TMS MONTE CARLO

April 17, 2000

Greg Rusedski

Q. Call it an eventful match, really, one way or another?

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think it was. I think I played pretty well the first two sets. And I got myself back in when he served for the match and I was hustling and competing a lot of balls and then I had -- my opponent took a ten minute toilet break when I had him down and out and tired, so it is a little bit of gamesmanship out there. It worked in the third. I went off my boil, I lost my rhythm a little bit and didn't make him -- compete the way I had the first two sets and he really took advantage.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, I needed to take a pee. I went in the back, I wanted to see how far away the toilet was. It was right behind the court. I just wanted to see how far away it was because, you know, I could see he was really tired after the second set and just sitting in the cubicle for ten minutes, it is a good idea, I should have handled it; been more professional and managed to deal with the situation, raised my game, and play better in the third set because of it, but I wasn't happy about it and I told him at the end of the match I wasn't happy about that ten minute toilet break.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No. He just apologized because he missed a few balls that weren't good at the end of the third set, but he didn't have much to say about it. So I just wasn't impressed; it's as simple as that.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know what the umpire was saying. Fair enough if somebody needs to take a toilet break, the rules are there to take them. There has got to be a limitation. Ten minutes is too long. And at the end of the day I lost a match not because of a toilet break but just because of not sustaining my level and raising my game even though I had the advantage after winning the second set.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, you are going to get that, obviously, with this sort of weather and being in the clay, I think if I would have kept better depth like I did in the first two sets then I might not have gotten many sporting bounces that is part of tennis; that is part of the clay court tennis and something, you know, you just got to -- you have got to handle and I didn't handle that well in the third set and my level went down, his raised, and that was the difference.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I don't mind playing in this weather; had a good preparation. I think I am playing better this year than I did last year, but I still had the same result, losing first round. Obviously, I'd still like to be in the tournament that is the disappointing thing about it.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah.

GREG RUSEDSKI: No, I think it was the same for both of us so there is nothing to complain about that. I think I played really bad first two points to open up the third which hurt me. I missed two easy returns I should make. And I just didn't keep point by point, ball by ball, like I did the first two sets. That really hurt me because he is quite good on the clay, and if I don't sustain that level, after he got his wind back and got everything back then you know you are going to be in a tough match; that is what happened to me. He took full advantage of the situation.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I just find it really bad that you can do that. I just find it, you know -- fair enough if you have to walk all the way back here and that, but there is a toilet sitting right outside the court, I mean, I don't know about you and me when I go to the loo, it doesn't take me ten minutes. So it is something that I have to handle and something that I definitely have to take advantage of, it was a good play by him. It is within the rules, you are allowed to do it. So, you know, good to him but, you know, it really frustrated me.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I just find it hard because you work and you work - clay is not my best surface. Anywhere I want to play, I want to try to win. When you feel you got your opponent down and out then he can take a 10 minute break, a breather, kind of nice, like me putting my feet up and getting something to eat, come back and continue which I think is not right. There has got to be some way around this. Fair enough, people need toilet breaks, I completely agree with that. Five minutes, but ten minutes is just not right.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know, but there was a toilet -- they took me to the toilet straight behind, so, if they took him all the way to the clubhouse then that explains it a lot more, obviously, but if the toilet is right behind the court, it just frustrates me. That is just the way I feel. I might have still lost the match, but it is just really irritating to lose with that sort of thing when that thing happens.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, it's a hard decision to make that because unfortunately you get zero pointers with the Super 9 -- you get 3 zero, actually 4, if you don't play any of the clay and your ranking would go totally to the pots. You have kind of have to play the clay season. It is good to work on the game, my serve, my areas, but obviously, if I had a choice, I could play a little bit less clay but with the system that has arisen you have to play quite a fair amount.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know. That is a good question, but I don't know.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I would like to do that. Hopefully if I can build my strength and stamina on the clay, this might be good for me to do this. But I think the clay is good for me and if I can be healthy in Wimbledon, that would be great.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Yeah, I think my backhand topspin is getting a little better on the passing shot today. Still got to keep working those returns. I think the grinding from the back is better, but I have got to -- I have just got to be there ball by ball and third set I wasn't there ball by ball; that is what clay is all about, it is about being there for every single ball and I think the first two sets I did that well and I was pleased with that third set. I think I let myself down a bit.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Barcelona next.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It is a tough decision to make. Obviously I have been working hard in the gym trying to get stronger, so I have got to talk to Swen and make a decision, but I am going to be doing a lot of gym work trying to get stronger; then if I get stronger I can complete out there and it is really in between the ears for the rest of the match.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It is quite humid; a little darker. You'd expect it to be quicker than it is, but actually isn't that quick, so it is kind of deceptive.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It is a little bit low, but it didn't make any effect today. I think it was fair for both players out there. It is nice for the tournament to be able to put a few matches on with this sort of weather because at this time of year you never know what is going to happen.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Perfect, so if I go home it will probably start raining and if I stay here it will probably start raining.