Paradorn Srichaphan Q&A
Q: Who was the toughest competitor you faced while on tour?
Paradorn: Well they were all tough so it’s hard to pick one. Of course there’s a lot of big names where, before you play them, you have extra preparation. If I had to name someone I would say Andre Agassi or Lleyton Hewitt, someone who never really misses a ball. They’re always the most competitive players.
Q: Do you think Rafa will break Roger's record of 16 slams?
Paradorn: It is possible, but it’s up to Rafa’s physical condition I think because his game really takes a lot of energy. But it is possible. It’s 50/50 really, I don’t know who I’d put my money on.
Q: What do you like about being a Tennis player?
Paradorn: I enjoy visiting the cities that I’m playing in. Traveling is obviously what players hate the most - being on a plane all the time - but we love going back to cities that we’ve been to before and seeing the same people and seeing old friends. I think that’s a good thing.
Q: How popular is tennis in Thailand now? Do you have many up & coming juniors?
Paradorn: We do have good juniors. But no-one that looks like they might break through. Tennis is popular, there are plenty of young people playing. That’s not the problem really.
Q: After you, no other Asian player has made it to the top 10, what could be the possible reason? Is it the lack of infrastructure, passion or role models?
Paradorn: It’s very difficult to say why no other Asian player has made it to the Top 10. I would say that Asia is a big continent and we have a a lot of good juniors, but somehow when they get to the point where they have to choose between tennis and their education, 80% of them will choose to go to school. I still believe that in the future it will happen and there will be some good Asian tennis players. I would love to see a few in the top 100 first of all.
Q: If you had to choose a Mixed Doubles partner from currently active players, who would you choose and why?
Paradorn: I played with my wife once and she can play alright. But from the WTA Tour I would pick Venus Williams. I played with her once and she hits the ball hard, I like that.
Q: Why did you retire so early? Would you like to make a comeback?
Paradorn: I got an injury on my right wrist which happened in 2007. At that point I didn’t think it would affect me that much but it did, and it’s been really serious. I had to have surgery two times which made it get better but not enough to go back on the Tour. That’s why I decided to quit. In the first year that I stopped playing I did have thoughts of a comeback. But then I got into some things off the court, starting a business, starting a tennis school, being Davis Cup Captain, and that made the decision easier for me.
Q: What have you been doing for the last three years since you stopped playing tennis?
Paradorn: Well in the first year I did nothing. I just spent time with friends and family. Then in the second year I got into some business - I produce men’s herbal supplements and sell it in Thailand. That keeps me really busy but I’m still involved in tennis as well. I have two academies in Bangkok and I’m Davis Cup Captain for Thailand as well.
Q: Who did you like playing against the most?
Paradorn: I played Roger Federer a couple of times (Head-to-Head 0-4). I never won but we always had good close matches and I had a lot of fun when I played him.
Q: Tell us the story of when you used to like to put on a red shirt in your matches.
Paradorn: Back in 2003 I really believed in superstitions. I played James Blake in the final that year in Washington and it was really hot and I didn’t bring enough shirts onto the court with me. The very last shirt in my bag was that red one and we were in the final set, and I just felt like if I put that shirt on it would bring me extra energy. That match I lost, but it did work after that. I won Long Island the week after wearing the same red shirt. It was always the same one, and it put it on whenever I was in a close match. I would say I won 80% of my matches when I was wearing it. I don’t know where it is now, but I’ll have to look for it!