COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

September 26, 1997

Greg Rusedski

Q. How does that compare with some of the best victories you've had?

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think I had a really good strategy going into the match. It's very satisfying because I felt after the first set that I had a really good opportunity, and I played a poor tiebreaker. Then I really picked it up in the next two sets.

GREG RUSEDSKI: He had 15-40 twice on me in the first set twice. I think the key to the match was my returns today. I served extremely well. I was constantly putting pressure on him on my returns, coming over them. I thought I hit them well today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Some of the best tennis I've played. I feel if I can play at that level on a consistent base, I can get to my new goals.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I mean, next two weeks I have to defend my spot in the Top 10; after that, try to get in the Top 5 in the world.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Top secret, sorry (laughter). I'm not going to tell him what my strategy was out there. I'm going to keep that to myself for next time.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah. I mean the chip and charge worked well, coming over the ball. I think overall, everything worked out really well.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I thought that was a big game to hold, especially to come back and have those two big first serves. Then after that, the break right away, to go up two-nil was crucial. I think that started to set the momentum of the rest of the match.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I think so. I think he got down on himself a little bit. I think when he was down two breaks and 5-1, it's quite difficult on this sort of court to come back. If it was a claycourt surface, I think he'd be a little happier at the time.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm sure Pete's looking forward to the match as well. He likes to give me a little bit of stick now and then. I'm going to have a good match out there. It's going to be interesting. I have nothing to lose. Pete's No. 1 in the world. He's expected to win. Hopefully I set up a good strategy and try my best out there.

GREG RUSEDSKI: You could say that, yes. I think this was good test I passed today because I lost to him convincingly in Adelaide. To beat him 3-1 shows my improvement as a player. I think Sampras definitely will be a test tomorrow.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think those two sets was about the same form I was playing in San Jose. If I can keep that sort of form against Pete tomorrow, it will be good. But Pete's going to serve a lot better than Kafelnikov does, so it's going to be interesting. He beat Bjorkman, who is a very difficult player to beat and returns extremely well. So he's playing well.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, that's true. But take it one step at a time tomorrow.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. It was fine. It was very good. I got to work on aspects of my game I wasn't pleased with on Tuesday. I think I cleaned up those areas. It was very positive for me, because it was nice to have the two days off and to get the practice in. I think it paid off really well today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'm hitting with Magnus Norman. There's a junior here, Andy, who I've just been hitting with a few hours a day. He's about 21, so it's been good.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah. I've been working those things out.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I haven't been to the beer festival yet. I said I might go down after this week's over. Hopefully I can keep going and go all the way. There's a big obstacle tomorrow.