Mild-mannered and a football player for Spanish club Villarreal C. F. as a young boy, Roberto Bautista-Agut has traveled the tennis journey to becoming the 25th ranked player on the ATP World Tour.
2016 marks the fifth year in a row that he has opted to open his season at Chennai. We caught up with him for a quick chat after his second round win over John Millman.
Excerpts:
His thoughts on his game...
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I feel well, I like the conditions here in Chennai, I feel the ball well. I like to start the season here and that's why I come every year.
On getting back with his first coach Pepe Vendrell...
I'm back with him, I feel great. With him, I had my best results and had my best game. I feel comfortable both inside and outside the court with him.
On why he chose tennis over football...
It's a long answer actually (laughs). It wasn't easy to choose one sport. I was enjoying playing football and I loved playing tennis too. But I had to take a decision, it was you can say 50-50, and I chose tennis.
On changes in his racquet...
It's the same racquet I've used my entire life. I've just put more power in the strings in order to play more aggressive.
On whether being more aggressive is to reduce long matches in earlier rounds...
Yes, a little. I definitely played lot of long matches in the last few years and I'm sure I will continue to play long matches. The thing that I'm working on with my coach is to get better control of the points.
On playing Borna Coric in the quarters who he beat twice last year...
Both matches were on clay. He is looking on good shape and I will have to play great. I feel I'm playing well too. So it will be a good fight, a good match for all of us.
(Roberto will be in action next on Friday, January 8th, in the quarterfinals against Borna Coric)
