GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 5, 1997

Sjeng Schalken

JOE LYNCH: Sjeng Schalken has upset Mark Philippoussis in the first round 7-6, 6-3, head-to-head at 1-All. Mark had won last summer in Toronto. First question for Sjeng.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, it is always a very good feeling, especially if you don't expect to win because I traveled yesterday from Europe to here I came from the dirt. Now, there is still some dirt on my socks. Then you played in the stadium with Mark Philippoussis. It was really tough. I had a very bad journey yesterday. Everything was against me. I missed the plane. Then the plane had a delay, so I just go and relax on the court and just see what it is and how I am playing. Actually, I served good and I could read his serve in some particular games. I could read his serve a little bit, so I could return sometime, and then if you are on the rally, I think it was 50/50. At the end, of course, it is not good preparation, so at the end, it is still a little bit lucky that I feel good.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I played in Amsterdam, played some club matches and then at the end I heard, well, I was going to get in and I also had designations, so I came to Cincinnati.

SJENG SCHALKEN: That is a story.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I wanted to be really, really quick here, so I took the fast plane. It was the Concord from London. And, then I arrived 9:30 and in New York and I had like two hours to go to Newark, from Kennedy to Newark to take the plane there. So I took the taxi and the taxi didn't know where Newark was. (laughter).

SJENG SCHALKEN: The taxi driver didn't know where Newark was so I lost 45 minutes and the plane was just five minutes -- left just five minutes ago. So I took another plane and, well, that, plane had a delay of three hours because somebody got ill when the plane had to get in and had to stop in Philadelphia. So at the end I could have taken a helicopter from London.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Eindhoven, London and then to J.F.K., then I went to Newark.

SJENG SCHALKEN: No, the plane had to get in in Newark that we were waiting for. It had a delay because somebody got ill in the plane and they had to stop at Philadelphia before it got to Newark to go to Cincinnati.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yes. It took so long and I was so angry, oh, it takes a while to get me angry, but there I was angry.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, so I spent a lot of money for nothing.

SJENG SCHALKEN: That was also a lot, yeah.

SJENG SCHALKEN: He had to stop and ask.

SJENG SCHALKEN: No, not really, because a lot of people had troubles with Newark.

SJENG SCHALKEN: And I still had designation, so I had to play and -- but I also had agreement with the club so I played both.

SJENG SCHALKEN: It is in Germany --

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, I know. First I played in Amsterdam. Then I was --

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yes, then I played my club matches in Halle. That is where the grass court tournament is played before Wimbledon.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yesterday at -- I practiced from 7 'til 8. I was really, really tired.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, like 5:30.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I woke up at a nice time, at 4 (laughter). In Holland I cannot wake up before 10. I have always troubles before 10 and now I am waking up at 4.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Actually, yeah, it is. Yeah, it is 10.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I called because my flight was delayed then I said okay, well, I can not stand that I don't know who I am playing. I called transportation and I found out I was playing Philippoussis. I said, well, just go for it.

SJENG SCHALKEN: That was the first game. It is still because I played on the clay a lot last three weeks and still the footwork, it is slightly different, of course, so I strained a muscle in my ankle.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I like to play everybody, of course. It is always fun to play Mark. But you never know what is going to happen if he hits bullets all the time, you cannot do anything.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I think it was a little advantage for me because there was some wind and he misses, sometimes, his serve. His serve is really big, but he is not unbelievable -- dependable on the serve. He can also hit unbelievable forehand. Maybe you saw some shots. It was amazing.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, but it is -- again the thing is he hits winners, he makes mistakes. At 5-4, he made some unbelievable shots with his forehand. So, okay, I lost my serve, can happen. I lose my serve in every match a couple of times. But I have good returns, so I can always break somebody. So that is my thought behind, okay, I stay cool in my head and just try again. 5-1 nothing happened.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah, I am getting tired now. I am not getting tired of you guys, but I am getting tired from the jet lag.

SJENG SCHALKEN: New Haven.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah.

SJENG SCHALKEN: No, I normally don't do that take the Concord, but -- well, I thought I have to do it. It was a great experience.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Three hours 20 minutes.

SJENG SCHALKEN: It goes quick, nice.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Oh, no, no that is -- I think if I lose first round I should play --

SJENG SCHALKEN: Yeah.

SJENG SCHALKEN: No, just one way.

SJENG SCHALKEN: No, I don't care too much.

SJENG SCHALKEN: I called and in Newark because I had to wait and wait and wait. After that I said, okay, now I have some time to call the tournament and ask who I play. So from there I knew.

SJENG SCHALKEN: Just eating, reading, everybody is doing the same. Reading and eating.