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French Tennis Magazine has ensured the services of Eric Deblicker to write regularly about his work with Richard. This is his first contribution:

Happy to join the team of Tennis Magazine, I would firstly like to wish to the readers to continue to live through great moments and to have beautiful emotions during this 2008 season. And Richard and I, we hope that his results will contribute to that.

A small review of the start of the year first, to remember our arrival in Australia, slightly retarded because of a knee tenditis and a missed connection between Singapore and Adelaide. In Singapore, where Richard suffered from a sinus, we are forced to call a doctor, before continuing the next day to Australia where the temperature was more than 40 degrees. To settle down as quickly as possible, to get into training, to recover from the time difference (nine and a half hours from France) is our credo. Having arrived early in the morning at 9.00 local time, Richard does some physical exercises with Nicolas Perotte, who is already there with the players of the Lagardère team (Mathieu, Benneteau, Mahut) and some tennis for one hour to find the first feelings.

Always a bit hard to find oneself at the beginning of the year in the other corner of the world to celebrate New Year. The players ask for a later start - a missed effort - , the ATP tour does not change the calendar at all. Besides, the New Year’s Day organised in Adelaide is rather sad, a room reserved for the players in a rather discouraging atmosphere, far from being festive. The important [thing] is to take up one’s habits, one’s desires, one’s pleasure in tournaments as quickly as possible. To play the Masters again, to go as far as possible in grand slam tournaments, the Olympic Games, the Davis Cup and –in particular- to keep one’s physical integrity, to avoid injuries: These are the objectives. Therefore, one has to be careful with programming, workloads [plages de travail??] and recuperation.

Sydney: Three and a half to four hours tennis, then physical work every day before the tourney starts. More easy from Saturday onwards. Seeded #1, he beats Andreev, making a good match and loses to Tursunov. He plays this last match not to lose it instead of winning it. He absolutely has to be closer to his baseline and to be more in his game, even if his opponent hits hard and is aggressive. Small consolation, he wins the doubles with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beating the Bryan brothers in the final.

Arrived in Melbourne, we talk about his draw, which seems accessible to him. He does not like too much to play Andreev, but he feels well. First match against a wild-card, Lindahl, is easy, even if he lets him take a set due to over-confidence. I talk to him immediately about it: no gifts, his attitude has to be that of a fighter, from the first to the last point. He is receptive, his tennis is there. Great match against Lopez. Richard is the master on court. He returns well against this leftie. 28 aces, 9 against Andreev, where his tennis is perfect for two sets. But he gets tense before imposing himself in four fighting sets. He is in the second week, opposite “Jo”, and a Frenchman will be in the quarters.

After the return from Australia, Richard has obviously followed Jo’s run. He is sincerely pleased. In our conversations, I feel no jealousy, quite the contrary. “This will push me, this is good for Davis Cup. We have been knowing each other for a long time. We have our ways [on a nos marques??].

Departure for Romania, where we have decided that I would not accompany Richard. We trust the staff. “Eric, rest yourself. We will need it for the next steps.“ Obviously, I follow the match on TV, we call each other… basically, I think his level is average in this match. Same stuff in Marseille. I have the feeling that he has not really started his season. It is true that 2007 has been a long year, that he had had not much time to prepare for 2008. But he has to get started. The presence of an ostheopath, Francois Teissedre, will be of additional benefit [un plus considerable??] for him. To create a good framework for Richard, we sit down with the physical trainer of the Lagardère team, Nicolas Perrotte and Francois Teissedre, to optimise for everyone the responsibilities of each around the project Richard. And we talk again about his attitude: he has to understand that he can show more, be more involved, to pass his emotions and to serve himself with reference matches to inspire himself, to be in harmony with himself and others……..

And this begins obviously in training, where one has to be there form the first minute. To take the next steps, one has to be precise in the details, but certainly not forget the larger picture;: pleasure, toughness, enthusiasm, generosity, going beyond himself.

In contrast to what many [people] believe, Richard is a curious person, who p.e. reads quite a lot of books. Before every trip, he goes with his father to buy some. We often exchange them and talk about them. He loves especially lived history, eye witness accounts, biographies. He does also during tournaments his reports about the subjects given to him in the framework of the education programme he follows with sciences-Po/Lagadère. The next ones will be about the American elections.

Richard has started basic training for the tourneys in Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami and the Davis Cup. But that does not prevent him from going to support PSG [a French football team], even more so as he is a friend of Jerome Rothen. Now, it is time that the season really takes off: Richard knows it.

Translated by Puschkin from French Tennis Magazine April 2008