US OPEN

August 26, 2003

Paradorn Srichaphan

MODERATOR: First question, please.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: He was playing well and I'm sick.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: On Sunday, final in Long Island, I was playing there, then been playing a lot of matches that week and trying hard. And, you know, after that match I got sick that night and, you know, I sore my throat. It wasn't too bad. I didn't have a headache. I just have a problem when I'm breathing in the first set. So it was give me a tough time, so I have to ask for the doctor to give me some medicine.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I have one day off tomorrow. I gonna get a lot of rest today and, you know, going back, take sleep and take a pill. Hopefully I will getting better on Thursday.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, I'm really happy that I pull it out in the fourth. I was up the break. He was coming back strong, but finally I pulled it in the tiebreaker.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: No, I still feeling like I could stay in this match, I mean, today. Even I lost the first set, I mean, because I'm kind of -- I know that I'm not feeling well today. Just go out there, let the first set go, then try to hang in there, just try to stay in the game and come back.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, of course it's more fun. You know, it's always great to have some support, especially from, you know, from your country. And the people, Thai people that live in the US, is a lot of people. Also some time I was playing in Europe, there's also some people coming out but not this much. It's always great to have good support, the people cheering for you. For the last couple tournaments in the US, I having a lot of fans (smiling).

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Just, you know, got mad a little bit, why I'm sick today. I have trouble when I'm breathing. That's why I have to ask for the doctor give me some medicine and something that go, you know, going to my throat. Then is feel better.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, of course. If the player have to be -- all the player have to be 100 percent to go out there, I mean 110 to go out there and compete the game. But, you know, some day you can't just feel 100 percent or 110 percent, so you still have to go out there and try your best, see what's gonna happen. So I go out there and I know that I'm not feeling well, but I just gonna, you know, stay in the game and see, trying hard and see what I can do. I think I did it great today.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: No, no. No (smiling).

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: No, I mean, I won Long Island last week and I have one day off. Mine, I know the draw, who I gonna play at the US Open probably on Tuesday. So I'm still playing that tournament. I just keep that in mind, keep it behind. I just playing the tournament in Long Island and not even thinking about US Open and how I gonna play this guy. I just try my best every match and, you know... Then, after the final, I go, "Okay, my mind going to US Open." I say, "Okay, my next opponent is gonna be Saulnier from France." Then I start to think about the US Open.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I still gonna do it I think. Well, you don't know when you gonna get cold or, you know. It just hit me on Sunday, you know. You don't know.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: You mean if...?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Like I said, I still thinking that I, you know, could stay in this match because, you know, you have to use your heart to playing this game. I mean, if your body feels sick or you're tired, you still have to stay in there and finish the game. Even a loss, I'm not gonna retire. But I have to finish the game.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I have a great start. Won the first tournaments in Chennai. Then make -- doesn't do too well. Just make semis in Miami. I mean, that's my biggest after that Chennai winning. Then after Miami, is gonna be clay court season which is not my best. But I use that season to practice my game for two months before Wimbledon and before coming to hard court in the US. So I use two months on clay, practicing my

groundstroke. I'm not doing well. I just winning two matches on clay. So I been practicing a lot, a lot of hours on clay, which is helping my game and helping my physical. I always doing that. So I think it's work really good.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Which type of player?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I would say groundstroke. But if the guy coming to net, I have to try to pass.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I don't have much choice but, you know, if I have to play somebody, I try to play my game. The first thing, I try to play my game. I'm not thinking about my opponent that much.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. I play him already three times. It is -- no, 2-1, he was up 2-1. Last time I play him in Wimbledon first round.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: This year. And I lost to him in French Open first round. So, you know, back-to-back Grand Slam. French Open I lost to him in four sets and I won in Wimbledon against him in five sets. Gonna play him again second round US Open so, you know...

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I played him on hard court two years ago in Tashkent. I lost to him. He's gonna be tough. I try to do my best.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I try to win the last point and try to holding my serve and it's gonna be -- I think it's gonna be good match because we both staying back. It's gonna be a lot of long rally. If we both get a short ball, we gonna coming in and finish it at the net.