US OPEN

August 29, 2003

Sargis Sargsian

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: I can't say I had him, but I think if I would have won the fourth set, I would have had a good chance in the fifth I think. Because I was feeling good with my game. And I just felt good how the match was going.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: I don't know why I missed that actually. I have no idea. I have no idea. Just took my eyes off the ball, I guess. I don't know what happened.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Well, two things. It's a different surface. It's a little faster and -- I'm not sure, but I don't think James like when you go -- when it's really too fast. I don't think he likes it too much. The other thing, I was playing probably the best tennis of my career in Wimbledon, so, in that match.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: His backhand? I'm sure it improved, has improved. I mean, he's improving every year. His forehand is just so great, you know. So it's -- which makes his backhand a weakness. So that's where you try to go.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: It was -- I wasn't really trying to attack his serve. It was so windy, it was so tough, that I was just basically trying to get back on the court. It was tough. I mean, I wasn't trying to attack it.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, yeah. When I came to the States, 10 years ago, in '93, James was a little kid, you know. I was playing the prize money weekend tournaments. I actually saw Thomas, his brother, a lot of time. James was a kid. I remember watching him play, you know, couple times we just hit, you know, kind of doing him a favor (laughing). But, yeah, it's true, yeah.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: I remember the first time when I saw him, he was like -- I can't even tell how old he was, but he was a kid. Takes this backhand return down the line, comes down the line. I was like, "Who the hell is this kid? Who does he think he is?" It kind of shocked me.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, basically. I met a family, the family that were here today. They basically -- they didn't adopt me, but I was staying with them and they pretty much sponsored me until I went to college and made a little name, then went on the tour, started making my own money.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: In New Haven.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: James, I think, was somewhere around there.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: It's so tough to guess in this sport. I told you, I was impressed by James when I saw, but still -- but it's too hard to guess. You have no idea who's gonna be good, who's gonna be...

SARGIS SARGSIAN: You know, he surprises you so many times. He's just very -- when he gets speed, he's very unbelievably fast. He has a good eye. He guesses a lot, he knows which way you gonna go. It's tough. He makes you hit a lot of balls.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, it was at 5-4.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Well, I mean, he hit -- it was 15-love, he hit an unbelievable return off my first serve, which shouldn't have happened, so... And then I missed a couple forehands. But that side was the toughest side, you know. It's against the wind. He just played a good game.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: No, no. Not really. It's just a great atmosphere. Too much fun to play.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: That was a joke. That was a... That was a joke.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: You mean off my overhead?

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, it was -- he just guessed it right. I should have put the ball away, but it's -- just guessed it right, and then he jumped higher than I've ever seen anyone jump, so it was...

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Yeah, he was probably -- was probably more before I went to college. Probably more -- I hit with him more before I went to college. I think I hit with him a few times in the summer. I was in college for two years. The college between the years I think I hit with him. Then I also hit with him a few times when I was on the tour and he was much older.

SARGIS SARGSIAN: How do I get ready?

SARGIS SARGSIAN: How do I get ready for the next tournament?

SARGIS SARGSIAN: Well, it's -- it depends. Usually you take a couple of days off, kind of recharge yourself. Then I'm back to the training, so...