TENNIS MASTERS CUP

November 9, 2003

David Nalbandian

THE MODERATOR: Questions for David Nalbandian.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, of course I'm better. I was in Barcelona with the doctors, and they told me I'm okay to play this week. So I'm gonna be ready for fight tomorrow and all of the matches.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, I practice all the time. I didn't use the left hand, but I practice all the time. I start use it the last weekend, so I am practicing one week with the left hand and everything. I'm good.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, it's difficult. Everybody is great players, and everybody wants to win a tournament, of course. I think I am ready to do a very good job and to fight every match and to try to keep the title. But every players are good players, and everyone are fighting for the No. 1. It's gonna be an exciting tournament.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, of course, it's difficult, you know. Many matches in the year, many weeks. I have to see very good the calendar and try to play less tournaments and try to take better results every time I play. So I have to see the calendar and try to play less tournaments.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know. It's difficult. I don't know, maybe 25 or... I don't know. I don't know.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No one.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Seriously, no. It's true. I didn't see Monday morning in the week. I didn't see the ranking or whatever.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, you have to see both. So for us, both are important. So you have to see.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, of course I'm very happy to be here. It's my first time. But also I come here because I'm playing very good on the year and I want to try to do my best every time I go to the courts. I think it's gonna be a very, very exciting tournament. Two players - three players - are fighting for No. 1. Everyone wants to win this tournament. So it's going to be very, very tough matches and very good for the people, for the crowd. It's gonna be a very good show.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, I feel much better. The doctor told me I am better, I am ready to play. I don't know if it's 100 percent. I didn't use my left hand 100 percent yet, so I have to try in the match.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I had to try to be careful with the left hand, so...

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I hope. Both of us, we are very good players. We try to do the best in our country and in the world. So I think this generation is very good for us. I hope the young people, the Juniors from Argentina, they can take something after us and try to come behind us every time. So I'm very happy, and I think Guillermo is happy also for to be the best player of our country and try to do many good things.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: It's good for me, you know, to be a rookie. I was very happy for the last year. Last year was a very, very exciting year for me. I didn't play Masters last year, but I'm have also very good year last year. This year is very good for me also. I'm very happy to be here.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, I just... I just answer.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: It's better. The doctor told me is much better than like two weeks before. So I'm not sure if I'm gonna be 100 percent because I didn't try to use it 100 percent. I had to be careful. But I'm gonna see tomorrow.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, yeah.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Everyones are good players. It's the same. Both groups are tough.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, the season, it's so long, so tough. I think the injuries is the problem of every players. Is difficult to play all the year without injured. I think we have to check very good the calendar for next season and try to play less or better each tournament.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, I don't know if is exciting, but I'm very happy to be here. I also, if I'm here, it's because I play good all the year. I think it's gonna be a very good tournament for everybody - very, very tough tournament. Three players are fighting for the No. 1. Everyones want to win this tournament. So I think it's gonna be very good, and I'm very happy. A little exciting for each match.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, it's strange. I think it's the first time until, I don't know, 30 years or something like that, where it's outdoors. All the time we're playing many indoor tournaments in this season and last season, so it's tough to change to go out to play the Masters. So I think -- I prefer to play indoors.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think every match is different, it's completely different. I think when you go out in the court, it's something special you feel inside. But you never know. With this kind of players, every time you go out the court, it's completely different. Very hard, very tough match. So every time I play with Roger was very tough match - always three sets or four sets in the US Open. So he's a very good player. But I like against him.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know. I feel comfortable when I play against him.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, sometimes, you know. I know him, I don't know, five years ago when we was Juniors. So we have a lot of matches and many years practicing and playing matches. So I know him a little more than other ones.