TMS - MADRID

October 15, 2002

Paradorn Srichaphan

Q. Another good win. It's gone wonderfully well for you.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes. It looks like it just keep coming and coming. You know, well, I feel confidence to go on court with anybody. You know, I just thinking that I have nothing to lose to anybody, so I just go out there and try to play my best. That's how it's happen.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, at least especially today from the back of the court, backhand down the line, trying to make him run a little bit, just get ready for the next shot.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Henman?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: I'm playing Tim four times already. I haven't win one yet. But tomorrow I going to try my best because he's a great player. What a wonderful game he has, serve and volley. He also play from the back of the court. You know, I just go out there and try to play my best.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, it's two match, best-of-three. In Davis Cup was best-of-five. It's not going to be as loud when I was playing in England against him.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, well, it start in Chennai, the first week of the year, ATP tournament in Chennai. I reach the final. I don't know, after that I just feel like I can do it, I can play well if I keep practicing. After that final, I feel more confidence to go on court.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, I hurt my knee during Davis Cup a little bit. After that, I take a couple days off, then it just fine. Whenever I feel injury myself, anywhere of my body, I'm not really resting, but I just going to like work out a little bit where I have pain. So just building it stronger.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I think so. You know, my game, since I was young, I'm one of the player hit the ball hard from the back of the court. What I have to do, I think, for the next couple months, I think I will try to come to the net a little bit more to finish the point off.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: My best result to be the guy, the baseliner. Yeah, I feel confidence to stay back. If I have to play the guy coming into the net, I like it, too, but it's more difficult to make the passing shot. But is not going to be that long, you know. It's going to be quick point.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, yeah, you know, this tournament and two more tournaments, I'll be done of the year. It's only three more tournaments. Yeah, I'm looking for the big finish, have a good rest before the new year.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah, you know, my friends always told me that "You maybe need a Visa for Thailand to go back there." I haven't been home a lot. I'm going to have time off, almost two months, so I think that's enough.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: He could be tired because he was playing final last week in Vienna.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Lyon. But, well, I mean, to me, I think he's playing well. He's moving a little bit slow or maybe I'm moving him a lot.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Every tournament, when it come to the tournament, I always look at the first round first, who I'm going to play. I try to win my first round. I try to go like match by match. I'm not really looking that far. Let's say tomorrow I play Henman, I just going to go out there and play my best. I'm not looking like I'm going to make quarters or semifinals or something like that.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Some of it, not all of it.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, he's not filming from the back of the court. He's just filming myself. When I watch it, he's kind -- I see myself on the video. It's about the movement, what I going to do.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, firstly, the court is different than last time. Last time in England, the court's pretty fast. Here it's a little slower. I don't know.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: The last time?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes, I would say so. I mean, but he's playing well, too.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Today, right?

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, you know, Guga is big name. I mean, is everywhere the crowd want a big name to stay in the tournament. I understand that. But, you know, I think is bigger news if some guys, I would say no name beating big name, going to be bigger news.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, before reaching the first final in Chennai, the first week of this year, my ranking is like 115. I target myself to come back to Top 100, try to make Top 50 by the end of the year. I mean, right now I'm 28, so I already break through to Top 30. I'm pretty much reaching my goal. You know, three more tournaments, if I'm doing well, this could be, I would say, maybe Top 25 or Top 20.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yeah. Before I used to go for the shot a lot. I hit the same -- I hit hard from the back of the court. Before I used to go to winner all the time from anywhere of the court. So, you know, sometimes really difficult to hit the winner from anywhere of the court. I'm kind of working the ball a little bit, moving side to side, waiting for the next shot at the right time to go for it.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Well, I would say Greg Rusedski in US Open. I mean, that's one of my best match. Even I lost that match, I feel like I'm playing great, and he playing great. You know, that's one of my best match, too.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: My first time in Madrid. I feel the crowd, they are nice. Well, I think when I first walk on court with Guga, I think more noise, "Let's go, Guga," something like that. I always used to it. I always walk on court with a bigger name. I used to it, just stay low, just show them what I have.

PARADORN SRICHAPHAN: Yes, I think so (smiling).