U.S. OPEN

September 2, 1994

Karel Novacek

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah. I felt fantastic. I played like no mistakes. I plan for the game, worked 100%. I didn't want to really hit the ball very hard, but I wanted the ball to keep playing. Once he hit shorter, I take my chance and hit the ball, but everything seems to be working very well and I felt like I've been really playing one of my best matches this year.

KAREL NOVACEK: No, I think I beat Stefan Edberg last year right from right here on the Grand Stand, but of course it's always good to beat a seeded player and especially the way I did today because I think I was playing really without any mistakes and very clever and it paid off. It was just the game I wanted to play.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah, because I started from the beginning and I was able to keep it all the way through, and once I was just maybe few times down on my serve, I was able to come with the big serves and that was it. I was very consistent with my game and I just didn't give him a chance to get to his game.

KAREL NOVACEK: I think I played a great match in the first round-- and I think I played really really good match and today it was just a bit easier because everything what I hit, important points, it went in and he didn't really take any chances then to fight back. So it was that way a bit easier. But, yeah, I mean, I have to just keep my concentration for the other matches and keep going the way I'm just playing now.

KAREL NOVACEK: It surprised me that he didn't try to change something. Maybe just hit the ball as much as he can or just keep the ball playing and try to get to the rallies. Even that I was controlling the game, maybe if he just -- maybe he just didn't feel the way -- he didn't feel the ball today or something, but it surprised me he didn't really try to change the game. That one was not working.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah, of course. He's 20, he just turned 20 and he has a lot of time in front of him and he has already achieved a lot of great successes in his tennis and I think anybody in any age, especially in tennis, can learn anything and can improve his game because his dominant surface was clay and I think hardcourt or indoor is where he can improve his game.

KAREL NOVACEK: It's also matter how able you are to keep the same game against your opponent because once you are able to keep going, I believe it's tough to get back to even the game and to stay even until maybe 4-All, 5-All, you know, anything can change with one mis-hit and one lucky shot, you know. So I don't know how the other players react, but I felt today that I'm in total control of the game.

KAREL NOVACEK: I played him three days before today's match and I beat him one time before indoor and lost to him twice when he was on a roll last year when he won Estoril and Barcelona. He was hot at time and he beat me and I was playing well in Rotterdam and I just rush him also. So it's hard to really take a comment on it. But, well, he's young. I mean, he's got plenty of people around him, so hopefully they are going to advise him to do things.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah, it's one of the Grand Slams, you have to realize that and everybody is really playing a lot of tournaments, but still wants to be on the top on this big one. And it's always a great thing when you are able to play good when you are able to beat a seeded player on a Grand Slam tournament. You can give your serve a good reputation, a lot of people is watching and it's just the place where you can make your name bigger and I think I've done it in the past two years, hopefully I can go even further this year.

KAREL NOVACEK: Do want me to be very honest.

KAREL NOVACEK: I love New York it is a great place to be in and it's great, and can't really very much enjoy this facility here -- I'm not talking about the courts. The courts are fine. I mean, there's nothing we can change about that. But the players are here and the locker rooms, I think could be some way improved and as I see, yourselves here, as well.

KAREL NOVACEK: I love New York, I love to come to the City of New York. It's something special and it's one in the world and I don't know if I could live here but it's just great to spend a few weeks in a year in this great city and I'm just saying -- I'm not complaining about courts, I'm just saying that the place is very -- the places for having lunch and having shower maybe could be better. The main reason, the answer for your question in New York I love to come, I love the place.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah, but I'm staying in Connecticut and come here for the match and I practice on the garden and just coming here to play the match. The great thing about it is the spectators. They are really coming in, they appreciate the game and they really love to watch tennis, which we saw last night when Agassi was playing evening session, it was so full. So, I think that's a great thing about it.

KAREL NOVACEK: I feel good. Coming on the court, playing, hit the ball, it's perfect.

KAREL NOVACEK: Mats Wilander's house. He's my friend and he just woke me up in the morning and he works well as a coach.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yeah.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yes, yesterday we played 18 holes; don't ask for the results.

KAREL NOVACEK: He shoots 79, I guess.

KAREL NOVACEK: Well, everybody has different taste, I guess, and -- but one thing remains. It's New York and it's one of the four Grand Slams and I think many of the players would agree with me about the facility, and many would agree with me that there's a lot to do in New York City. So that's my answer.

KAREL NOVACEK: Yes, that year was the best for me in my tennis life. I made Masters, I finished 8 in the world in the year and I just didn't play that specific match and I've been a little nervous before I was coming in on the match and he was really hot. So it was kind of difficult for me to get myself together and play competitive match at the time. But once it can happen. I guess, and --

KAREL NOVACEK: Yes, it is not like now, but I didn't play really well in the beginning of the year. I've been struggling to the French Open and I really was not feeling well, and I've been not winning matches. But then I pick it up and practicing a little harder. So it's the timing, when you are playing really well, sometimes you play a little bad and you don't feel the ball as you would like to. But it doesn't really change that much your opinion about the court or the City or about my wife or about my daughter or something.

KAREL NOVACEK: I'm enjoying almost everywhere, to be on evidence.

KAREL NOVACEK: I like to play. I like to play even if I'm losing and if I'm struggling I lost seven first rounds in a row and I still like the challenge that even if I'm 29 and 12 years on the circuit, I still like the challenge that there is a reason to train again and practice again to get in better shape and get in a winning streak and right here I am and I'm just feeling great again and it's really fun to play and even more fun when you win it.