slowly slipping by?
She wants to do it, that’s for sure.  She wouldn’t be on the tour anymore if it wasn’t her goal so I have really too much respect for her to say really it is going to be difficult, of course.  Three years ago we were saying that also about Roger Federer and he proved so many things and Serena, we can’t forget how many Grand Slam finals she played since she was back. So she didn’t win but she was there and that’s the big difference between being in a final and winning but it was the experience she has, the passion of the game, the mentality, the mental she has she still can surprise us.  It is going to be difficult, that’s for sure and more with the time going out that’s for sure, because the young generation is pressing hard and the young generation is fresh but who knows? I wouldn’t predict that she doesn’t have any chance anymore.

On the contenders for the title
After a poor year by her standards, do you feel that Garbine Muguruza has made the wise and correct decision to start working with someone as prestigious as Conchita?
Well of course it can help, you need that kind of experience sometimes to be back on the right direction, that’s what we hope for her.  She can do so much better than what she did in the last few years after having the success that we know she had and we wish that she can come back at a very good level, I hope so.  I am not inside, I don’t know exactly what happened but it looks like it has been really hard for her to handle the pressure after having the success and sometimes in tennis you win a little bit and you have the feeling – and I don’t say it is in this situation but sometimes you have the feeling that okay you are ready but no, because you have to start again and again and again because other girls want the same thing as you do.  It is something that can be a danger a little bit and say I won this already and of course I’m sure she wants more than what she did and I hope with the help of the experienced Conchita it is going to help, that’s for sure.

Simona Halep back working with Darren Cahill again, do you feel that’s a good move because they seem to have had some great success together in the past?
Yes, I’m not really that surprised to hear that because I think they worked so  well together and for sure she proved again that she can be there, she can be dangerous.  I’m a big fan of Simona, the way she plays, she is smart, she can be really physical.  She had some physical issues a year ago, it didn’t help probably that’s for sure. Also after winning the French Open it  hasn’t been easy for her but then she surprised us, she surprised with a come-back at this level at Wimbledon so now we are going to have to pay attention on her that’s for sure and I am happy about that.

Do you think Simona Halep has got the game to win a Slam on the quicker hard courts?
Yes, of course the grass has changed a lot in the past few years, we don’t play on grass as we played 15, 20 years ago, that’s for sure but still the danger is that sometimes she becomes a little bit too passive on the surfaces that are a little bit faster.  Even the hard courts today I think are slower than they were so she still has the time to organise her game and have the lead on the points but on clay she learnt how to slide, she learnt how to play, she can change her rhythm a lot and that helps her, that’s for sure but I really believe hard court doesn’t have to be a problem for her.

She has reached semi-finals in three Grand Slams but do you think someone like Great Britain’s Jo Konta has got the mentality to win a major?
Between being in the semi and winning is something really different.  It is really different to enter in the women’s game right now because you have the feeling that so many things can happen.  She is consistent, I must say I have been impressed watching her also with the mentality and the attitude. She has been a real fighter, a smart player and I think she really tries to explore her potential the best she can and that is quite fantastic.  Can she go to the next step?  It is very hard to predict at the moment as many things are very hard to predict at the moment!

What does Jo Konta need to do to make that step to a final or even win a Slam itself?  Or is it the same basics, keep on doing what you’re doing?
You have to go for it, it becomes risky.  You can be a good player, you can be strong, you can be solid but taking the risks, taking the opportunities and really take your chances, that is something that is a key – playing great at the right  moment to make the difference, it is what can make the difference that’s for sure.

What do you think about Iga Swiatek?  Do you know much about her, her game?
No, not enough, I can’t say much because I have to see, it would be interesting to follow her a little bit more, so in the next few months, yes. She entered in the top hundred, even the top 70 I think and yes, I have seen her hitting only once I think last year because I am going to be more on the tour this year but I heard a lot of very good potential and she is going to be for sure one of the young girls to follow in the next few months, that’s for sure.

On the return of Kim Clijsters
You mentioned Kim Clijsters there as well, obviously you beat her in that final back in 2004, what do you make of Kim’s decision to come back?  Obviously she won’t be in Melbourne but when she does return, how are you feeling about that?
Well I probably was as surprised as everyone, I didn’t expect – not at all – this kind of decision, that’s for sure but I must say, yes, that she probably needed a lot of courage to take that decision and I think we all have to admire that because she gives the possibility to do what she wants to do and I admire that.  It is going to be hard, I think everyone knows that, because she is 36 now, she turns 37 in a few months but also because she stopped for so many years and to come back with the level of the game today is something that is going to be, of course, a little bit difficult but I think Kim, she always loved the game, she always loved being on the circuit, she always loved to share things with the people and maybe she’s missing that also a little bit.  It’s great she is giving the possibility and the right to do that, it is quite fantastic.

