NEWSWEEK CHAMPIONS CUP

March 10, 1999

Xavier Malisse

XAVIER MALISSE: I think it is. I mean, I had a good run in New Mexico, I played finals. I think I played great here. I mean, I have nothing to lose. They got to win, they're the seed. I'm the young guy. I can just go out there and have fun. I feel fit. I feel great. My confidence is going up. I think it's definitely one of my biggest wins.

XAVIER MALISSE: I think the biggest thing was I hung in there, even though he was serving aces in the second set. I mean, you have to expect it before the match. I think the best thing was I just hung in there and I stayed fit.

XAVIER MALISSE: I love it. I think it's a dream for everybody. I'm 18. I'm a young guy, so I like to have fun. The more the people get into it, the more I get into it. I think that's definitely what tennis needs where people go a little bit nuts, a little bit crazy. The more people, the more fun.

XAVIER MALISSE: Yesterday I was thinking about it. You see these people on TV three years ago, four years ago. You wish you were there. Then one day they see you out there. But I think I'm 18, you know, I don't really realize what's happening to me right now. But I think the more you get into the tennis and the more mature you get, the more you start realizing that you're there, you're one of them, you can play. You know you can beat them. You can't think that it's still Ivanisevic, I can't beat him because he played Wimbledon. You have to go out there and hang in there and try the best you can do.

XAVIER MALISSE: I have a brother, he was playing tennis. I went with him. I was just kidding around with the ball and the tennis racquet. There's a lady that came up to me that said it would be good if I played one hour a week, you know, just for the feeling. I loved it. Since then I've been playing.

XAVIER MALISSE: In Belgium.

XAVIER MALISSE: Waregan. That's where I started playing tennis.

XAVIER MALISSE: Well, I'm selected. It's also who plays the best at that time is going to play. I'm happy I'm in the team. Davis Cup is fun. You're not winning for you're own; you're wining for your country. It will be good to play Davis Cup.

XAVIER MALISSE: Yes.

XAVIER MALISSE: It was fun. I was a little bit nervous in the beginning, the first time. Once you get out there, it's like you play for your own, but in your mind it's still for your country. There's people watching, the whole Belgium is watching. It was a great experience. I love Davis Cup. I think it's one of the good tournaments of the year.

XAVIER MALISSE: Well, we'll see. Can't really say. I mean, I think they're favorite, but we're playing in Belgium, it's our surface. I mean, you never know. I think we can win. Very a good chance of winning. Nobody is playing bad. I think we can win.

XAVIER MALISSE: Actually, I don't know who I play next.

XAVIER MALISSE: Well, no. If you start looking at, "If I win, I play this one." I just take one at a time. You can't think three matches ahead. Every match in this tournament is tough. I don't know who I play next, but we'll see. I'm going to look at the draw and see who I play.

XAVIER MALISSE: They call me the X Man.

XAVIER MALISSE: I might. If I'm going to cut it, I will definitely put some color in it. Right now, I'm just growing it out. It brings me good luck so far. I don't think I'm going to cut it if I go to the finals. Maybe next month might be different.

XAVIER MALISSE: No. I've been doing my own hair so far. We'll see. I think it's good for the people. Some like it, some don't. You got to do something new in tennis so people get into it.

XAVIER MALISSE: I've never really -- I didn't see him play yesterday. I think his second serve was a little bit weaker today. But it did surprise me that even though on his first serve he stayed back sometimes. I got more comfortable out there because if I could just bring it back and play, you know, the point was open. No, it kind of surprised me a little bit though.

XAVIER MALISSE: No. He was a great player, he was one of the best in Belgium. He was good for practice. As soon as the matches started, he got stressed out. He couldn't hit one in. He started studying. He's studying law, third year.

XAVIER MALISSE: Law.

XAVIER MALISSE: No. I mean, I'm very thankful everybody who helped, the person who gave me the wildcard. That's why I'm sitting here right now. It would be different if they wouldn't give it to me. Every chance you get, you got to take it. It's not just a wildcard in an easy tournament. This is one of the toughest draws of the year. I'm very happy that they give it to me.

XAVIER MALISSE: Yeah. I love golf. Probably at 2:00 or something, I'll get out there.