WIMBLEDON

July 3, 2003

Sjeng Schalken

MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, English questions for Sjeng.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Well, I was -- they gave me an injection before the match because it was too bad and -- but after three games, I felt it again. So, actually, it wasn't worth it. And after that, I felt it when I had to reach for my forehand or when I had to stop, if I had to run to my backhand. So I was actually one step slow. Plus, against the quality of Roger, it was no match for him.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Not at all.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Maybe after one or two games, yeah.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Well, I also -- it's not really disappointing because Roger is such a quality player, which I can understand of myself that I can lose to this guy - even if I'm 100 percent fit. And it's a tough draw - quarterfinal playing against him. He serves a little tougher than me, and that's why -- on the baseline, we are 50/50. So that's why it was always gonna be a very tough match. But, yeah, if I'm one step slow and I feel pain on my foot, then it's -- the match is more in disbalance.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Hopefully not.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yes, I'll try my best, and hopefully I can play some tournaments before. I have now, for sure, 10 days off, and I try to get healthy for Indianapolis and all the other fast American courts, which I like.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I don't need surgery because it's all ligament, it's not the bone or -- it's just the pressure point which I have to deal with with my career, also.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I think so, and I hope so for Roger. I like him as a person, and I like him as a sportsman. So he deserves it. I think he's the best player around at the last four, and for sure he has the most talent. Hopefully, everything falls together for him. Yeah, even if I was 100 percent fit, it would have been very tough to beat him.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yes, but it's not easy for him to play somebody who is not 100 percent fit, and then he can go to his only weakness, that he should lose a little -- can lose a little concentration, because, yeah, I am not playing 100 percent. And, yeah, but he did a good job finishing me in three sets because I didn't give in to him.