VOLVO MONTE-CARLO OPEN

April 29, 1995

Andrea Gaudenzi

ANDREA GAUDENZI: In my --

ANDREA GAUDENZI: What is the question? I have to tell you everything about the whole match?

ANDREA GAUDENZI: What was the problem about the match in the second set? Well, I had no problem in the match, just I lost, that is it. I didn't have any special problem. I think it was normal match and I didn't play good enough and I lost.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: I have no idea about this because I didn't speak to him, but in the beginning of second set I thought he had some problems in the changeover and I thought he looked like tired in between the points, but I couldn't do anything about that. I just tried to hang in the match and obviously I knew -- I felt that if I am going to play a third set I am going to win or I have a good chance to win and that is what made me a little bit tight. Maybe I was just waiting a little bit too much, his mistake, instead of trying to attack. It was basically the biggest mistake I did in the match; instead of trying to go for it, to go for the points and to finish the set; I was just waiting because I just looked at him and I thought he couldn't run anymore, so just put the ball back.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: Well, I think during the match I was very cool. All the match, I behaved very well and I didn't get angry at all. And then just at the end of my match all my frustration came out and I throw the racket because I think the umpire wasn't strong enough just to make the rule clear. But I had nothing against Thomas. Obviously, he is doing his interest, if he is tired, he is trying to take time. It is normal, everybody would do that, but if ATP makes the rule of 25 seconds because they want to make the game faster, then they have also to apply the rule on court. If he goes over 25 second - he had already a warning, then he has to have a point penalty; that is the game. Nothing against Thomas. Obviously, he is trying to do his interest, but the umpires sometimes are not -- they are just scared or not strong enough to uphold the rule, so I was angry with him.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: I already said I was very upset during the match because I got tight because -- as I told you, because I felt that I had to win that set; I had to win that game because obviously when you see somebody injured; then you feel the pressure because you feel like, you know, I can make it, I have to win. So -- but I was really trying to control myself all the match, trying to stay positive and relaxed and not to think about him but to think only about myself and my game. So at the end of my match I got -- like, everything came out. I mean, I did this mistake though, throw the racket; I am sorry about that. Then I just didn't see anything. I was angry, took my bag, then I realized I have to shake hands so I went there, I shake hands, then I went away.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: Well, I didn't think I tanked the match. I think I was fighting and trying to win, if that is what you said. But as I told you, it is very difficult to play with somebody which is injured or which is looking injured because then you concentrate only on him while you just have to concentrate only on yourself and play the game because you don't take risk anymore. I thought he couldn't run anymore, so I just tried to put the ball there, but obviously -- I mean, he looked very tired in between the point. But as you can see, he could run out there. Because he was a little bit tired; his arm was looser and he was taking the risk and obviously he plays more free; he has less pressure and then he is trying to go for the shot. He was always inside the court and he had a very good timing. I mean, then I didn't know. Plus I don't know how he really felt. I know how it is, I had the same in Estoril. I was injured and I played probably my best game with the arm because you just go for the shot, you don't care anymore so you play good.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: No, I am not really disappointed with his behavior because I understand once you are inside the court, you try to do everything that is possible to win the match. Even if he really wasn't injured, if he was faking, if he is really injured, I know what it is, whatever. When we are out there, everybody is trying to win this match and do everything that is possible. He didn't do anything against me, so I cannot be angry with him. As I told you, I just was angry a little bit with the umpire because he couldn't make the rule clear. I am angry at most of it with myself because I was unable to go and finish the match and kill him -- "kill him," I mean, kill him -- I mean, not kill him, but with the ball.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: It is not really like that because there is now a new rule that spectators can make noise. The rule change, before it was 30 seconds,; now it is 25 seconds. Spectators can move and make noise, so when I am ready to serve, he has got to be ready to return. That is the rule. He already had the warning. The umpire has to give him penalty point l- that is the rule. They change it - I don't know how long ago. So that is what makes me angry. Everybody can scream and I can still serve. He has to be ready when I am ready.

ANDREA GAUDENZI: That is what I said. I mean, that is the only thing I can -- if I go in the locker room I am angry. If I step in the locker room, I would like to break all my rackets, but the reality is I have to sit down and say "I had a good week, I played good tennis, but I have to improve this." Once you come to the important point -- I could see yesterday, I had the same with Bruguera, I was 2-Love up and in this kind of points, if you want to be a really good player, you have to go and finish it and kill him. You have to go and make your points; make the winner; try to take serve and volley; do something. You cannot always wait the mistake of the opponent. That is what I want to learn. That is what I have to do in the next matches. That is what I have to improve. Beside, this is probably the "riassunti," the whole story.