COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

September 27, 1997

Patrick Rafter

Q. Congratulations. Really a tough success. Did you expect Petr Korda so strong?

PATRICK RAFTER: Definitely. He's a very good player. After the first set, I got the break up in the second set, I thought I might be able to get on a bit of a roll. But, you know, he's so talented that I was very lucky to win in the end.

PATRICK RAFTER: Doesn't matter. I'm going to be in trouble whoever I play, I think.

PATRICK RAFTER: Punch him in the head as I go past, change of ends (laughter). I don't know. It's been four years since I've beaten him. Haven't looked like beating him since. I don't know what to do. I don't know. I'll just go out and have fun. Whatever happens happens.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah.

PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, definitely very draining. The longest match I've had since Davis Cup in Sydney. Emotionally, it's very hard to compete with the emotion that I felt through the fourth round when I beat Agassi at the US Open. That was a fantastic feeling. And also, you know, the finals obviously, all the matches leading up. Davis Cup is something very special and very different, I think. I probably get more out of Davis Cup than anything. So it's very hard to compare. You put it in a pretty tough category actually, Craig. But I am enjoying it. It's nice.

PATRICK RAFTER: Another match or another set (laughter)?

PATRICK RAFTER: No, no. I think I was finished for the day. That was it.

PATRICK RAFTER: Thanks, very much. I don't look at the e-mail because I don't have a computer.

PATRICK RAFTER: Beautiful (laughter). I don't even know how to use a computer anymore. When I finish, I'll learn how to use one, I think. Thanks for the support, I think is the best thing for me to say to them. Keep it up.

PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. It's a funny feeling. I know I'm there, but I still feel like if I go out to play Petr Korda, that he's the better player. He's the one that should win, I think. I just go out there and play. So I think it's a way that I should continue to feel because I always play better that way.

PATRICK RAFTER: Oh, definitely. Everyone loves to be No. 1 in the world. But while Pete is there, it's going to be very tough to get there, I think.

PATRICK RAFTER: I think it's going to be very difficult. I mean, whoever I play is going to be, I think, a very close match. If I do happen to play Greg, it's going to be just a matter of really trying to get his serve back. Against Greg, you have to do good quality returns because he does volley and gets in well behind it. If he gets a good volley on it, he's very difficult to get past, he's so big. So I guess I'll just have to wait till the time comes and hopefully when I get my chance, have to take it.

PATRICK RAFTER: This is my second time. I played the BMW Open, is that what it's called? Niki's tournament in '95.

PATRICK RAFTER: Really got into the match today. It was a lot of fun. You know, you have Petr who has a lot of personality out on the court. People like to see that as well. We both had a fun time out there.

PATRICK RAFTER: Definitely. I just thought that was pretty well it. I had come back from Love-40 once or twice before. I said to myself, "Let's see if you can do it again." I sort of laughed at that because I thought too much to be down Love-40. He got a little bit tight on his returns. Then it went my way. Then at the end he was too tired to do them.

PATRICK RAFTER: I went yesterday (laughter). Had a little look. Tried to drink one of the beers. It was too much. Put it down halfway through my beer, had to go. I went to watch the soccer last night, so it was quite fun.

PATRICK RAFTER: Hang on. Were you speaking English (laughter)?

PATRICK RAFTER: I don't know. Just have a bit of fun. Time for a sleep. I was a bit tired. He looked pretty tired to me as well. Thought I might get a couple minutes' sleep, get up on him, you know.

PATRICK RAFTER: If it were the money, I would have double-faulted when he was up match point. No, I'm out here to enjoy myself. Whatever happens happens. This is so much money so far that whatever happens happens now. I mean, if it goes my way, it goes my way is the way I feel. As long as I can enjoy myself, I think it's the most important thing.

PATRICK RAFTER: A little bit. Petr stays back a lot. You get an opportunity to do some rallies. But for me, it's more trying to set up the point. He hits the ball so hard. I'm just sort of trying to run it down and get into a position where I can get to the net. I am starting to get used to the surface a little bit more. It is definitely a bit quicker than Davis Cup, when I played there.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, it was good.

PATRICK RAFTER: I was there for the first half. I was a bit tired.

PATRICK RAFTER: No, no, went before (laughter).