US OPEN

August 31, 2004

Paradorn Srichaphan

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. Always first round of the new tournament is always different, so, you know, even I do well in Long Island, still coming out here and play always tough the first round. But I'm glad that I turn around and win it at the end.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. I would say if I compare my result in the US summer this year and last year, I would say last year I do a bit better. But this is the last Slam, especially on hard court. I hopefully can doing well. But this first round match, you know, first set was a little bit difficult because a bit windy out there today. You know, yeah, it was great to come back and win.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, yeah, losing first round there to Johansson, Joachim Johansson, up-and-coming great player. Disappointing losing in the first round, but it was great experience. Yeah, didn't do well there, but come back in the US, Long Island, made the semis. Getting a lot of confidence.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I took a day off on Sunday traveling from Long Island to the city. I just take it easy on Sunday, do some workout, like 20-minute run on the track. My physical actually is pretty good, yeah. Day off on Sunday, practice like one hour yesterday, coming out to play first match. The good thing is you know what time you play, the tough thing is you have to wake up early 6:30, 7:00 to get off the traffic downtown to get here, get practice. First match is good to play.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: That's my result, I won three tournaments before Slam, two in Long Island and one in Nottingham before Wimbledon. I always put myself hard right before the Grand Slam. I don't know why. I think the reason is I just want to see what I have to play -- what I have to improve before Grand Slam. I always put like 110%.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: This might be the chance to win the tournament. If a big name doesn't want to play, it's a chance for other player. I always give myself 110% to play. I like to keep playing, keep rolling. If I do well, keep rolling, so I have a lot of matches on my hand.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I think it's important. I've been waiting all year long to play in Asia, to play in Bangkok, my hometown. Yeah, really look forward to. And hopefully I can do well for Asian tennis. To play three tournaments in Asia, this is Beijing, Bangkok and Tokyo, those three tournaments in Asia. I'm going to play all of them, then I got to play another four tournaments in Europe.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: You know, it's great. To win Olympic gold medal in tennis, especially Chinese girl won it, is kind (inaudible). There's going to be more Asian player on the tour, men or woman. It's a good sign.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: For sure. It's great for Chinese tennis that the younger Chinese, you know, these two girl won Olympics. Is going to be inspiration that the girl can do it, too.