PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 15, 1996

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes. Difference was I think my personal opinion I'm a better hardcourt player than claycourter. I just show it by beating him pretty easy 1 and 4.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Basically I didn't do something different. The difference was that I had yesterday a day off. I was really focusing on my practice, you know. I had three hours practice, was particularly working on my baseline game. I think today's worked perfectly. I was pretty happy with my -- you know, groundstrokes, my backhand worked well, my forehand worked well. I moved pretty well. You know, I was pleased. I am pleased with the way I played today.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think, you know, doubles, which is -- is going to help me. I will have time to serve much more and to return some balls, that I can keep myself in the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: What I will do? My concentration will stay in the match. That I'm sure is going to help me. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, you know, I'd like to keep my body all the time in the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think much more mentally, you know.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah. I feel I do need it to keep my concentration, to keep my confidence, to be focused, to stay focused every day.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, I think our games fit to each other pretty well. We understand each other on the court, plus we have a kind of different game. Daniel is very aggressive player. He's got a huge serve, perfect volley. I'm the kind of player who likes to be on the baseline. I prefer to stay on the baseline more than being aggressive. That combination really fit to each other. I think that's why we won the French Open.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I just proved to myself that, you know, I do feel physically strong, that I can win both. I cannot only win singles, but I can also win doubles, you know. 13 matches overall in those two weeks. I just proved that I'm strong enough to do that.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, it was fun.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes, I do feel that. Plus, you know, Pete is not on the top of his game. Andre got GQ yesterday, so I'm sure he's not in a good mood. The other guys not in the best shape. I'm sure this year's Open will be very, very interesting. Nobody is dominating the game now. It's like, for example, last year Andre was dominating his game. He won like 26 matches in a row, hot favorite. This year I don't see anybody who can stay.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think so, yeah, because nobody knows who can win. Good for the spectators, I think good for the TV. You know, it just makes the tournaments much more, much more interesting.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, that's another point, you know.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Not at the moment, but hopefully when the US Open starts, I'll be on the top. I'll be what I want to be, you know.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Everybody knows that's the last Grand Slam tournament of the year. That tournament is really important to me because if I do well there, I might reach the highest ranking point of my career, so I can be No. 1. That's what I'm aiming for right now. I'll put everything what I have now to that tournament. That's what keeps me, you know, focused.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, that's a long story, very long story.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: My family is really, you know -- I was born in a sports family. That's why, you know, I'm a good athlete. I can talk about my family a little bit.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I'm sure I will be on the top of my game, not tomorrow. If I do win tomorrow, it's going to come Saturday, Sunday. When you're practicing hard, sooner or later it will come.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I just need to hit some more balls. I'm physically strong. I think it's going to take some time to feel the ground strokes. I'm still missing little bit small on my game.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think this is my fifth trip to New Haven. I do like the atmosphere here. Especially the tournament is well organized, close to New York City. The weather is not, for example, like Indy. It's nice during the day, cool at night. It really fits into my schedule.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: No. To be honest, I've never been. I didn't have a chance to go sight-seeing.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes, and practice.