WIMBLEDON

June 28, 2002

Greg Rusedski

MODERATOR: Good evening, everyone. Greg for you.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I knew I had to come up with a good match today. I was expecting a tough match because he's such a good player. So, no, I was really pleased the way I played today. You know, I'm in the third round, Centre Court match, just looked forward to it and played very well.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I'm improving. I think I'm better. I've worked hard on my backhand and my returns. I think from the first match all the way to this match, I've gotten better and improved. I don't really feel that it's a weakness. I feel like I can make shots on it and it's very solid now.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to my next match. You know, happy to be in the fourth round. I've got two days off now. Malisse is a very good player, as you can see. You don't come out and beat Kafelnikov in three straight sets. He's talented. I just really want to enjoy this right now at the moment. You don't really get many performances on Centre Court where you play so well, you know, you're into the second week.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'm just taking it one match at a time. I mean, I'm just looking at it one day at a time, one match at a time. I can't get ahead of myself. I mean, this tournament has been a little bit crazy with some of the upsets this year already. Don't get ahead of yourself. One day at a time, one match at a time.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I just look at it one match at a time, just taking that boring sort of thing.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Regardless of what goes on. You know, the attention is elsewhere with seeds falling out, different things. So I'm just happy to be there, happy to be playing. I'm just taking it one day at a time. That's the most important thing.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I don't really think that's too relevant because there's Philippoussis, who is left, Krajicek, a defending champion, left. There's some great players there. Arthurs is dangerous, as well, if he won. So let's not get ahead of ourselves. You know, you've just got to show up and come to play every day one match at a time like I did when I was at the US Open. That worked very well for me in '97. That's the sort of process I have to take. And this was a big step forward for me today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I was very confident, you know, before the match. I felt I had the experience. I think Andy's a great player, but I just felt I had that little edge on experience today, and that really helped. And I thought the crowd were great, getting into it at the big moments. So it's just you never really have it until the last point's won because anything can happen on a tennis court. But I felt very confident.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, they wanted the victory. They wanted the win. They want to see British players doing well here at the tournament. You know, I was pleased that I got through. They just want it so badly, and it's great to have their support. They're doing a great job helping us.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I played him twice.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I beat him in San Jose. I lost to him in Paris indoors last year. So he's a good player. He's got good returns. Hits some flashy shots. Good first serve. He's a talented player. Just looking forward to another good match.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Don't want to give away all my secrets today because I'm sure I'll face him in the future (laughter). Just big-point situations, grass court tennis. It's only a second appearance at Wimbledon. He's played very well. You know, he's one for the future.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It really does help. I think I brought a nice calm demeanor into it.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I can't say I've read anything. I haven't read any newspapers. I haven't, you know, heard anything about it. So that's the first I heard of it.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I read one paper, you know (smiling). I cut out the tennis section.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know. I mean, that's a tough question to answer. I think I played very well today. But, you know, the most important thing is to still be here in The Championships. It doesn't matter how well you play; it's surviving and staying in the tournament. And that's what I'm doing. Whether I play great or whether I win in five sets, just being there is the most important thing. I'm saving my body with only losing one set, so I'm very pleased with the way the first week's gone.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think the expectation is high on both of us this year. No, definitely I'm the one who's in the background at the moment. I don't mind it. I just look at it like this: i'm happy to be playing tennis; I'm happy to be here at Wimbledon; I'm really enjoying the experience and taking each match at a time. You know, I'm still here. That's the most important thing.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know. They can call it whatever they like. I'm just more than happy that they cheer for me and support me throughout the match. That's the most important thing.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think that really helps me. I've played seven matches. It gets harder every round now. It doesn't get easier. The first week's done, and now it just gets harder with every single match that comes up. That's where the mental challenge is probably the strongest, because everybody who is in there can play very good tennis.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I mean, Pete could have turned it on if he would have got through that match in five sets. You never know what could have happened. I was surprised when Andre went out a little bit early to Srichaphan. But he must have played a great match. If you don't come with your best tennis every day, the men's circuit is so strong that you're going to go home. It's just the depth of men's tennis these days. You have to be at your top every match. If you're not, then you're going to be going home.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think it does help to be a lefty on grass, most surfaces, if you take advantage of it. You have to be a complete player, and that's the most important thing.