PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 21, 1998

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

MIKI SINGH: Eight straight match wins for Yevgeny here in New Haven. This is his second consecutive week he has reached the semifinal at an ATP event. He will play Goran Ivanisevic in the semifinal match tomorrow. First question.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, it was.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, took me two hours. Two hours work, but that is how every match is supposed to be, you know, big battle and fortunately, I was able to close it out.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I don't know. Everything was tough.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I felt a little bit bad in the beginning of the second set, but I was able to continue and paid out. I won the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I don't know, we will see. I feel okay, but I don't know how it is going to be tomorrow.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You know, it is hard to describe it, but felt really, really bad, you know, felt almost like exhausted or going to hit the wall. But, like I said, I was able to continue, then it was good for me and won the match. What else can I say?

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I don't know. I still don't know. But believe me, I was close to give up because I was really feeling very bad.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Nothing to do with that. Has nothing to do with that. That was one of the days maybe where I had sun stroke or something like this, but it has nothing to do with motivation at all.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, I have to.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Perhaps, but I don't know.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You know, a lot of factors has to be, you know, has to go my way. Depends how I am going to feel too. I have to be fresh, of course. The main factor will be return of his serve and if I would be able to deal with his serve I am sure I have a shot.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Experience. Simple answer.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You know, yesterday was -- I never thought about it, but perhaps if I would have played first match early in the morning, but I guess they played late last night so they couldn't schedule him early matches tonight. So, whatever.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: A little bit, but not so much. Whatever happens in doubles, you know, I guess I have to still come back tomorrow and play my singles.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: We both felt tired, but I guess it is every time like this once you are not able to close it out, when the opponent gives you chance on breakpoints, but on the other hand, I was able to win a few breakpoints, just few crucial points made the match. It could go either way in the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Good question. I -- I guess maybe on the other circumstance I would give up, but not now and not right -- not here.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Very much. Very much. Especially when, you know, a few friends of mine they come on the court and give me support, you know, once and after that you feel kind of loose and make jokes with the friends which are seated on the side. Otherwise, if I take too much serious there is too much pressure on me.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I guess it is both factors. One, I want to prove that I could win back-to-back and of course with the upcoming US Open, that is another factor. And with those two factors combined together, you know, it is probably the main reason why I still playing here or why -- and why I didn't give up the match and like you said, probably all the others circumstances would be different story. Maybe -- because today, believe me, I pushed myself to very big limit. On the other circumstance, I would probably retire in the match. But sometimes you have to go through the wall and it paid out. I won the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Nothing. He give me -- just asking for the aspirin from the headache and that is about it. He said: I have to carry on, take my time and he told me it is going to get better.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: You know, in the beginning I was hoping to get together fast pace. Then I kind of hit the wall. He was coming back with big shots and then after I felt a little bit exhausted, felt not good, I tried to slow it down. And, you know, it works successfully because he is the kind of player who likes to dictate the game and be fast on the court, play fast shots, off both sides and today, seems to me, just it was one of the days we both felt really tired and fortunately for myself I was able to win the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I am in the United States; what else can you expect me to do? It is a long way from Europe.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I guess probably was able to win that important breakpoint in the fourth game of the second set where I had the chance in the beginning of the first and then, you know, finally broke him for 3-All. Then all of a sudden, goes my serve, I was playing a lot looser, without any pressure in the second and third set when I was kind of uptight in the beginning of the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: That is right. Everyone is obligated to make mistakes. I know sometimes I make big mistakes, even the line judge also can make -- can afford to do mistake even though maybe he doesn't want to do it, but unfortunately he makes those mistakes. Sometimes it does drive you crazy, but nothing much you can do about it. You just have to hang in and keep focus.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: It is Medvedev. You have seen him.