Tennis and Sports

When do you first become interested / show an interest in tennis?
The first time I played I was seven years old. I played with my brother, Bruno. My parents played in a little club in Aix-en-Provence and we had nothing to do so we played.

Most thrilling moment in sports
France winning the World Cup in soccer

What's the biggets challenge you have overcome in tennis?
I set a challenge each year. This year it is to enter the top 30 and win a tournament

What special steps do you take to mentally prepare for a big match?
Last year before all my matches I always used to listen to the same music, but this year I've stopped.

How do you cope with defeat?
Because players are very good on the tour, if I've got a good match yet I have lost, it's Okay. If I don't play very good tennis and I can't focus my game, I can get very angry about that.

What other sports are you interested in / good at?
I'm not good at any of them! I'm interested in football sometimes.

You, Sebastian (Grosjean) and your coach Eric are together a lot. Is it very difficult if you are playing somewhere one week and Eric is maybe with Sebastian another week?
We try and play the same tournaments at the same time.

Is it hard to be good friends off the court and then play eachother on it?
No. We only have to play eachother one or two times a year.

Do you have any special rituals or habits before, during or after a match?
I wear a headband. I keep it if I win a Match.

Why do you love tennis?
I love to play tennis and love the game. When I'm on the court it's a real pleasure.

Favourites Band: Celine Dion Book: Mary Higgins Clark and Robert Ludlum Foods: I like Lebanese food. My grandmother is from there. Do you eat a particular meal before matches? Pasta

Arnaud with friend & fellow ATP Player, Sebastian Grosjean.

Cars (old & new):
I like Ferraris and Porsches - sports cars. I have an Audi TT. I might get a Porsche next, but I have to win a few matches!

Football (soccer) Club:
Marseille, because I'm from Provence.

What Magazines do you read?
Car and Motor Magazines

Outside Interests

What are your favorite non-tennis destinations?
Aix-en-Provence and Geneva

Fashion (special designers/types of clothing?)
I like clothes, but no special designers.

Surfing the net / day trading?
Yes sometimes, not every day maybe three times a week.

Family Background

How many brothers / sisters?
I have one older brother named Bruno. He studies sport at university.

What do/did your parents do?
My father is in an accountant. My mother doesn't work.

Any family members with prominent sports back-ground?
My Father is Henri and my Mother is Marie Michelle. He played football, but not in a high division. My mother played handball, but not in a high division.

Personal

How do you deal with popularity?
I'm not that popular, but I like it.

Apart from the tennis - what do you like most about being a tennis player?
I don't like to travel a lot because I like to be with my family and girlfriend, but I can be in France for the rest
of my life. I like the game.

How do you handle the travelling?
A few years ago it was very difficult to be away 2-3 weeks in a row. But now, it is okay.

When you were a junior did you have a French Institute of Sport or something like this for the best players - do you have some system in French tennis, did it help you?
Yes we do, but it didn't help me because I wasn't good enough when I was a junior.

What do you plan to do after tennis?
I don't know. It depends on a lot of things. I may be married and have a family. If I'm alone I can travel as a coach or something.

Weblinks:

To find out more about Arnaud Clement and for all the latest news on his progress this year, visit his player profile page on the Official ATP Tennis website: http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofiles/default2.asp?playersearch=Arnaud+Clement