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| 03 Jul 2001 | |
| Muller courts home fans |
By Eleanor Preston
Gilles Muller is certainly making himself at home at Wimbledon. The 18-year-old, who is seeded second in the Boys’ event is enjoying playing in front of the English crowd and is proving one of the most popular junior players at the All England Club. "The people here are very nice," said Gilles, who found himself beseiged by autograph hunters after beating Dusan Mihailovic 6-4, 6-2.
Gilles comes from Luxembourg but, rather surprisingly, he’s big fan of the England soccer team and watches the team whenever he can. "I love soccer," he explains. "I support England, and I’m not just saying that because I’m here, I’ve always liked the way they play and the atmosphere in the stadium when England are playing is always really good. I don’t really have a favourite player or anything though." When he can’t go and cheer England on in person, Gilles tries to follow the team’s results in the newspapers and on TV even when he is travelling.
If fact Gilles watches far more soccer that he does tennis. "I don’t like to see tennis on TV or anything. When I’m just looking and not playing I find it really boring!"
As well as being one of the most promising young tennis players around, Gilles likes to fill his time in more active ways, playing football with his friends and occasionally going out on the town. "I like to go out with my friends to discos and things but I can’t do it too much because I know I have to play tennis."
Gilles seems to be getting better with every match at Wimbledon. He had to come through a tough three setter in the first round and he admits now that he made a nervous start to the tournament. "I was a little bit stressed because I am the second seed here and everybody expects me to win. I got nervous because I really want to win a Grand Slam so it was difficult in the first round but now it is very good."
Gilles trains at the Bob Brett Academy near Paris and though he has his own coach, Carlos Gomez-Diaz, he says he really values Bob Brett’s advice when it comes to his tennis. "He gives me little tips here and there and it’s great to have advice from someone so experienced."
No doubt Brett will be watching very closely to see whether Gilles can make his dream come true by winning at Wimbledon.
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