DAVIS CUP - RUSSIA vs USA

April 5, 1998

Marat Safin

PAGE CROSLAND: We'll begin the questioning in English.

CAPTAIN TARPICHEV: Olhovskiy was injured, and I was afraid that he will not be able to play till the very end of the game. I was put Kafelnikov and Safin just to play the singles tomorrow.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: We knew we were going to get through the 30 games in the doubles so we can play our singles tomorrow.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You know, I got tired from yesterday, 3 hours, 40 minutes. To be honest, I felt like we had a pretty good chance to win. If Marat would have played like he played third set, I think, you know, we would have won. Unfortunately, he was uptight, which is understandable. The guy playing first time in a Davis Cup against United States, against Agassi, Courier, Martin and Reneberg. It's pretty understandable that he's nervous. You know, in the beginning of the third, he got, you know, loose, and he started to play very good tennis. He has ability to play. But then, you know, he got back to the situation which is he was in the beginning of the first two sets. You know, he could not recover.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I tried. You know, I was in the same situation like he, you know, when he played first time Davis Cup, you know, for the country. No experience behind his back. It's understandable. You know, I'm not blaming him for playing like that. But I'm sure, you know, next time we play anybody, he's going to be ten times better.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, yeah, yeah (laughter). I knew in this situation, I had to only rely on myself. Just, you know, Todd made two double-faults at the first point of the tiebreaker, I knew I had to convert those two points. I was not able to handle the pressure. Once I got myself down, there was no way to get back.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Because I felt like we had a chance. Like I said, you know, if he would have played normally.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Why we choose to play singles tomorrow?

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, I'm sure everybody can understand why. I played 3 hours, 40 minutes yesterday, plus two hours today. You know, I'm not expecting myself to go back on the court today and perform a hundred percent, because I'm really tired. But I'm sure, you know, I will have a good night's sleep today and I will be very fresh tomorrow.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Realistically? I have to beat Agassi first, which is not an easy thing today. But, you know, I try. If it happen, it happens. If not, we are looking forward to play against them next time.

CAPTAIN TARPICHEV: He had surgery on his knee two months ago.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Volkov retired already (laughter).

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, he's a good teammate. Always nice to have around him. Very good friend of us.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Right. Very good one.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: In the beginning, we knew he was not going to play. We knew that. But we just want to make, you know, strange move that everybody would think that he's able to play. But, unfortunately, we knew he was never going to play.

MARAT SAFIN: I will try to do my best.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: If it comes to that (laughter).

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: He will try to come down, because he's still in that mental breakdown. He expecting too much from himself, that he cannot recover. I'm sure, you know, tomorrow, these two matches will help him a lot.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think so. I think so. I'm sure, you know, we'll have some supporters on our side, and that will help me to get through.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: When I realized that our chances were not so much in the doubles, you know, when Marat was kind of uptight, basically what I was trying to do didn't work. He was still didn't get through. But then, you know, I was kind of happy that I would not play singles because, like I said, I'm really tired. I'm glad that we can play our singles tomorrow.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: First time. First time.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: He has ability to play. That's the important thing. But, you know, always come to the experience. The first time, like I said next time we play doubles together, he'll be ten times better.

MARAT SAFIN: I was start playing doubles since I was 13. The tournament I won was Challenger in doubles, doubles competition.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Let's not put the pressure right now (laughter), on the youngest. I have to win first, then we'll see.