EUROCARD OPEN

October 29, 1998

Greg Rusedski

Q. Great news for you tonight?

GREG RUSEDSKI: I was really pleased because Swen and I after my match yesterday, we sat down and had a chat about what happened yesterday and I think I handled the situations better today whenever there was any controversy or any problems I think I really handled it better. I took my time and I didn't let situations bother me and I think that was definitely the key to the match and I thought I returned particularly well today which was very important against Patrick.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I was pleased. I mixed up my serve today. I hit my passing shots well. I kept him off balance. I didn't worry about it even though I was up two breaks and he was coming back and getting some momentum and I managed to keep everything intact. So my game is coming together nicely and the mental side is getting stronger as well, which is a definite plus for me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Very positive, even the game I got broken. I think the forehand volley I hit was on the line, but I didn't let it bother me like I would have yesterday, probably. So, I think just taking my time and playing my game more professionally was definitely the key and just not worrying about situations and not things I can't control and just going out there and doing the job and playing tennis properly. And, if I am going to win, I am going to win playing my game. If I am going to lose, it is not going to be because of the mental side or getting upset. It is going to be because the other players played good tennis.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It was just more taking my time and just reacting out there, and not letting situations get you uptight, and just to be more professional out there.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think it is just a part of your game when you really want to do really well, you put too much pressure on yourself, and your expectations are high and you want to do better than you can. Sometimes when you do that, you go the opposite way. So fortunately for me it has turned out all right this week so far.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, worked on my return of serve. I think both sides, forehand and backhand, I can block and come out for the returns as well. So it gives a good variety out there which is nice, which I didn't have before. And I think we have put in a lot of hard work, especially during the time coming back from my injury really worked on that area specifically, and starting to pay off and show dividends.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I think by coming over the ball and mixing up with the chip and coming over the backhand, this way they can't play to a certain rhythm because before I used to block and just always chip, so that way they just come in tight and play the volley. Now they have to anticipate what is going to happen. I mean, you have to make your game more complete. If you watch Sampras he can do everything and that is why he is No. 1.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I went to get a stringalings. The problem was the ball girl lost my stringalings. Couldn't find it anyway. She put it in one of those flower bins, I guess, and it was gone. I didn't end up changing my racket or anything, and I just had to go to my bag to point afterwards to get some.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I just said: The girl lost my stringalings, so I am sure that was about it.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think I want to beat him every time. For me that was probably my biggest tennis occasion in my life. To lose that was extremely disappointing. It was a great result to get to the finals, but nobody really remembers that at the end of the day who made the Finals. They only remember who wins. For me I would trade every win I had to date right now against him just for that one win.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think it is tough. I mean, I have played him two weeks, I have beaten him twice. It is tough because really he has got a good chance at No. 1. I think he is playing -- Paris is his last event before the World Championships. I think he wanted a good week here and he felt he had a good chance.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I think the courts in the summer really suit him with the faster balls and the Open is the quickest surface by far and the balls really bounce up higher. I mean, this week bounces up probably the highest of indoors that we have all year. So, for me, it was very satisfying to be able to win today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, it is better. It is fine. I can hear today, so I won't have any problems with the let serve, foot faults, or whatever happens to me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It does make it a much better win for me. Look at his result here last here, he was in the semi last year losing to Korda. The court surface is different obviously, but the balls definitely pick up higher and go higher than they do the last few weeks, definitely it is.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I am just seeing how it goes. If I play well, then that will take care of itself. My main goal right now is to try to get back into the Top-10. With Krajicek playing well at the moment, and if Tim plays well in Paris or Stockholm, I mean, and Kucera, it is going to be pretty secure for those players. But if I can try to somehow knock on the Top-10, get to 10 at the end of the year, I think I will be extremely pleased.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It is going to be a difficult match. I can't remember the last time we played. I think he has won the first few, but I won the one at the Open which was quite nice. But it is a new day. He has got a new coach. He seems to be playing well. He has had a good win against Johansson today. I thought Johansson looked in control for the first set, and he must be playing some good tennis. He has beaten two good players in three sets like myself, we will just have to find out tomorrow.

GREG RUSEDSKI: That is good, at least he is staying up late. So that is all right.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think my tennis is better. But it is just getting that mental edge back. I think tonight was a very good step forward towards that. I think my game has definitely improved. It is just getting that mental stability stronger day-in/day-out. Today was definitely another step forward. So tennis-wise technically, I feel stronger. And the other side, I have to keep on getting better.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I think we have a good relationship. I think we sit down and talk, and after the match yesterday he gave me his complete thoughts even though I sometimes don't want to hear them, but that is what you need someone to do for you. He does it in a very professional way. So I think it has been working very well, and he is a nice person off the court and I can go socialize with him as well. So it works out very nice.