Michael Llodra

Currently ranked No. 34, he will move up a few spots past his previous best of No. 28 when the rankings are next released.

Aged 30 and one of the few serve-volleyers on tour, Llodra feels he is experiencing a renaissance. "It's almost like a second career being offered to me," he said. "I don't feel cooked physically or mentally.

"Early in my career, I played to make great shots, amuse the crowd and have fun. Today, I take pleasure in staying focused and playing my attacking game."

He was once famous as the tour's practical joker, but fatherhood and time have had an effect. "I'm 30 years old, a little more experienced," said Llodra. "It doesn't stop me from letting my hair down once in a while, but there's a time for everything."

Amelie Mauresmo is coaching Michael Llodra during the grasscourt season, reports L'Equipe.
Mauresmo will be playing the role of advisor, with Llodra retaining full-time coach Remi Barbarin.

Comments from Llodra after his wilting loss to Monaco, as posted on the L'Equipe website;

"...For the fourth and fifth sets, I am not dead physically, but I can not move. My feet are in an incredibly sore state, I tried to change shoes in the third set, but the blisters got worse. I had very sore feet and could not walk. I also had the sun in my eyes which became a problem for my eyes, and I did not take enough time to serve..."

Michael Llodra has quit Team Lagardere and will now be coached by Laurent Raymond for season 2010, who was this year mentoring Laurent Recouderc and Josselin Ouanna among other talented French upcomers.

Raymond is a former coach of Fabrice Santoro who has now retired after 20 years in the game.

Michael Llodra, who has completed singles for 2009 after a loss to Becker in Paris in R1, has announced that his new doubles partner for 2010 will be Israel's Andy Ram, who has ended a long-term partnership with countryman Jonathon Erlich who has never been quite able to recover from right elbow surgery that he underwent in September last year.

Speaking to L'Equipe, the Frenchman said his decision was a tough one; "I am committed for 2010 with Andy Ram. It was hard to choose because Arnaud (Clement) is one of my best friends."

Llodra's awfully disappointing displa against Tommy Robredo has been put down to a fever that flared up on the morning of the match. Llodra said he felt deprived of energy and lacked the physical strength required to beat a guy like Tommy. After the match at the net, the Frenchman jokingly offered the Spaniard and also the chair umpire some disinfectant before having to shake his hand.

yep, dammit. after he had 2 breakpoints in the first game of the 4th... but melzer is a fighter and I hope he'll have the mental edge in the fifth ...