GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 6, 1997

Justin Gimelstob

JOE LYNCH: First question for Justin.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I thought I competed pretty well, I mean, considering. I think he was at the top of his game. I think I could have done a little bit better, maybe held serve a couple games I was up. I made 30-All, had a chance. He gave me an easy volley, I missed a pass. I mean, too good. I think we saw one of the best players ever playing on top of his game. He wasn't missing any first serves. He was playing unbelievable.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, many times, which I think kills me. He comes out -- sometimes he's a little bit more mellow. I think when he comes to play me, he tries too hard. It's frustrating.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Like night and day. I mean, in practice he's probably the easiest practice hit on Tour, relatively. I mean, he tries -- I mean, not that he doesn't try. He just does his things, he's relaxed, he kind of conserves energy, does a little of this and that. You know, it's not really the most intense practice session. But in a match, he turns the switch on. You know, he just gets a surge of energy. When I was brought up, I was always told you can't turn it on and off like that. But he's unbelievable. He kind of breaks the rule, breaks the mold, I guess.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah. He's actually been very positive. I mean, he's set on his stuff. Obviously he has to be. But he's always been helpful and positive, nice to me. You know, he's never really told me things to work on, but I talked to Paul and stuff, I know he works with Paul Annacone, he's always positive in the press. He's always been a gentleman. You know, that's why he's a classic champion.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah. I think I played much better this time. I played much better this time, I think. I mean, I was serving -- I still didn't serve well for me, but I served better than I did last time. I returned pretty darn well. I mean, whenever I touched it, I returned it pretty well. I played pretty well. You know, he's just too good. I definitely played better this time. I definitely improved. I'll definitely keep improving. I mean, that's all I can do.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yes.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I mean, maybe. He hasn't played for a while. He hasn't played since Wimbledon. You never know what his mental state is going to be, physically how he's going to be, a little match rusty. I think he took care of that early. He came out blazing; nothing I could do except try as hard as I could, which I did.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I think you feel more pressure because if you don't play as well, then he's on you. It's kind of like you feel like, you know, you have to maximize the way you play, it puts more pressure on you to play better. But then again, you don't have much expectations. You know, you always want to win. Either way it's difficult, because he's so good that you have to play at such a high level just to be competitive. You know, you just got to try to keep it close, and hopefully things will work out. Didn't happen tonight.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, the little things. You guys can't realize the location on his serve, not just the speed. He doesn't serve as fast as Philippoussis or those guys, but he serves in the high 120s. You know, the location of his serve, if he misses it, it's always right on the lines, near the lines. Second serve, athleticism, those are the things that people can't tell. On TV, you know, his athleticism is a joke. That's probably his best asset. He's so fast and he's so athletic. The location of his serve, the disguise on his serve.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Probably. But anyone that's really involved with tennis knows. I mean, he just makes it look so easy. But, I mean, there are only a few people like that ever. He's like Michael Jordan in basketball. That's the only way I can makes an analysis or analogy. He makes it look so easy because he's one of those few God-gifted players that is just above all the rest, I think.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: That's a classic example. He's just a great athlete, that's the way he gets to showcase it. That's his way of saying, you know, "I'm a great athlete, the ball up there is mine." That's a showcase for him of his athleticism.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah. I'm playing better, I'm improving. Things are going in the right direction.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, sure. I mean, everyone has weaknesses. There's ways to beat him. You just have to maximize what you do and hope that he's not on the top of his game. If he's on the top of his game, I don't really see anyone beating him. But are times when he's not. He's susceptible on clay, obviously. Throughout his career he's shown that. Sometimes it's really hot, long matches, he's shown vulnerability. If he maximizes his game, he's playing up to his potential, I mean, I'd like to see him play God (laughter).

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah. I mean, I played a good player first round. Good experience for me to play Sampras in this scenario on TV at night. I mean, hopefully. You never want to lose. If you're going to lose, it might as well be to the best player ever. It's a good experience for me. I'm young enough, I'm going to have plenty of tournaments in my future. I don't have to worry if I lose second round to a great player at this point. It was a good experience.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I think so. Just putting a bunch of matches together, getting more consistent, playing at a higher level of consistency.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, exactly. Even Kuerten, look how he came on at the French. Before the French, he was probably, I don't remember, 70, 80, 60 in the world. He just strung it together. Now he's on a roll. Woodruff the same. I think a lot of guys are capable of doing that; it's just a matter of doing it.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, sure. I think that I need to keep working on my serve, hitting locations better, more aggressive on my second serve. Just little things like, you know, I should have volleyed behind him a little more. I needed to cover the line on passing shots a couple of times. Pretty much, I just got beaten by a better player today.