RCA CHAMPIONSHIPS

August 16, 1995

Richey Reneberg

RICHEY RENEBERG: Yeah, I did. I really thought -- I didn't think I was going to win. The 5-2 game, in particular, I didn't play a very good game at all. I just kind of tried to -- I think when you are in a match like that against a guy like Wayne you go for it. I tried to get too many balls in play. It is hard. These balls are very light. They fly. You swing a little easier and it just takes off. 5-4 game I thought I played pretty good game. Both games, I didn't get many first serves in, but the 5-4 game I thought I played a pretty good game; he seemed to pick it up a level. I don't know - I felt very, very tired all of a sudden, really round the time I served for the 5-4 game, I almost felt like I hit a wall. I thought I was dead. I mean, I think the third set would have been a quick one, but somehow I won - I don't know how.

RICHEY RENEBERG: No, I mean, it happens from time to time. Obviously, you try not to think -- earlier this year, I was playing Indian Wells. I was up 6-1, 5-2 on Stich and lost that. But I never thought about that today, though, fortunately and then, -- but yeah, I mean, you definitely -- you start thinking a lot more. When it's 5-All, if you serve for it, you start thinking, particularly as tired I was, I thought it was over, but I seemed to kind of pick it up in the tiebreaker; hit some good shots; went for it a little more; luckily caught a couple of lines, that was it. He doublefaulted on the one point that.

RICHEY RENEBERG: He seemed to kind of -- I think he lost his concentration a little bit. He didn't play very good games. I don't think it was really anything that I did in particular that was great. It was more he kind of didn't play well. I got a lot of balls in the court; hit a couple of good shots. For the most part, you know, he kind of -- he didn't play very good games on kind of like I played 5-2, but I knew that he'd make a run and that wasn't going to be easy to serve it out. I would have liked to have won one of those games.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Yeah, I really -- I felt very comfortable here in this first tournament, I mean, first started playing in '87 when it was on clay that -- I did pretty well; got in the quarters; ever since, I always played very well. It is odd because every year in Cincinnati, I lose early and then I always come here and play well. So I don't know what it is. I feel very comfortable here. I think a lot of guys feel they have places where they play the best. This is a place where I seem to play my best, and it is a tournament I have done very, very well in over the years. I always kind of -- I think I gain a little confidence every time I come here; feel like even if I am not playing well, I feel like I am going to start playing well or something - yeah, I don't know what it is. But I have always played well here. Obviously, I enjoy the tournament. I think everyone does. But my results have been good.

RICHEY RENEBERG: We have played a couple of times, yeah.

RICHEY RENEBERG: I remember he beat me once in the French Open; beat him once somewhere, I don't know where.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Yeah, a while. We have played against each other in doubles a couple of times. We haven't played singles in, I don't know, I think since like the French Open; maybe like in 1990 or '91.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Well, let us see, I think maybe I beat him in Tokyo; that was indoors.

RICHEY RENEBERG: How will I try to play him?

RICHEY RENEBERG: He obviously he has got a great serve and he backs it up with a very good forehand and, you know, I don't know, I mean, hopefully get some of his serves back and I think I have to serve well. Today, I thought I did. Yesterday, I served extremely well. Today, I served great until I served for the match; then it kind of fell apart. Even the games I won, I didn't get a lot first serves in. I have to get a lot more in. Today, I think my legs got tired. Overall, I have to play well. If I don't play well, I won't win. If I play well, I have a chance; probably the same for him. Kind of, I think it is pretty even match.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Thanks.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Well, I mean, there is really not much that you can do. Obviously, you have to drink a lot of water and all that stuff. But there is -- I don't think there is anyway to prepare for weather like this. I remember back when I first started playing these tournaments seemed like it was this hot -- seemed to have gone in a cycle. For the last four years, hasn't been that bad, although, I remember playing here in 1990, I think I got to the semifinals. I was -- I think that was the year that Berger and Becker wouldn't play until like five o'clock or something. Obviously, been a very hot summer. There is really no way to prepare for it other than you have to drink a lot so you don't cramp, but I mean, as far as -- even like today, I felt like I did everything properly. I just was exhausted. I don't know what do you for that. I don't think you can do anything.

RICHEY RENEBERG: Yeah, sometimes, I mean, a lot of it is physical. If you get tired not a whole lot you can do no matter how you are good mentally. Sometimes if you just don't think about it and -- but I mean, it is hard not to at times, but yeah, I mean, I think everyone, when they play these tournaments, they expect them to be warm. This whole circuit starts in Washington D.C.; it is obviously hot; probably over the years, has been worse than this, and Cincy and Indianapolis, obviously can be very hot, like you said, this year has been very, very hot, so... I mean, it is totally unpredictable. You hope the U.S. Open isn't like this. Three out of five sets like this, there would be a lot of matches that wouldn't be finished, I am sure. I don't know, I have heard a couple of guys say they should have a little bit of a break or something if you split sets, you should get a ten minute break when the weather is like this. I think that would be a pretty good idea. Seems like a lot of guys talk about that. Lately, the Tour made a real push to speed up the game, but I think maybe certain circumstances like this, it would be nice to like take a break in between second and third set; slow it down a little bit just for the players --

RICHEY RENEBERG: Yeah, I think they know it is hot. They they are very, I think, much more lenient in conditions like this, but still, you never know, you still are kind of rushing a little bit, I think, because they-- if one guy is taking a long time, you got to enforce the rules. It is not fair to the other guy. No, I think it would be a good thing to think about, maybe seems like a decent rule; particularly when it is this hot.

RICHEY RENEBERG: No, a lot of guys weigh themselves before and after. I haven't done that. I am sure it is plenty.