by Maria Sharapova M.S. » 16 Jul 2012, 20:46
By Sybille Bammer
Igor Josifoski after winning the singles title in Dubai
Q: Hello Igor. Congratulations to your premier title. How are you feeling after your biggest success ever in TE?
Igor: Hello, thanks. It's good to win a title, the first one for me. The third season I play Tennis Elbow Online Tournaments and this title came unexpected, in my opinion. I was really glad when I won the title, but the next day, I understood it's not anything special.
Q: You said you did not expect it. Do you think the new version helped you?
Igor: Hmm, maybe yes, maybe not. I can't tell it because with the full version I started to use the 2nd forehand style and it's cool, my shots were better, the serve was awesome that day, the day when I beat Jelena Jankovic and Stajus.
Q: You mentioned already the matches against Stajus and Jelena Jankovic. How did you manage to come back from a set down in those two matches and another one in the 2nd round?
Igor: Well, dasp10 was playing really well, it was a bit laggy and that's why I couldn't give my best in some situations but in the third set against dasp, the lag dissapeared and I started to play much better, I broke him at 4-4 in the deciding set, I was sure that I can beat him and I wasn't nervous. About the match against Jelena Jankovic... I was like I accepted the loss in that match, I just waited the match to finish and to say, congratulations, but in the second set when I led 4-3 and he served, made 2 double faults in a row and gave me a chance to break him, the only one chance, I converted it in a break. After that he played stronger and had couple of break points, I was lucky to save them and beat him in the tiebreak. The final, I was unlucky to lose the first tiebreak, a net cord that lowered my confidence. But I served well in the rest of the match and with a bit of lucky in the second tiebreak I came back and in the 3rd set, I guess I was the better player on the court and deserved to win the match.
Q: You told me that it is not anything special to you to win this title. What makes you thinking like this?
Igor: Well, I know it's a big success, especially that I'm playing the third season here. But I don't feel like proud of winning a title in a game.
Q: So do you think we have to seperate computer games and real life or can success in computer games effect your life?
Igor: Hmm, the real life and a computer game are two different worlds. They are not linked each other, so I don't think if I will have success in real life it will have an effect in the computer game, or if I have success in a game that will have an effect in my real life. At least, I understand it like this.
Q: Can we expect more from you during this season?
Igor: Of course, especially if I continue to play like I did when I beat Jelena Jankovic and Stajus. The serve is a big factor in my game, it gives me more confidence if my percent of 1st serve is bigger. In the last 3 days, my shots are like falling down right on the lines so I think I got the feel on the ball. Reaching the top 15 will be enough I guess.
Q: Thank you for the interview and good luck for the rest of the season.
Igor: Thanks, I hope I will see you playing this game once again, at least playing the same tournament as me. See you.
Q: Maybe this version would make me succumb to you.
Igor: I hope so
