TMS - MADRID

October 16, 2002

Paradorn Srichaphan

Q. You were right yesterday when you said it can be very different from Birmingham, in a number of ways, not only because you continued to play well, but the court was very different, as well, wasn't it?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes. Well, I feel really confidence to go on court. I mean, last time I play in Birmingham, the court is pretty quick, like I said yesterday. The court here, I mean, I like the court. The court a little bit slow so I can have more time to hit the ball, even he coming in.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Different than?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Oh, yeah. In Birmingham was quick and low. Here is like slower and the balls sit up high, yeah.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, well, I don't know. It seems to be like -- first set, I was starting well, like 3-1, then I just stop; he starting to play well. Then I feel from almost the end of second set, after I break him couple games, I feel that his first serve is not working like it used to be, so he give me like opportunity to break his serve.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. I mean, I was serving Love-40. You know, is like one of the big change, turning around. If I lost that game, it could be like over. But third set he was break me first, like 2-0 up. I just break him right away.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I feel all the players happy for me because we all good friends. When the new player starting to improve in tennis game, everybody like happy for each other.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Just like I said yesterday, I used to hit the winner -- try to hit the ball as hard as I can from any part of the court. I'm kind of work the ball more on the court and wait for the right shot.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: If I have a short ball, yeah, I hit and come in. I didn't do approach like slice and coming in.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. You know, it's tough. I mean, I feel great for him that finally his baby is coming out. Well, it's difficult. Maybe one of your mind thinking, "I want to go home, see my baby, first baby." But it's just like my right opportunity to play him this week. I'm happy the way I'm playing. It's all right.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, this tournament, then there's two more tournaments, Stockholm and Paris. If I'm keep doing well, you know, I would say I close to make it. I'm trying hard to make it before the end of the year.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes. Those two guys, they both really great player. I mean, the top of tennis level. I mean, it's just like I'm showing that if I have more time, in the future I would say I could be better than Top 20.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I set up myself like Top 20 first, and then next one could be Top 10, yeah.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, it's never happen before. Even right now it's big for Thai tennis that I make through to Top 50, you know, like beating the guy like former No. 1, even No. 1 like two weeks ago. You know, they all happy for me. They was really exciting how I'm playing. Like yesterday, the match they show it live. Well, they didn't show it live, but they play the tape in the morning, like on normal channel. It's really big for me.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: That match was live back to Thailand, the Davis Cup. I make a phone call, the Thai people was like 80% of them watching the game, the Davis Cup game. It was really big.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I don't know.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, I mean, my dad, he's my coach since I was starting to play like at six years old, seven years old. He's still my coach right now. We working together really well. But, you know, tennis or other sport, you have to learning. Well, is never step stop. You have to try to learn something. Actually, I'm learning from the best player, better player, like learning your opponent, how he playing. So that's one of the key how I can play the guy.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, he's taking every match, if he can.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I was watching when I go back to the hotel every time.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Not really. Just, you know, watching the match, this guy, how he play, what is his game like, try to learning if I going to play him, what he going to do next time.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Not really. I mean, I feel more relaxed to go on court with those guy, like today, like yesterday. Sometime I just feel like smiling on the court, even I lost the point. If I'm playing well, I was okay.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: He's not a professional tennis player, but he used to play the sport before, like soccer, like 30 years ago. I have two older brothers. That's how I started, I was following my older brothers to play tennis.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Tennis and soccer, like with soccer you have to hit each other, but tennis you are opposite the side. That's what he told me. That's why I choose the tennis. Try to get away from injury (laughter).

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, I guess so. Well, yes.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes.