U.S. OPEN

August 26, 1996

Jaime Oncins

JAIME ONCINS: No, no. He thought that I hit a volley on that shot, so after that he hit a winner. His shot didn't pass. I mean, it didn't cross the net. The ball hit the net and goes back to his court, so it's my point. That's what he was complaining with the chair umpire. I said I didn't make the volley. It just didn't pass the net.

JAIME ONCINS: He thought that he hit the shot, the ball passed the net, and I hit a volley. It didn't happen this. He hit the shot and the ball didn't pass the net.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes, his shot didn't pass.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes. He thought I hit a volley.

JAIME ONCINS: It didn't pass.

JAIME ONCINS: He asked me if I made the volley. I said, "No, I didn't make the volley. I tried to hit a volley, but the ball didn't pass."

JAIME ONCINS: Yes. My body was like this (indicating). If the ball passed, it probably hit my body, not my racquet.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes. I start to think, 6-4. At that moment was like one hour for me, that little seconds, because I start to think 6-4, I had to win this point, win this set, then have a chance in the fifth set. I forgot what I had to focus in the moment. I had to focus on the point. Then I started to think a lot of things. I lost all my concentration at that moment.

JAIME ONCINS: Yeah. I mean, in the second and third set I was too nervous. There is a long time that I did not play with good players in a big stadium like this. I was too tight, too nervous. After I lost the third set, I thought, "I pay my bills, I don't have to worry about this thing, I just have to play and have fun." I start to play much better, you know, I start to go for the winners, go for the shots. Even in my serve, I serve better than the other sets. I think the best set that I played was the fourth set. So I had to keep in mind to continue to play like that, then maybe I have a chance to come back.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes.

JAIME ONCINS: Don't remember that tiebreaker. Have a bad call over there?

JAIME ONCINS: I remember. Very important bad call, was 12-zero in the tiebreak. I got a big fine at that point.

JAIME ONCINS: Of course.

JAIME ONCINS: It was $2,500.

JAIME ONCINS: I just say that was a bad call.

JAIME ONCINS: Yes.

JAIME ONCINS: No. It was a different match, this one. That match was like a big party. His birthday. It was totally full, the stadium. At that time I was really nervous. I was, like, shaking my whole body.

JAIME ONCINS: I think this last three or four weeks, it is really important for me. Two months ago I start to think about to quit, then I start to think, "Well, this is my life, I love to play tennis." When I was in my home with my family, my girlfriend, we start to talk. They said, "No, you don't have to quit because you love this game, you know that if you staying home, after that you're going to be so sad because you like to play tennis." Then I said I would give my last try this year. I start to play really well. I win a Challenger in Brazil. It was really important for me because I lost my whole confidence in my game. After that, I start to believe a little bit more in my game. I play well the week after, and I play really well in the quallies here against Jacco Eltingh, last round. I think I played my best tennis in three or four years. I was really happy. I have a tough round, first round, in the Grand Slam. Every player is tough, but first round against Michael is really difficult. I like the way I played the fourth set, so I have to keep in mind this fourth set. I had to believe in my game again. I can say to you that I believe in my game again. Believe it or not, this match for me, this set for me, it's like almost I win the game, because it was so important for me.

JAIME ONCINS: Sorry, can you ask again?

JAIME ONCINS: I think the players are right to complain about this, because if a player is ranking No. 2 or 3 or 4 in the world, it's because he deserves. Why in a tournament they not going to go by the ranking for the seeds.? That doesn't make any sense. Doesn't matter if the court is hardcourt, claycourt, grass, wood, I don't know what. Doesn't matter. If there is a ranking, you have to go by the ranking. I mean, if I was No. 3 in the world, they put me as seed No. 7 or 8, I would be mad also.

JAIME ONCINS: I don't know what they're trying. I mean, I don't know. I can't say this because I don't know what's passing their minds. I mean, the women do the same thing, and the players have to complain about that. They start over here. Maybe change next year, maybe not, I don't know.

JAIME ONCINS: That's what I said before, I win the first set. But I think I did not play well in the first set and he did not play well in the first set also. He didn't play his best tennis in the first set also. He started to play better in the second and third set. It was like I said before, too nervous. I did not feel well in the stadium. I started to think, "This court is too big, I'm a little bit lost here." After that in the fourth set, I started to think again, "Just play tennis and have fun on the court."

JAIME ONCINS: That's what I'm talking about. I started to play well in the fourth set. If I play like that in the second set, in the third set, if I play like that in the whole game, maybe I have a better chance to win. Maybe not. Maybe I play like that and I lose the same way. I mean, if I play like that in the second and the third set, really for sure better result. Maybe I lost, maybe I have more chance to win.