U.S. OPEN

September 6, 1994

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Can't hear. Say again?

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I mean, Michael, I think, he played one of the best matches so far that we played, and I had a very disappointing start; very early in the match he broke me and since that, he was on top. I didn't have any chance.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: He was better from the baseline, that really surprised me. You know, the -- all four times that we played before, he didn't play that well from the baseline.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: He was more consistent. He put all the pressure on me. I was under pressure. I was trying to do anything, do something different, but today, he was really on top of me.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, that was, you know, that was the main reason. I felt really disappointed that first set. I came back, you know, I save a few set points on Michael's serve and you know, I had one of the biggest chances and in the first set, but that time, I mean -- Michael, played unbelievable -- I never saw him play so great. I didn't expect it.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Actually, it was a nice trip to the United States. I won a tournament before, I won 8 straight matches. I didn't expect to do well here, I made round of 16, U.S. Open here, I mean, it is a big effort.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, you know, maybe, because I was waiting for mistakes from Michael, but... Michael is the highest seed left in the tournament.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: He's definitely going to be in the final.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Basically, my forehand is the main weapon in my game, and, you know, -- I didn't have any chances to, you know, show how strong my forehand is. Michael was doing everything perfect. Everything perfect.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: The most important points Michael did, you know, great shot and was -- I was missing forehand, like that.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Today was completely different. It's round of 16 U.S. Open. That was the main reason. Michael was -- he was so pumped up today. He definitely wanted to beat me. Especially here in the U.S. Open, Stadium Court. And maybe I thought that I'm going to beat him. That's why maybe I wasn't concentrating, but I did concentrate before the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Sure.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Sure, we played 7:30 night match, you know, stadium was full of -- booked, you know.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Sure, I played --

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, but everybody expect me to win today.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I'm always pumped up, but Michael was on top of me. He was pumped up better, and I know that in two weeks we're going to play again, in the Davis Cup.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I'm happy with my groundstrokes, I am happy with my serve and volley, but most important thing I need to improve is my physical condition. I'm still not good enough for those five-set matches.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Differently? I'm -- hopefully, I'm going to recover. That's the main reason I need to be fresh against Michael. And you know, those kind of pumps which Michael does, there's nothing much you can do. You have to be really fresh and see the ball very clearly to be able to return the serve; otherwise, you are in deep trouble.