EUTELSAT MONTE CARLO OPEN

April 26, 1996

Cedric Pioline

CEDRIC PIOLINE: No, it wasn't easy at all. What was determining is that I started off a lot better than he did. I really tried even to exaggerate, to do everything in the beginning, to try to warm up, and finally it worked well. After having won the first two games, there were four games where he was wondering what was happening. He said, "It's late." He started to cry for his mother a little bit. After it was okay for me. The second set was tougher.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: He played better afterwards. He tried to have longer rallies, and he let me come up. He played points for me to attack. He was trying to counterattack me. I was between two things: I was wanting to go fast, and I was missing a little; or I wanted to wait. Finally it was okay. It was the game upside down. Everything depended on a few points. Things could have turned over in the second set, and we might still even be playing now.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Outdoors, yes.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: I can't even find the right word to describe it. I don't know. You find the word.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Not at all.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Mentally, yes, it is. We are waiting. People tell us, "You're going to play on Court No. 2. You're not going to play on Court No. 2, it's not raining any more." At 8:30 we got back and we waited a long time. We almost went on the court. Then we came back to the locker rooms. It's difficult, but once again for me it's a great improvement because I was able to overcome all that.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: I think it's due to everything I explained. The conditions were extreme. I had an opponent who was holding into the match in spite of a severe score. Myself, sometimes I didn't really know if I had to attack or if I had to stay back. We couldn't see very well. All this explains that the match was not usual.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: It was more humidity, perspiration, and I had drops falling into my eyes.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yes, I was bleeding. I think it's due to the humidity maybe with the effort.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: No.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yes, it happened already to me, but it's rare.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yes, this is what we're going to tell them.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Ask him the question. I can't answer for him. I wanted to play tonight, and that's what is important.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: This is nonsense.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yes. My confidence is higher than in the past. Yes, it helps me.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: I try to show my power, and this certainly explains what you're saying.

CEDRIC PIOLINE: First thing I'm going to see how I wake up tomorrow morning. It's going to be difficult. He has very few losses on clay during the past year or so. I believe that I have to continue to play the same way. I have to mix the game a little, wait until he gives me points that I can attack and I can go up to the net. I don't have to ask too many questions to myself. On top of it, I'm playing well these days. I'm going to try to prepare myself properly, given the time that is left to me.