PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 22, 1998

Alex O'Brien

JOE LYNCH: For the second straight year, Sebastien and Alex reached the final here and once again Mayor DeStefano worries about his job with Alex, Mr. New Haven. First question.

ALEX O'BRIEN: I hope you don't want to get rid of me. I do like it here, yeah. I haven't played with Sebastien for pretty much the whole year. We split up at the end of last year because I was going to play an American to play Davis Cup and I really enjoy playing with him and I think we play some great tennis together and it has been a lot of fun playing with him this week for, I think, the second time. Well, first time for real we played in Newport, I don't think you can really count that.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: I think I am playing really well. It was nice to be reunited with Alex. Seeing the ball well; kept playing that way and today we wanted a good start and get them a little tight so we can go for our shots. We got the early break so that kind of set the tone and momentum.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: We have played the last two years together and I think out on the court we really compliment each other really well, both return well. He has got the big serve. I will place and hit good volleys. Strength and weaknesses, we are both really high and we have got a lot of confidence; did really well the last two years even though we haven't played all year, we hook up here and we play really well. We know where each other on the court, so the movement comes naturally, it seems like.

ALEX O'BRIEN: That is the biggest thing. Just like we win a lot of points, where I know exactly where he is going to hit his second shot or where and I will be right there to put away a volley or he knows where I am going to hit my shots, he is right there. I think we have a good flow on the court. It makes it a lot more fun to play like that.

ALEX O'BRIEN: I thought he was pretty cute and -- (Laughs) -- Yeah, that is how -- I mean, generally you kind of maybe play with the guy one time, and you think we play pretty well together, then you say: Well, do you have any interest in playing with me for maybe the next year, you kind of, yeah, just go see what your schedule is and we are usually kind of -- it has been good because we have been ranked around the same pretty much throughout the time we have been playing together and just kind of worked out well. I just asked if he wanted to play and so that is how -- I approached him, I think.

ALEX O'BRIEN: Exactly. He is real flashy. He can hit any shot in the book and I am kind of the solid guy, so, I think it is a good combination of having a guy who is real flashy, moves a lot, and then a guy who is kind of real stable and can keep you in the match. So, I think that is why we work well together.

ALEX O'BRIEN: I am playing with Byron Black. He is playing with Wayne black. We are teaming up with the Black Family at the Open. But we might try to some in the future, kind of see how things go. I think he is a little upset with me because I didn't play with him this year and so maybe if I can get in his good fortunes, he will give me another shot. Obviously he is carrying me because I hadn't been doing too well without him.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: For sure it is hard right now because he split in March with Jonathan. I had committed to Wayne so I kind of have to finish with Wayne. We did well; made the semis in Wimbledon; had some good results. Things are going there as well, but of course, with Alex, if something could happen, especially for the next year and start fresh, I think it would be a great idea. It would be a good start the third year together.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: We did play one this year. I was playing with Jeff Tarango and he was playing with Jonathan.

ALEX O'BRIEN: Got him.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: Tough three sets.

ALEX O'BRIEN: It is weird playing --

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: Yeah, it felt weird.

ALEX O'BRIEN: Not fun actually because you are friends and it is not fun playing your friends.

ALEX O'BRIEN: Pretty much everything seemed to be working.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: Movement was the key and returns we were really seeing the ball well and putting a lot of pressure on their serves and were able to get the breaks, but I think overall, everything, we had great intensity out there.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: He won the singles, but in the doubles --

ALEX O'BRIEN: Lost actually in the Finals last year.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: It would be great to get another title together, I think. We know we are playing well and we have got a good chance tomorrow, just come back and play the same way we did today and throughout the week.

ALEX O'BRIEN: We never get used to it. We always want more people out there. But I think if you watch a match like that it is fun, it is fun to watch doubles. Obviously I have said this zillions of times because I am a big promoter of doubles because I think it is a great game. It is too bad that people don't come out and watch matches like this because there are some exciting points and sometimes I think it is more exciting than singles. Singles you watch over and over. You watch these guys going out and playing singles; you get the same kind of patterns. In doubles, you never know what you are going to get. Get some guys that are diving all over the place, and some interesting fun points and I think hopefully we can get more people interested in kind of revitalize it.

ALEX O'BRIEN: It is, like he said, in Connecticut what are we 3 and 1 in Connecticut and we are like 1 and 8 or something against them everywhere else. Maybe we should just see if we can play them here every week. Yeah, we do we get fired up playing them because they are the best team in the world.

SEBASTIEN LAREAU: It is challenging to play the best.