DAVIS CUP - RUSSIA vs USA

April 2, 1998

Marat Safin

Q. How much pressure is that for you to carry your team?

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I didn't want to put all the responsibility on Marat because he never played Davis Cup and if he would have started first, then might be different story. But, I am glad that I am starting and everything will -- I think that match is the most important. If I win that one, then I think we have a pretty good chance. If I win that match first match, I think our team has a pretty good chance of winning everything.

MARAT SAFIN: No. It is a great opportunity, good chance for me to play this. I am just happy.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Very important. But, it is somehow the one team who gets two points in the first day, I don't think the doubles will really matter.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I have been in that situation, I think 14 times where I had to play singles and doubles, four singles and one doubles, and, you know, in all those situations where I had to play, I was coming off very successfully. So, I never had any problem with physical conditioning. I have been handling it pretty well. So, it is not an exception this time. I am still going to play two singles and one doubles match.