NEWSWEEK CHAMPIONS CUP

March 13, 1998

Marcelo Rios

MIKI SINGH: Marcelo, 6-4, 6-2 today over Petr Korda. First question for Marcelo.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, I think maybe the conditions were like a little bit different. I think he play with fast ball, you play really good. I think he was on a roll, playing really good at the Australian Open. I think if I play good, if I play around, play like my game, not playing too fast, I think I have a lot of chances to beat him. A lot of times he plays good when he's hitting good the ball. I think it was a great match; I play really good.

MARCELO RIOS: Yeah, 5-1, I was playing really good, giving him no chances to win games. I think he played really good the three games. He went for winners. I think when he was down, like he had nothing to lose. He went for it, and he almost break me back. We went almost 5-All. I think I served really good that game. After that, I think I have the control of the match.

MARCELO RIOS: Sure. When I played Australian Open, I didn't make a lot of first serves, my legs were really tired there. I'm feeling pretty good. Have two weeks off. I'm feeling really good physically. When you serve good, I think it's the key. You can, like, play the games. I served really good wide. He couldn't return that much.

MARCELO RIOS: I didn't think about it. I think when you're in the court, you don't think you're playing for that. You're playing for winning. I think you play one more match. I think it was a bad day. You also have really bad days, where you can't play really good. I play a lot of time with Korda. I beat him a lot, he beat me also. I think we're really close.

MARCELO RIOS: Yeah. I was injured. My knee was hurting. I took two weeks off. So I rest a lot, get some treatment. I think I came really good, really focused on this tournament.

MARCELO RIOS: The little what?

MARCELO RIOS: What do you mean by saying "cartwheel"? I didn't know you called it. Every time I play to him, he do it right in your face. Not really a nice like moment. I do it because every time now I play him, I beat him, I'm going to do it (laughter).

MARCELO RIOS: He said he spend a lot of time talking to you?

MARCELO RIOS: I don't know him that much. I saw him a couple of times. But I never like talk that much with him.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, I think more than change the game, we get along really good. He's done a great job. He helped me a lot in motivation, try to play loose. I think he help me a lot on that part.

MARCELO RIOS: Why you talking from Vilas so much? Because he was so important to most South Americans. Does it mean anything to you that he thinks you're talented. That's fine. What were you asking?

MARCELO RIOS: Well, first, I never saw playing Vilas in my life. Never saw him play in a match. I knew he was a great player, really, really good. But I never saw him play.

MARCELO RIOS: I haven't played him, never. Have to play the match. He's a really good player. He's playing really good. Haven't lose a match for, I don't know, three weeks. It's going to be a tough match. But I'm playing real well, with confidence. I think I can beat him.

MARCELO RIOS: Well, I'll say for the second time. Like every time I play him, like he do it.

MARCELO RIOS: Yeah. I think it's -- I don't know if he do it because he like to do it because he's winning, he's happy. I don't think it's a nice moment when he do it. Lose a match, he do it right there. Oh, well, maybe I'm going to do it every time I beat him (laughter).

MARCELO RIOS: I was going to do it, but I didn't practice (laughter). That's a tough one.