US OPEN

August 28, 1997

Greg Rusedski

Q. Greg, after a pretty tight start in the match, you took over, you were playing really free at the end, hitting all sorts of shots?

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I was pleased with the way I played today. Difficult sort of match to play. I got here at 9:45 in the morning; you don't start your match till 7:00 in the evening. You're going to start off a little tighter, harder to get going in the beginning. I think Marcos played a very good first set. I was pleased to come out with a three-set win. Can't complain when that happens.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, not at all. I walked outside, I walked up and down the stairs about 50 times going from the restaurant back and forth, then I went to practice about three or four times, and every time I walked outside, it was raining. So just about the time I was going to get on the court, it started raining. At least I got a little bit of warm-up before, so that was nice.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. I think I've matured a lot as a player in that respect, even with this sort of situation, with the delay. Last year I played Dreekmann in the evening; I had a long delay as well. I didn't handle it as well as I have now. I think I'm just maturing now as a person and player. So that's really helped me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: He's so relaxed. I mean, half the time I'm trying to find him (laughter). He's unbelievable. I mean, he can go about anywhere and he'll like do stretching or just be relaxing, whatever. He's such a laid back individual.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't even have a clue who I'm playing, to be honest with you.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, it's going to be a difficult match. He played extremely well against Tim at Queen's. I think he's got very good returns; he goes for his shots. He's got a good first serve. His second serve, you can attack it a little bit. If I'm playing well, I have a good opportunity to progress.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Never played him before, so it will be the first time. I got a preview at Queen's a little bit. He must be playing well. He beat Pescariu three straight?

GREG RUSEDSKI: Got to be striking the ball well. He's going to go out there with nothing to lose.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Exactly. He's a very talented player. I think he prefers maybe the claycourts. He's shown he can play on grass as well. He's just going to go for his shots, so I'm going to have to start off serving well and hopefully get on top of him early, take advantage of that.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, it's an new facility now, so I don't have to think of the past (laughter). I mean, the setup is much nicer now. I mean, the courts, they're a little bit slower. I think they've changed the ball a little bit. It's just easier around here now. You don't feel as claustrophobic. They have more space for the players in the sitting room areas. It's just a nicer-run event. The air-conditioning, it isn't minus 50 degrees.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It isn't with us, so that's nice.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah. I didn't really enjoy being here that much, to be honest with you. I think I've gotten used to it. I enjoy New York City overall, but I never really enjoyed coming to the Open as much. I think I'm changing things this week.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Exactly. I think that's just more my maturing, not getting impatient, waiting for my chances. Even though I went to a tiebreaker in the first set, I thought I played a good tiebreaker, except for letting one volley go. I mean, I was very pleased that I really took the initiative in the tiebreaker. I think that set the tone for the match today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. I'm just taking it one match at a time really. I'm just trying to stay in the present. Like I'm going to go home, I won't even think about it until the time the match comes along. I think that's what's better with myself. I'm not worrying if I play this person, then that person, I'll do this and that. I'm trying to live by the moment, more or less.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, my agent, John Mayotte, called up Brad Gilbert, asked him to suggest someone to work with me. Brian and Brad are very good friends. I got together with Brian in St. Polten last year.

GREG RUSEDSKI: St. Polten in Austria, the tournament before the French Open. Since that, things have been going well for the past year.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, he must be doing something right (laughter). I think when we started, I was around 50 or 60. Now I'm 20. I think all the work is starting to pay off.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think he's helped me with my return of serve, my ground shots, my mental approach out there. I'm just getting some of his relaxed sort of characteristics, getting laid back. I still don't do all those Yoga positions he does, but I'm trying.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, it definitely opens it up, there's no question about it. For some strange reason, I've lost to Goran every time, 20-18 in the third set tiebreaker, 8-6 in the third set tiebreaker. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise that he's not there, give me an opportunity to continue in the event.

GREG RUSEDSKI: M-a-y-o-t-t-e, like Tim. That's his brother John.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think Tim and I are starting to have a little bit of a trend here. I did well and he did well at Wimbledon. I'm doing well at the US Open and he's doing well at the US Open. I think it's only good for British tennis. Keeps it in the papers, keeps you busy as well (laughter). I think it's just good overall. I mean, it's nice to see Sam doing well as well, having qualified and won a first round match. Maybe it's not going so well this evening, but she's accomplished her goal here for the Top 100, which is nice as well. Things are getting more positive.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yes, it was very nice, the support, the crowd. Very tremendous. Very vocal, behind me from the start till the end, which was very nice.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I really didn't hear it that much. I was just focused on my match. I was just concentrated. I think that's the difference. I'm not letting outside distractions bother me as much.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It's a secret (laughter). I'm just kidding. It's just a carbohydrate drink that I just make up. It gives you energy. I usually have my orange juice that I have with sugar that I take. If I took it in this humidity, I think I'd get a little sick on court. It's just like hydrofuel, which works well.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Tastes horrible, but it does the job.