XAC Interviews

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Neville: Are you ready for the match?
Henrik: I feel a little stiff right now. Today, I practiced for two hours then served for an hour. I’ve been doing a lot of sprints. Then I workout. Then I stretch.

Neville: How do you feel about your tennis?
Henrik: Great. Since I came back from my tournaments, I feel like my confidence has gone up. I’ve been feeling more confident with my strokes and I feel like I’m a much smarter player, because I’ve been around a lot of tennis players. It is real important to be around all these tennis guys, this kind of environment, where you watch really good guys play and practice with them. You’re in the tennis mode and I think it makes you more focused. You think a little more, because you're seeing it all the time. If I’m just here in Stockholm, it’s not the same thing. I go to practice, but I don’t really go out with tennis guys ... that much. A lot of my friends are not tennis players. Here, I see tennis only when I’m playing. Otherwise, I’m not around tennis. Traveling, like this, you talk with the guys, you discuss tactics, you talk about matches, you watch matches - you learn a lot from watching matches. Now, I feel much more calm when I play. I don’t feel so much stress. Even though the matches mean a lot, I feel much more relaxed when I play. I’ve been playing a lot for five weeks, and even though I had losses, I still feel much more improved. My practices are more focused, they feel like real matches. I practice much better now. My technique is a lot better and I feel more secure. The bigger part of the improvement is in my head.

Neville: So what are your favorite things
Henrik: My favorites? I like food; whatever food it is. I like Pasta. I don’t know how you say it in English ... I like cooked foods, or is it farmer’s food? How do you say it ... like if you are on a farm; it’s not fancy, but it’s good. I like anything, really … let’s just say food. And I’m a candy-lover. I love candy. I eat candy almost everyday. I think I’m almost addicted to it. I know its not good to you but I can afford it, because I practice a lot.

Neville: What else?
Henrik: I’m very interested in music; but I haven't really figured out what aspect of it as yet. I like music, how it changes you as a person, how it changes your attitude. In five seconds music can change your temper from, maybe, sad to happy, or pumped up, or maybe you can get sad from it. Music can change your energy. That’s what really fascinates me about it. I wouldn’t be a singer or writer or anything like that, but I would like to be involved in music. I haven’t done enough research to figure out which aspect of it. Maybe a producer or something, like that.

Neville: I didn't realize that. That's pretty neat.
Henrik: Once I’m finished with tennis, I want to work with something that I would look forward to every morning; I don’t want to want to wake up every morning and just wish it was night.

Neville: (laughs)
Henrik: I think that music would be something I would like to work with and not feel that it is something that is holding me back or something that I want to go home from. Hopefully, I could work overtime and still enjoy it.

Neville: What kind of music?
Henrik: All kinds of music interest me. I enjoy different kinds of music at different times. It depends on if I want to go out, or I want to play a match, or whatever the occasion. I think I like different music styles for different occasions. I like music. These are my favorites. And I like girls. But I don't like people who brag. I like people that are confident and don’t have to prove that they are confident. I don't like people that try too hard to impress people and brag a lot and just over do it. I don't feel good about such people. It makes me not to want them succeed. I don't like people that brag a lot.

Neville: What else would you like your fans to know about you.
Henrik: (laughs) Well, I have two small dogs.

Neville: Really? I didn't know that.
Henrik: Yes. Two small, white dogs: a West Highland White Terrier. In the US, you call them Westie's. And a shitsu.

Neville: Thanks, Henrik. I ought to let you go and recuperate now. I'd love to do this again. Soon.
Henrik: Sure.

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