US OPEN

September 6, 2004

Sargis Sargsian

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Well, definitely it didn't help. But I was pretty fresh today for some reason. I was fine. I was fine. Just my knee broke down a little bit in the second set. I don't know what happened. Like my muscles, everything else, I felt my speed, I was fine.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: It's been amazing. It's been amazing, especially in a year like this where I've struggled. I didn't feel like I was playing my best coming to this stretch. To pull out matches like I pulled out against Massu and Mathieu, I don't know, it's unbelievable.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Very positive. Very positive.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No, he just asked me what was wrong with my knee. Then I kind of wished him good luck. He told me, "Great tournament." That was it.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah. He was in the box.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: 101.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No, quit.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: He doesn't play any more.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: You know, for me it's strange to play Andre, to be honest. I really hope this is the last time I play him. I feel like -- I don't feel like I have a game plan against him. You know, like I don't know how to win the points. Like I've played like Federer or something before. I mean, I lose obviously most of the times, but still I feel like there is a way, I have a game plan. But with Andre, you cannot serve and volley, you cannot play him from the back, you know, you cannot hustle because you know he's not going to miss, he's going to make you run till tomorrow morning. I don't know. I don't like playing him. He just plays so fast. He rushes you so much. It's very uncomfortable.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: I don't know on the court. But off the court, he's nice.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No, no, for sure I would. What I would change, I would go to college when I was a little younger. I went there, I was 20. Because for me it was great. For me even at that age, I still needed some practice, some kind of growing up to do. So college was great for me. Maybe for some other kids, it's not the best thing, but for me it was very good.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: I think so. I think so. Because I don't see -- if you are good enough to be a pro tennis player, I don't think going to college one or two years is going to hurt you. Yeah, you might start make the money a couple years later, but you're going to be mature. I think it can hurt you if you go to the pros earlier because mentally you going to start losing matches and it can really affect you mentally.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yes, two years.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Since '95. Eight years, nine years.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: It helped not so much my social growth as my game because I just needed the training.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, Lou Belken. He was pretty good.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Lou Belken. He still coaches in Arizona State. He was pretty good.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No. No way. Too much studying.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, must be. There is.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No. It's not a fixed day. They mix it up.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Oh, yeah, I've played it a few times, but not lately. I think couple times when I was visiting there, they would set it up, the time that I would come. So I did play couple times. But it hasn't happened last couple years.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Couple years back. 2000, 2001.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Let's go 2001.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Just once I've played.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yerevan, the capitol.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, I would. As long as you enjoy it, that's the most important. As long as you're willing to work, I would do it. Body, of course, it's important. If my body holds up, I think I will play for next two, three, four, whatever, as long as it goes.