VOLVO MONTE-CARLO OPEN

April 21, 1994

Michael Stich

MICHAEL STICH: I am disappointed. I mean, I had enough breakpoints in nearly every game of the first set. I was up two breaks twice and I served for the set. Can't be happy with that. I didn't play as well as as I wanted to, and he played very solid. He just made, probably, fewer mistakes than I did.

MICHAEL STICH: I think he had proven many times that he can beat good players, but, I mean, he is very young. He is a very talented player, and I think it is a guy to watch out for in the next couple of years, but if he is going to be in the Top 10, Top 20, I can't tell. Let us wait and see.

MICHAEL STICH: You know, my tactics was right. I probably had about 15 breakpoints and just converted two breaks, and he had probably five breakpoints and something like that, and made -- won the match. I think up to the breakpoints, I played pretty good; then I just didn't have the luck and the right touch to play the points in the right way. But it was -- the chances were there. I just didn't take them.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I just don't have the right timing yet to step into the ball and just hit it and just-- I mean, hit the ball; I am trying to push it too many times and you also have to say the court down there is not in great condition; a lot of bad bounces there, but that is an excuse. I think for me, the first tournament on clay, the timing was not right there, and it was my game; and if I don't have the timing, it is very tough to, you know, to win the points if I can't play aggressive. I am not a guy who plays from the baseline, topspin, so that makes it a bit more difficult.