Q&A

Last update: May 25, 2009 - 12:44 AM

Rochester native Eric Butorac, who played his college tennis at Division III Gustavus, has gone from pinching pennies on minor league tennis circuits to making a good living playing the sport he loves. Butorac, 28, is the 45th-ranked doubles player in the world, and he enters this week's French Open full of confidence. He and partner Scott Lipsky's first-round opponents (Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske) were announced Sunday, and doubles play begins Wednesday in Paris. Michael Rand recently checked in with Butorac via e-mail as he prepares for the big tournament.

Q You have the French Open coming up. Take me through your timetable and your outlook for that.

A My new partner (Lipsky) and I have been playing great, so I am feeling very optimistic this year. I've never had much success on clay and have never won a match at the French Open before, but things changed last week as Scott and I won the Estoril Open in Portugal. For me it was probably one of the most rewarding wins of my career because clay court tennis has been such a struggle for me, as it is for many Americans. I haven't had a steady partner for almost a year now, so to get a player that I feel like I can play well with, I am very excited. We are 10-1 in the last month, winning one ATP title and one challenger event.

Q I remember a few years ago when you told me about eating spaghetti with ketchup to load carbs while saving cash. Have things brightened for you financially since those days?

A Things are very stable financially. As a doubles player, you are not "rolling in the dough" like some of the singles players are each week, but the money is good. Let's put it this way: the only pasta with ketchup I have had is by choice (brings back good memories), and I haven't slept on a park bench the night before a match in a few years now.

Q It seems as though pro tennis is still a fairly transient existence. Does the travel get old?

A It definitely is. The travel is quite fun (as I write this e-mail from my room overlooking the Eiffel Tower), but it can get long. I am in the airport usually every weekend traveling tournament to tournament. In your first couple years it is very exciting, but also extremely exhausting. Now, I feel like I have grown into the routine.

Q A little over three years ago, your coach said your best tennis is "two or three years down the road." Do you feel as though you are reaching your peak?

A My ranking is 45 right now, just a little below my career high of 30. However, I am sure I am playing my best tennis yet. I still know there is better tennis to come. There are still areas in my game that can improve as well as my fitness. It's a good feeling to have, knowing that you are quite close to the top, and you can still improve.

Q What Minnesota sports stories do you follow with the most interest, even while you're overseas?

A I am a huge Minnesota sports fan and follow avidly from whatever continent I'm in. The Startribune.com sports page and the "P.A. and the Producer" podcasts are my daily sources for the info. Along with those two, I catch a lot of Twins games on mlb.com. My Twins hat and mini Vikings football (that I use for warm-ups) are staples that travel with me on the road. ... Also, there are a couple big Packer fans on tour, so I am still waiting (like most of Minnesota) for the Favre situation to finish up and I hope to see him in Purple come this fall.

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