Sebastien Grosjean

Q. Hello.
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Hello.

Q. We know why we're here. You, too. Can you tell us what the reasons were, why you decided to stop?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, it's very simple, you see. My body is in such a condition that I think I cannot continue. I can't play tennis any longer. I have knee aches and I need to go through surgery. I don't know when. Then my shoulder, well, it doesn't really hurt, but it's not solid enough. I can't continue on the tour. It's as simple as this. Seems logical to stop. I tried to play a few matches last year, for the singles, that is.
Unfortunately, after three or four weeks of practice it was still hurting. So you can't do this and try to play on center court. Out of the question. I wanted to play doubles with Richard as well, but then he had backache as well. He says it really hurts. He continued well with Bordeaux and then Nice and then the first round here, and then he was at the end of the tether. So I couldn't play doubles today, nor could he tomorrow.

Q. Let us be clear about it. Do you think you're going to play another match, to say "adieu" on the courts?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I'll continue playing tennis, but not on the tour. Absolutely, because the only thing was perhaps Bercy was the only one left, but that's not soon.
So I have to play, and since it hurts when I practice seriously, I won't be able to make it and play a tournament.

Q. So you will say bye bye...
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Mansour and Arnaud on Saturday.

Q. Oh, yes?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes.

Q. So what will your memories be, the best memories about Roland Garros?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, there are several, you see. In 2001, quarterfinals against Agassi. That was a great event. Davis Cup as well. Well, against the Americans.
Lots of interesting memories. This is a special tournament. It's very important for all the French players. So it was always an immense joy to be playing here in France.

Q. When did you learn that Richard would withdraw?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Richard, well, not long ago we were with the doctor, and he said, I have this backache; it hurts. It's my thigh and my elbow. I can't play any longer.
There was also an anti doping check afterwards. That's the last one more me here, which is a good thing at last.

Q. What are you going to do next?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Now I don't really know. I'll see. You know, the media, I can be a commentator. And then there's my foundation , which is very important. It's time consuming. Next week there's a dinner. It's a foundation for orphan diseases. And I'll continue with perhaps exhibitions. That's for the senior tour. That's a sport I love. I'll still be close to tennis.

Q. Are you not frustrated because you're not going to play doubles, you're not going to say good bye during the doubles at Roland Garros?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Of course I would have wanted to play. Of course I would. Now, Richard is injured and it shouldn't be worse for him, otherwise he won't be able to play on grass. It's complicated for him as well. He tried. He stayed. He could have gone on holidays on Tuesday, but he tried. It's complicated.

Q. Would you say you would regret anything during your career?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Regrets? No. I have a few wishes. I wish I could have won one of the Grand Slams. Unfortunately, I didn't manage. I put a lot of effort into this each time, yet there are better players, people who play better than I do.So no, no regrets. Had people told me I would be in the top 5 at the beginning of my career I wouldn't have believed it.

Q. Last time during the Roland Garros tournament, a lot of people talked about relocating the site and moving somewhere else. What do you think about this?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, this place a really dear to me, this stadium. I've gone through so many splendid moments. I don't know if we could increase the site here or if we will have to move.
Let's think about the future as well. What is interesting for the tournament itself? I'm not afraid of Roland Garros losing its status as a Grand Slam, but we have to evolve. If we can have a bigger site, that is great. But if we have to move, let's consider all options so that this Grand Slam remains something prestigious. This is it. I don't know all the ins and outs, but if we can have a bigger site, that's a good thing.

Q. Jo complained yesterday because he said the top managers and the Federation were not listening to them in terms of programming.
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: The Federation has nothing to do with it. It's the management of tournament. It's the DTM.

Q. He mentioned the Federation in terms of Davis Cups and the towns chosen. What about your times? Did you feel something similar when you were No. 1? That is, was there true consultation with the players?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: There was Stephane Simian, one of the top managers the tournament. When I was No. 1 I always had good relationships with him. We would always discuss the programming. I think it's normal. So Jo is the French No. 1. He has ambitions. We want him to go as deep as possible in the tournament, so we should take his requests into consideration. That's about it. I think it was good for him. And even though he didn't really play well he was tired I think he's managed to win. I'm happy he won. But the thing is that we have to help the players. Jo, of course, because he's No. 1, but also Gäel or Richard, because they have what it takes to continue.

Q. (Question off microphone.)
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: We can't really chose the towns though, but we asked for the best courts, the best rooms. That's why we played in Pau. It's a big room. And Bercy. That's for indoors. And also Roland Garros. But after this, it's a question of choice.

Q. (Question off microphone.)
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, yes, but we wouldn't decide. We were asked our opinion, that's true. Well, not really that. But they said, Well, there are two or three towns in France, two or three rooms for indoor. We said, Okay, if we can do this here, it's good. But then we'll see. We wanted to have an interesting room, that is.

Q. I would like to know how you feel. Are you at ease with what's happening now?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, I've been thinking about this for a while now. For several weeks I've been putting a lot of thought into this. I'm a bit sad, of course. I love playing tennis so much. When we start our career we know it's going to end one day. There are many interesting things for me next, I think. It's not the end of my life. On the contrary. I'm disappointed, that's true, but lots of interesting things.

Q. You've always kept a low profile. You've been very discreet as far as we're concerned. When you were injured and back again, we didn't really mention this very much. When we look at your wins and losses against the French players who are very much covered by the media, you are perhaps under assessed or under ranked perhaps. What do you think about this?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, that's true. I decided to do this. I'm a bit discreet. I don't mind today about this. It's true. I left France really soon. I've been living in the States for ten years. So I was very discreet, also. I don't think my leaving the tournament will be that discreet either. I said I wanted to continue, but I can't. So now we have to talk about the future, which is normal. Oh, no, being abroad probably had some type of influence on me.

Q. You won Bercy, you went to the semis for a Grand Slam tournament, and you have good results.
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, you can tell me. You can tell me. But I think my results, my tennis, was sufficient. I didn't have to add much more.

Q. Now, back to your new job as a commentator. Who would you think could play the finals here?
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, that's like betting almost. Who could play the finals here? Nadal on the bottom part of the draw, and on the other part of the draw I think it could be someone like for the semis, could be Federer and Jo. It all depends about Jo. If he feels good, I think he can win the quarterfinals against Murray. Next, well, we'll see, because that's going to be a streak of the matches, and it will have an impact on him.

Q. What's the image you would like people to keep about you? You said your results would speak instead of you speaking.
SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I don't know. I don't know. Someone who was discreet but rather simple. And then you can describe the way you see me, don't you think? So you can tell me. I think I'm rather low profile or discreet. I don't know. Someone simple.