WIMBLEDON

June 27, 2001

Greg Rusedski

MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, Greg Rusedski.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I was pleased. I wanted to improve my returns today. Byron doesn't serve as well as Pavel. But I was really pleased with my ground shots, my return, really picked up. I've always had good matches against Byron, played historically pretty well against him. I'm pleased to get that. It's another match. Just one match at a time again. That's all there is to it. Next match is going to be tough, whether it's Stoltenberg or Ferrero. Just looking forward to the next match.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I played very, very well. I didn't even know that. I wasn't counting or anything like that. You know, I hit a double-fault at 30-Love, then he came up with a good passing shot, played a good point from the back. But, no, I was well pleased with the way I served. I thought I served pretty well the last two matches because Pavel and Black are two of the better returners on the circuit. Very satisfying.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know. I don't know.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. This is Donnay in red. It's Arsenal colours actually.

GREG RUSEDSKI: You know, I think it's good because I've been fortunate. If I play Stoltenberg, Pavel plays similar to Stoltenberg. If I play Ferrero, Byron Black plays similar, except Ferrero has a little more firepower. You know, it's been good preparation, two different styles. That's been very good.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yes.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, I didn't realise. I was just focused. Was he still on the line or did he have to leave?

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'm sure he's all right. It's a tennis ball, not a cricket ball. If it was a cricket ball, maybe he'd be in trouble. I didn't mean to hit him. That's just part of the game, I guess.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think I move better now. I'm not jumping as much. I think I'm more balanced around the court. I think I know what I'm doing out there more than I did in '97. '97 was more just blood and guts really. You know, not always having the right technique on certain things, certain movements. But I think I'm getting more mature, I'm improving, getting better. When I played the US Open, I was moving awfully well then, as well. I'm pleased with it.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think the better you can move, if you look at Rafter, won two US Opens, been to the Wimbledon final, he's done it a lot with his movement and his physical being. He gets to balls most players don't get to, especially at the net. He makes you play a lot of balls. Look at Hewitt, another example of a guy who is a phenomenally well mover. Just takes advantage. The better you can move, the better chance you have. It does open up options, you can play the lob, hit the passing shot, do different things. It does help.

GREG RUSEDSKI: You have tons, "The Star", "The National Enquirer."

GREG RUSEDSKI: You have tons, what are you talking about? Ours are different.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think the papers are behind the British players. They want them to do really well. If you do well, they write really well about you. If you're not doing so well, they'll tell you about it, which is fair enough. That's just the way it is. I mean, you know, they're respectful. It only gets really - how do I say - exciting during the month of grass court season from Queen's to Wimbledon. Then the rest of the time, unless you're at a US Open finals or semis, it doesn't really get the buzz again. So, no, I think they're good. I think the people enjoy the papers. It's a little bit of fun.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, it's just par for the course. Just don't do anything stupid (laughter).

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think it's a beautiful court. I think it's great that we still have one grass court tournament in the world. I don't think it will ever happen to Wimbledon, and I don't think it ever should happen to Wimbledon. It might be better for players to improve their games playing on hard courts or clay or different surfaces. But, you know, I'd like to see more tournaments on grass. That would be better. But ripping them up, I don't think that will ever happen.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, great. They've been behind me. I think most of them understand the difficult year I had in 2000. A lot of people have been very supportive, very much encouraged because I had such a good comeback from last year, everybody was writing me off, down and out. I had a lot of people on the street and a lot of people coming up to me saying, "Go for it next year, hope everything goes well for you." I've had a lot of support. The public really gave me a warm welcome and a warm send-off when I won. I was well pleased with that.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think last year, from the horrible year I had in 2000, I think, you know, I'm just more relaxed, I'm just enjoying my tennis. You go through such a year I had, to get to 69, I had to have a hell of an effort to stay at 69 with all the injuries, doctor visits I had. Now I'm healthy, fit and fighting. My approach to life is a little different. I think that helps on the court.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, it depends. If I started off the way I did, if I didn't see the improvement with my last chance with working with Brad and Ryan, Pat introducing me to these people, it was great. They really worked really hard. My physiotherapist traveled with me full-time, Ryan Kendrick, Brad Langevad doing all the scientific changes. It was my last option. Fortunately for me it's done well. The team has done a really good job. I'm hoping to get another three to five years out of tennis.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, no, no. I've worn that for years since the '97 finals of US Open. Acupuncture point that helps with the wrist. I had that problem in '97. It's been great since.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think Sampras, the thing is you have to make a lot of returns with him because he gets so many, so many cheap points. He's got a pattern, but I'm not going to give you the pattern on the serve. Too bad (laughter). Andre, you've got to really bring it to him and put the pressure on him, give him no cheap points, as well, make him hit the passing shots, hit the extra shot, get him to move around the baseline. He likes to dominate a player. He likes to move him and not be the one being moved so much. If he has to do it, it's great. But if you can get him to miss those few balls when he's moving a lot, his mentality changes a lot. Those are the two aspects that I think are key for those two guys.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, Rusedski never lost to Sampras or Agassi in the finals (smiling). How is that?

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, Brad left straightaway. He's watching Stoltenberg and Ferrero at this very moment. He watches every match, studies the video. He does a very professional job.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Sorry, I lost you on that one.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I know all you guys. I don't mind. I don't really need it for myself because I know everybody almost in the room. I'm more than happy. If that's the procedure, that's fine. If it's not, it doesn't bother me one way or the other.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I have not a clue. I just found out this second press conference I've done that everybody has to announce their name and where they're from. It's news to me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Just ask John. John knows.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think the French are very fortunate that they have Roland Garros as being the French Open, so a lot of the players grew up playing on clay. They can come to their championship, their Grand Slam, and play on clay, as well. You know, it's nice to have the grass there for the players to come to Wimbledon. But it's probably a better surface to learn on starting with the clay than going to grass. You've got two things going on: the clay, you can use all year; the grass, you can only use for part of the season. I never want to see it gotten rid of. You know, tennis used to always be on grass, I mean, even in America and different countries. We've stayed with the tradition of grass. I think it's done me pretty good over the years.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know. I'm just going to go chill out, probably watch a movie. I'm going to leave after I get done with my press. I'm going to just relax and see my friends, go out for a meal, get away from the tennis. I think you can get too much tennis once in a while. I'm trying to change myself a little bit, instead of just get out of the press conference, glue my eyes to the TV set from like, you know, now until 8:30 or 9:00 or whenever the coverage finishes. It's better if I just change, don't focus on it as much, just relax outside of it more. I might have a peek, but if there's a good movie or something else on, I'll probably be watching that.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Favourite meal? I enjoy sushi, but unfortunately that's a little bit fishy for the tennis coming up. I'm going to pass on that one. Once I get done with the Championships, a little bit of sushi, maybe tapas, some Spanish. Probably now I'm eating more Italian food, pastas and carbohydrates, a little bit of a mixture.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Please stay, Patrick, we need you. Don't go. As far as Sol, I'm not commenting. That's dangerous.