It doesn’t make you think, ‘Oh maybe I could?’
No, no!  Not at all!  No, so many people ask me this question since that but for me it has always been very clear.  When I stepped from one life to another I was really pleased that I was going to do something different, still involving tennis but differently and I love being away from the court and watching the young players today, something that I really enjoy and also for me personally, I think trying to combine the personal life and the professional life is quite demanding.  It was something that I couldn’t imagine having kids and yeah, we are still travelling with the family but we also want to find the stability so it is not something that we did consider for any second but I will watch Kim with a lot of pleasure that’s for sure.

On rivalries
Would you like to see more rivalries being established in the women’s game?
We need that, we need that.  The fans love it because the perfect story is when you have three or four girls at the top and then just the ones behind the biggest challengers and then one or two surprises, it’s what makes a really great show and a lot of excitement so yes, I would love to see some girls that we can look, we can look back at the end of the year and say there are four, five, six matches they have played against each other this year and we never knew who could win, they both played at their best level and of course we dream of that.  We are demanding, I know, but I think maybe we have missed a little bit of that and I think the level keeps improving and the game is really physical also but we see interesting things in terms of level of the game but more consistency is something that we need more and I hope this year they can bring more to the game.

On her personal memories
What is your favourite memory from the Australian Open?  I’m guessing 2004 but what are your favourite memories? 
What can I say?  It is always really tough to pick one moment.  It has always been, as I said and I can’t say any other words, I have always loved to land in Australia and to be in the season over there. I was feeling really relaxed, the quality of living over there, the people and the weather and everything was so fantastic that I cannot really pick bad memories except maybe when I couldn’t compete at my level, when I lost to Mauresmo in the final I was really sick with my stomach and it was a tough moment in my career. 

But for the rest, yes, the winning over there was more than a dream, winning three Grand Slams in a few months, I was 21 years old now and it was something really fantastic.  You are so far from your family and communication was not the same as it is today so you felt a little bit further with the jet lag and everything and I did like also that feeling to be far but still to share this with my family this emotional moment, that’s for sure, one of the top five of my career for sure.

Looking back, 16 years ago you won the Open, what does it take to win?
When you remind me it is 16 years ago!  Time goes really, really fast.  It’s not I have the feeling it was yesterday because the past few years has been also very intense with having kids and everything but when I won the Australian Open, first I always loved to play in Australia, it’s the beginning of the season so you’re fresh, you want to be back on the circuit.  It’s the winter in Europe, you go to Australia and they love sports, they have this culture so it is just a fantastic atmosphere over there.  I can’t wait to go back because I didn’t go back for a long time and looking back it was really special because I was coming from a big change in my career. 

A few months before I won my first Grand Slam in Roland Garros and then I confirmed winning the US Open two times again Kim Clijsters and then we played the final, the first final in a few months at the Grand Slam and it was fantastic to be able to be at that level and then I got other chances at the Australian Open, lost two times in the final but it is only really good memories looking back at the atmosphere of the day and I am very excited to go also because I have this distance a little bit also from tennis.  I am really into it because of the commentating, because of my Academy, I am involved with my Academy every day working with the young players and I hope maybe part of the next generation, who knows?  But on another hand I really have distanced in my emotions and I can look at the game differently with no pressure.  I have to say that it is fantastic also to be away from that and really to enjoy the game so it is going to be great to go back.

What do you miss most about being a professional tennis player and competing at the top?
I don’t even know if I am missing a lot of things today because you know when you get that feeling that you did everything you could and for the time that you had to do that and it’s time for something else.  It is the feeling that I have today but of course it’s a life with a lot of adrenaline so it can be something maybe that we can miss but also it means there is less pressure at the same time and I like to live with a little less pressure now, for sure.  The travelling also because I love to move, I love to be in contact with a lot of people and not really being on the tour because I was really focused on what I was doing but the fact that I was in movement all the time.  My life is much more stable today and I got used to that but honestly I don’t miss a lot of that.  I love watching the game today with that emotional distance.  No, I think what I take from that experience is for the moments that I really loved the most which are these moments that you question yourself all the time – how can I be better, how can I push myself?  This, I am really a big fan of psychologics and this moment that you are on the court, it becomes a tough moment, how I am going to go to that and to even get the chance to win the match when things are difficult.  That was the kind of situation I really loved and still when I watch these kind of moments, these tight moments, that you don’t know what’s going to happen, that’s something quite strong.