NASDAQ-100 OPEN

March 29, 2002

Marcelo Rios

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Marcelo.

MARCELO RIOS: I been having tendinitis since two months ago. It's going really bad. Since before the week, I've been struggling a lot with my knee, and, well, yesterday was pretty bad. Been icing it a lot and doing some treatment, but it's tough when I push. When I walk, it doesn't -- I don't feel anything. But more when I serve than when I'm running around.

MARCELO RIOS: I was afraid yesterday I couldn't make it today. But I try. And, well, I couldn't go anymore.

MARCELO RIOS: I was afraid all the week. I've been having this since, like I said, two months ago. It's been every day a little bit worse. I've been treating it, but I think I got to stop because if not it's going to get worse.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, I think if I wasn't injured, there's no way he can beat me. I miss all the balls and every time he move me around, I miss. I think I was playing much better than him. But, well, that's the way it goes and I'll try to get better and try to play him again.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, it's tough to play with tendinitis. Every time he move me around I went for a winner. Even though it was going my way, it's tough to move around. And obviously it was a tough match. Even if I go to a third set, maybe will be worse for my knee or not.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, I'm gonna do when I arrive on Sunday, I'm going to Canada and I'm going to do it there and I'll see what's happen.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, it's pretty disappointing. That's the way it goes, I think. For my body, like I said, my game is not about serving and just winning matches with my serve. I got to fight every point, and I'd been running more than all these guys. Like Sampras, he just serve and that's it. I think it's much tougher for the guys that run around. I'm paying for all those years that I've been playing.

MARCELO RIOS: I was trying to hang around from the first set when I was 4-all. I couldn't push anymore, but I said, "I'm gonna try this set." And I try to win it. Once you win it, you like to go on and see what's going on. Obviously, there's a point when you can't continue.

MARCELO RIOS: I don't think it's about surface. It's about running around, and I'm playing more. And every time I'm jumping or pushing for my serve, it's gonna hurt even though if it's clay or hardcourt. I'm gonna see a doctor on Monday and see what I do.

MARCELO RIOS: I think I'm far away from the game I used to play. After my injuries, my groin injury, I haven't recovered at all. And it's been pretty tough to move around. And once you can't move, you can't do your game. So I think I'm far away.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, about my groin, I've been with that almost four years. It's been tough to, like I say, to recover. Once I'm feeling good, my knees start hurting. I think once your body is not balanced, you start having injuries from all over your body. And that's what been happening to me since like three years ago.

MARCELO RIOS: For sure, I think it's tough to understand if you're in the crowd and you come to see a match and sometimes suddenly somebody retires. It's not a good show. But I think it's a lot of people understand that sometimes you can't play. I did my best trying to finish the match, but I could not do it.