COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 12, 1993

Michael Stich

MICHAEL STICH: Very tired.

MICHAEL STICH: You know, I just had my chance. I had enough chances to win the match, and I didn't do it. Still, I played a great match, and it was a great end to the year. I am still satisfied that I got to the finals. It was bad luck. But Petr deserved it. He played two good matches.

MICHAEL STICH: I didn't even know that he was winning against me in Germany all the time, and I really don't care. He won a couple of matches that were not that important, and I won 2 matches that were very important. Winning Wimbledon and winning Vienna finals, I think that is more important than winning first rounds. I don't really think about it, and I don't really care about it.

MICHAEL STICH: You know, I mean, I played the first set very solid. He was not playing that great. I mean, I gave away the second set. The third set, again, I think I should have taken the third set, and he would have been frustrated and maybe would have been tired for the fourth set. But he kept hanging in there, and he played really well, the big points, and I just knew I had to concentrate on my serve; tried to get the break, and that would have been the whole story. But I didn't make the break, so that is why I lost.

MICHAEL STICH: A lot of pleasing moments, I think. I mean, just the end of the year was just fantastic. Winning Basel, winning Stockholm, winning the Masters, winning Davis Cup; being in the finals here. I think there is nothing more I can expect of myself to do and was very satisfied with myself. I won four tournaments; again four different surfaces; that I played so well in Germany. Every time I played in Germany, I won the tournament. That is something I am very proud of.

MICHAEL STICH: No, you know, I mean, everybody plays tennis. I think I had more right to be tired than he had. I mean, compared to the last four weeks we both had -- I mean, he had a tough match. But that happens every tournament. You got to play a tough match; you got to come out and play the next day again. I didn't expect anything less than him playing really well and hanging in there and not being as tired as anybody else thought he would be. So sometimes he is quite a good actor, and he makes you believe that he is tired, and then he is running for every shot. So, I mean, I didn't expect anything else from him than hanging in there and being as fit as he was today.

MICHAEL STICH: Serve isn't a matter of force or fitness; it is only matter of good swings, so I can serve equally faster at the end of the match.

MICHAEL STICH: Both together. If the head doesn't want, the head won't run.

MICHAEL STICH: I would have preferred 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, but still there is another player who has something to say.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I am more entitled than he to be tired because he only had one tough match yesterday. Many people thought he would just go for two sets and not be able to make anything more, but I knew it wasn't right.

MICHAEL STICH: Of course, I am not frustrated, but I am a bit disappointed I lost that. Then again, I did -- I know I did everything I could, and I didn't expect to be in the final at the beginning of this week.

MICHAEL STICH: Not in the hall. Of course I am not with him when he watches TV.

MICHAEL STICH: The next surface coming up is my bed. It would be nice because I want to recover a couple of weeks. There would be some snow - that would be nice - but, I am not making any plans right now.

MICHAEL STICH: There will be no setbacks -- I wouldn't consider it as a setback if I go from No. 2 to No. 5. Next year will be a new deal. I don't have any illusions. I know I must go on with working hard and if I do, maybe I win one Grand Slam tournament instead of two smaller ones. That would be great.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, if I know I am successful, I would be pleased to do it. I'd rather play many matches instead of being eliminated in the first round of the tournament. Then I must say something more in general terms; I think our job is hard, tough, but it is most interesting and rewarding, and we get a lot of money for it. And I don't think anybody should complain about playing too many tournaments.

MICHAEL STICH: If you -- if that is an allusion to the Davis Cup, I haven't made any decisions so far. And then the ATP has got something to say, because there is a number of designation tournaments to play. And maybe I am going to play 22 not 25 and that would mean I would have to counsel one or two and that might be the case of Japan.

MICHAEL STICH: After all, let us not forget he is the Davis Cup Team captain and it may be difficult for him. Then we had two or three very successful and I might ask him to at least help me at tournaments. Then we have to ask the German Tennis Federation because he is the Davis Cup Team Captain.