GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 11, 1998

Daniel Vacek

GREG SHARKO: Daniel's first career win over a top ranked player on the ATP Tour. Will be in the third round on Thursday. First question for Daniel.

DANIEL VACEK: I think it's maybe exciting at the end. When you play, it doesn't make any difference if the guy is ranked No. 1 or No. 50 or No. 100. We know each other really well because we all like a big family, all the players. We know each other. Then you got to play a match, it's another game. Just try to do the best and the right tactic and beat the guy.

DANIEL VACEK: I thought when I get the break in the second, that definitely help very much. If I can keep it going, I'm in the right way.

DANIEL VACEK: No. When you get up a break, and since I served really well today, then mentally it helps very much because I can even go for a little bit more and still knowing that I'm up a break. So that gives me the little bit over the edge when I have over him because he really has -- from that moment on, he has to play the best tennis and don't make any errors. Although I can play well, still make a few, you know, it shouldn't make me lose the match. It's a great advantage.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, I know I played him two times before, so I know where to serve, how to get him off the balance a little bit. Today I had very high, for my tennis, very high percentage first serve in. They were all around or over 120, so it's quite high, especially when we see the percentage. That was I think the very important thing.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, I played the whole match, I was going for the points. The last game, I hit maybe two inches wide, the first match point. The second match point I hit two inches wide down the middle. Then I hit a let cord out. They were all very close. It was a matter of inches. I know that if I keep it going, if I just keep on serving as I was before, then it will be in because the right tactic was there and the technique was there, so there was nothing really major worries.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, if I played the final, I would be very happy (laughter). That's obviously very difficult. One of the biggest wins, I think the one was (inaudible) when he was 3 and two weeks later won The Open. I think that was the biggest win.

DANIEL VACEK: The first time I beat him one and two.

DANIEL VACEK: But then I played him a long time ago, I think. The last two I played him in '96 and I play him in New Haven.

DANIEL VACEK: I beat him in New Haven. Then I lost to him two weeks later at Toronto.

DANIEL VACEK: Basically, yeah (laughter). Also a Super 9. He played exceptionally well. I could see that he learn a lot from the meeting in New Haven. He played tactically very well.

DANIEL VACEK: I think I was mixing it up quite well and I was moving him around. I played the spots he doesn't like so much. Since he's not coming in that much, it also gives me a little bit of advantage.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, it used to be true. What I know this here year, he's won a lot of close matches when he was behind a lot. When you No. 1 or when you are I'd say Top 5, Top 10, then you have to have something more than the other guys. It's certainly you play till the last point of every match. That I don't think is true anymore.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, I don't know what's the point of questioning. He's No. 1 on the rankings. The rankings been around for long, long time. Everybody know what they up to. When it comes that way, I think he's the best. This year so far he's playing the best tennis, at least the most consistent one. So I wouldn't question that.

DANIEL VACEK: Pete, I think he's the best player ever. He's somewhere else. All these guys are so far around still, they much, very far behind from what he achieve. He's somewhere else. I don't think there's any question that he's the best, although he may not be the best at this particular moment. But overall, he's the best player.

DANIEL VACEK: Yes (laughter).

DANIEL VACEK: Well, the ranking is based on one-year ranking, so it's not one tournament or one week or two weeks; it's just you have to play consistently well, then you can be No. 1. The amount of points you make one week, it's not as important.

DANIEL VACEK: Well, I don't know the best, but he didn't get his rhythm too much because some of my serves, didn't play any points. On my serve, I kept it short. He couldn't get into his game. It was his first match on the hard courts. For him I think it was difficult coming out of clay, play first match on hard court. Tonight it was lights, and I played like a little bit like indoor tennis. From that point, I think it was very hard for him. I'm sure that we'll see as the season goes on that he gets definitely better. I think already next week he will be playing much better tennis.

DANIEL VACEK: You could see, short.

DANIEL VACEK: Short and low.

DANIEL VACEK: I think everybody has to find his way. If it's somebody, a Czech from the Davis Cup team, then we can discuss it.

DANIEL VACEK: Yeah, but from the family we know almost everything about each other. We see each other ten months a year. From that point, we are close.

DANIEL VACEK: I played Pete a lot of times. I played Andre, I think he was No. 1 already or No. 2.

DANIEL VACEK: No, no. I always lost to Pete. Pete is one of the most difficult guys to beat, I would think.

DANIEL VACEK: No. Just the friend, we see each other.