TENNIS MASTERS CUP

November 15, 2003

Rainer Schuettler

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think it was a good match. I mean, I played pretty well in the first set. I played pretty well in the third set. Okay. In the first set, I had -- first game I had a game point. I lost my racquet because the grip was too wet. Then I got a break, then I was a little bit frustrated, upset about that. Then he stepped on the gas a little bit. But that's why he's a great player; he knows when he has to play, yeah, one step better. That's what he did.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: Because if you give him just a little bit space, I mean, he's taking over. That's why he's so good. I mean, if you just, yeah, give him a little bit space, if you miss a couple of easy balls, then he's stepping in. Yeah, if he's on top of the game, it's difficult to beat him.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think that should stay by myself. It's better if nobody knows.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think the whole year was pretty good, so I have a lot of confidence. I showed that I can beat everybody. Of course, for me, it was a great week. Now I'm disappointed that I lost, but at the end, if I wake up tomorrow, it was a great week, it was a great year. I'm very happy that I had such a successful year. I gonna practice hard that I gonna repeat it next year.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: First, he's playing all the balls pretty deep. He's staying close to the line. Normally, if I play other guys, if I put pressure on them, they go a little bit back behind the baseline. He's always staying close to the line and it's difficult to play dropshots. I tried a couple of times, and -- but I didn't win too many. So that's why I stopped playing them.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: Definitely I'm a different player. I mean, when I played him in Australia, I had two great weeks. But it was just the beginning of the year. I was happy to be in the final. Now, I came here and I wanted to play well. I had a lot of success during the year. So I didn't go on court and, you know, wanted to lose; I wanted to win. I think I showed that today on court, and I think my confidence is pretty high. That's why I'm a different player.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I beat him already once, so...

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I mean, he's one of the greatest player ever. It's tough to say what I have to improve. I think if I improve everything, I have a chance to beat him (smiling).

RAINER SCHUETTLER: As I said, I beat the No. 1 in the world. I beat the No. 4 in the world. Okay, I lost to Moya, but I had set point. Today, I think I played a good match. So for me, it was a very successful week. And nobody before the tournament expected me to be in the semis. So I have no reason to be disappointed about the week.