US OPEN

September 6, 1997

Greg Rusedski

Q. How does it feel?

GREG RUSEDSKI: It feels great to be able to win a match in the semis of a Grand Slam when Jonas is playing such tremendous tennis. The both of us, I thought, played particularly well. It could have gone either way.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. I was going to play no matter what today. I've got to keep the questions a little short because my doctor told me just to take it easy, not to try to speak too much.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I woke up this morning probably about 8:30, turned on the tele and watched. It was very sad. It was nice in the respect how the nation paid tribute to Di, how much the nation cared for her. I mean, I thought her brother gave a tremendous speech.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I mean, it's sad in a lot of respects because of what happened to Princess Diana. I'm going to celebrate my birthday next weekend.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yes.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Female.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Dr. Gwen, I don't know how to spell her last name, I think Korovin.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I just called up the hotel. They knew her. She took me right away. She was here supporting me here today and will be in the Finals as well. She took time out to help me out, which is really kind of her.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Just an infection. It was hard to breathe yesterday. She relieved a lot of the pain. When I got on court, it was fine.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think they embraced me from the start. I don't know where you're getting that from. From the beginning, when I came over in '95, I lost my first two matches. I was in the papers called a True Brit because I lost two in a row (laughter). I think they've been extremely supportive. The press have been very kind. The people have always wrote me letters of encouragement. Even in the locker, I had people call from up Leeds and all over England to wish me well on such a sad day, which was very kind.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I was going to play no matter. Doesn't matter. In a Grand Slam, doesn't matter whether you're ill, you have an infection. If you can step on the court, you play, because you don't get these opportunities very often.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah. I thought I played tremendously well. Jonas missed a few volleys. I managed to take advantage of that. But then Jonas brought it up a level and didn't make any unforced errors. He played two very good sets. I just tried to hang in there. I think the Love-40 game, which I came back to win, was the key to the match today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, he has. I was expecting it. I just didn't want it to bother me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I always believed. I had my family here supporting me, encouraging me on. I always felt I had a chance. If he was going to return like that, then too good. But I stayed in there and it paid off.

GREG RUSEDSKI: That was at nil-nil. So that wasn't as big.

GREG RUSEDSKI: The other one at breakpoint definitely was a key to the match.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I would have lost the match, then I probably wouldn't have.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, when I was Love-40 the last time, I played a bad volley at deuce. He played a good point. I knew I could come back.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It's very satisfying. I'm just hoping -- I'm looking forward to continuing. Now I can talk about winning the tournament maybe because I'm in the Finals. So one more match to go.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Just as I have always. Just have a light hit. Just do the normal things I've been doing everyday really.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, not at all. The tragedy with Princess Diana, I mean, you can't compare the two things. That's the least important thing for the country and for the world at the moment. To compare the two --

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. I don't think it takes anything away from what I've accomplished or done. I'm just proud maybe I can put a smile on some people's face because of the tennis. I mean, you can't compare the two things.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, the doctor looked at me and she said it looks pretty positive. So I have to wake up tomorrow morning. I'm going to play no matter what.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Just a bacterial infection.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'm not a doctor.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I had a bit of a fever. I seem fine today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I was just trying to focus on the tennis and not think of too many other things. Just went out there and played each point at a time. It's a boring cliche, but that's what you have to do.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I watched about an hour this morning.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know what I'm going to do in the evening. I haven't decided in that respect. I think it was a lovely service. I mean, it's such a tragedy. I don't know what else to say, to be honest with you.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I didn't cry. I was pretty emotional and pretty pleased.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, in Saddlebrook.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think the work I've been doing with Brian has helped out a lot. I've known Pete for about five years now. When we practice together, I can take a few sets in practice, but that doesn't mean anything until you get on the match court.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I mean, Michael is probably the best competitor there is in the game of tennis today. He's won some very difficult five-set matches. He knows Sampras is out, he wants to win a major Championship again. I'm going to have to serve well and attack and not get into the long baseline rallies. If I do that, I'll be in trouble. I'm just going to have to be a little more aggressive on the returns and go for more, just keep on coming to the net. Both of us are just going to come forward.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think the players 1 to 20 now, there's not a huge difference. Fair enough, Sampras, with all the titles he's won. The depth of the game is getting stronger and stronger. I mean, 1700 points, which I think is the 19th or 20th player in the world, used to be about 11 in the world. The depth is tremendous at that top level.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think players are improving, wanting to get better. It's becoming a little bit like the golf Tour. I think The Tour needs to market the players better, because there's going to be different faces all the time winning titles. People have to know them better.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Everybody's known Venus for about six years now. She hasn't come out of relatively nowhere. I think I'm probably about 95 with my good Wimbledon showing. I think in Europe I'm better known than America. At the US Open, I've never won a match before. It's not abnormal for people not to know me over here.