WIMBLEDON

July 6, 2002

David Nalbandian

MODERATOR: Could we start with English questions, first, for David.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I cannot describe that. I think this is the best weeks of my life. This is very great for me. I'm very happy. I don't have too much time to enjoy it, but I'm going to try to enjoy it a little bit.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Well, before the match and yesterday night, I was a little nervous. And then when I go to the courts, I start playing good. The break, I think he play very good. I didn't do many mistakes. And then I think he was also a little, I don't know if he's tired or something, he do many mistakes when he serve 2-1. And I think I take a breakpoint on there. I break it. And then I start playing good again. I broke it again. I can make the difference.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: It's impossible to say. It's something -- I don't know. It's terrible. For me, this is a dream.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I didn't know exactly the rules. But the rules say if the doctor have to take one hour, they can do it. So he was on the rules perfect, and I didn't know it. But I think the rules is the rules, and you have to do that.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know exactly the problem, but I think was important problems. And if he need more time, they have to take it because if he have a very big problems in the heart, maybe something bad is going to happen on the court. This is so bad. So I think was perfect.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know (laughter). I think I was to play Nottingham before, and I didn't play - was a little injury on my leg. But I was practicing too much in grass in Argentina. We don't have too much grass court on there. But, you know, I think you have to try. Is not too difficult like every player say. So if you're focus and if you're try, you can make it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: In Buenos Aires, in Hurlingham.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: With all Argentina players, my coach, some juniors sometimes, everybody.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No. The first matches I lose with everyone actually. With everyone I lose.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: And the end I start playing a little good. I still losing, but in the tiebreak. Before I lose 6-1 or 6-2, and then I have a little more of feeling. And now I'm in the final here right now (smiling).

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think the match is going to be very tough. He's playing very, very good. But I think all the players what I play, except Arthurs, all the players was baseline players. So I play with everyone the same condition. And Lleyton, I don't know how many match they play with serve and volley players and baseline players, but I think is going to be a tough match. I think he and me have the same chances to won a tournament.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, I never played on the Court No. 1, so it's same (smiling).

DAVID NALBANDIAN: It's fine. I don't need it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Okay, that moment for me was terrible. So Wimbledon for Juniors is very big, important tournament, and was default in the semifinals. Was something terrible.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, no, no, no. We was playing two matches the same day because the day before was raining. I play quarters in the morning, then semis. In the locker room, the guy in the locker room say, "You play at 3:00, or 3:30," or something. Then I go to eat, I don't know where, and I come back. And they say, "No, the match was 2:30." I say, "Oh, 2:30."

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know what say. I think McEnroe do the same, but he lost in semis the first time he was here. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. Maybe I never going to play another final again. I hope play much more semifinals in the future. But for me right now, it's pretty important moment. I'm very, very happy. I like to enjoy this record, this everything. And I have to play tomorrow, so I must be focused tonight and tomorrow.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I start play when Boris Becker won here the first time, so I start playing when I was four years, five years, and he won here with 17. So I start playing at this time. So Wimbledon for me, it's very important. But, you know, for Argentina players, it's very difficult to play in grass. But I don't know. Everyones can make it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, he's the No. 1 of the world. You have to know it for sure.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yes, some matches we was looking, when you are in the locker room or whatever, you saw the match - I don't know - a little bit with Henman, a little bit with Schalken.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, I'm going to play next week, but I don't know who, nothing.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I don't know. You never know what's going to happen in the finals. Finals, it's very important match. I think everything can happen.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, when we arrive with my coach, we say, "Okay, we are going to won two or three matches, and that's going to be a great tournament for me, my first time here." I'm very young, I have to do very experience. I say to my mom okay, "I'm going to be next week in home." And I'm in the final right now.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Every ones. Every moment for me is very important. Every match is great for me. I'm enjoyed every match. The first match, second match, it's great.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Never -- no (smiling). No, I think every match you can make different things. You're feeling a little good every day. You never know. When I was in quarters, I play Lapentti. Was a very tough match. He's a good fighter. And you never know what's going to happen in the future. And then I beat him. I'm playing yesterday the semifinals. I think I was starting playing very, very good. And then we stop for the rain, then we come back; he start playing very, very good. We stop in the night. You never know what's going to happen. So yesterday I was very nervous when I went to sleep. This morning I can't breakfast, I can't take dinner, I can nothing. But you never know.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, I hope. I hope the people watch me, enjoy the match. I think for Argentina, is very important. The people is not pass a very good moment right now. I hope they can make different things on the mind, watch my match and enjoy it.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Everyones. Many, many, many. But I didn't answer the phone, because if I answer everyone ones, I can't sleep.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: No, just my coach. Yesterday was one friend from France. Is my girlfriend.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yes. And the wife of my coach.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: From everywhere. My grandfather born in Armenia. He left to Argentina. Well, then my father born in Argentina. I think is coming from everywheres.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Yeah, just one.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Never (laughter).

DAVID NALBANDIAN: I think that match was very difficult. I think he play very good that day. I think tomorrow is going to be a different match. He's playing very good also. But, I don't know, I think I'm playing very good. In the final can happen many things. But is going to be a tough match.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Not much. I hope right now is going to be more important. I think Argentina have many, many good tennis player right now. I hope the tennis going to be more popular right now. I hope.

DAVID NALBANDIAN: Last year? I was playing challengers in - I'm not sure - in Holland or Italy. I'm not sure.