COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 11, 1993

Michael Stich

MICHAEL STICH: I think Stefan played the first two sets just incredibly well, and I didn't have a chance, and I got really, really upset about that because everything he touched was going in, and he made every point he wanted to. I got really angry about it. I thought, okay, try to hang in there and just show him that he is not going to win that easy. And, I mean. I got that one break, and that was the turning point. After that, I mean, everything I touched was going in. I had the luck. I had the net cords and everything and, yeah, I mean, I am very happy. And, I mean, I feel a bit sad for Stefan because he really played well and, he had a lot of matches against me that went that way, so -- but, I mean, I am very happy I won.

MICHAEL STICH: You know, you have those matches time and time when you just go on the court and everything you do seems to be so easy and the ball is just going exactly where you want to hit it to, but I think today was one of those days. It would be good to have a couple more of those last three sets.

MICHAEL STICH: You have to ask the people, but, for sure, I mean today after the first two sets, nobody expected me to win this match. I just kept fighting and hanging in there, and that is the story of the whole year for me, winning a match like this, and just -- I mean, the one match, it shows what I did throughout the whole year and, I mean, that is very important for me as well. I hope I can play a good final tomorrow, but I am not expecting anything more than trying to stay in there and try to win a couple of games and maybe win the match.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, I can. That it was in Antwerp. The quarterfinals to Gustafsson, but I'd rather remember victories than losses.

MICHAEL STICH: I don't know. But I think, basically, playing Stefan, for me this is really important, and I am lucky the way it goes right now. Everything goes in my direction.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, in the beginning it was Stefan who had all the net cords and then three in a row, he was standing at one meter and they dropped almost on his toe and then, of course, I do take these balls. I wouldn't give them back but I feel a bit sorry for Stefan. After all I am glad I won.

MICHAEL STICH: I started getting angry about the way it went. I said, okay, let us make a final attempt. 110 in the third set and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Then came the break 4-3 and I found a very good rhythm in my returns and he started serving not as good as he was serving before and then the match really turned over and it was true reflection of the first two sets; only in my favor; not in his.

MICHAEL STICH: I had to smile when I read the article, but I do not have any political ambition. My ambition is to play tennis and I am glad I do this fairly well.

MICHAEL STICH: I am looking forward to my bed, to sports show tonight on TV and for not immediate future but next year I suppose will be important to keep fit and to take this shape and this force over to next year.

MICHAEL STICH: I don't know. I felt a bit dizzy at the beginning of the first set but I can't tell whether it is also partly nerves because I knew I was playing the semifinal. I felt a bit dizzy, but then I fought myself into the match and in a way, this is psychologically better than that experiences and better than not playing because I am going to victory and victory and for my mental condition this is the best I could imagine.

MICHAEL STICH: I don't know. But you know that Qatar is going to be in three weeks from now and I can't ask them to postpone it from another three weeks so knowing that two weeks bring a lot of recovery these three weeks would have to do.