WIMBLEDON

July 3, 2004

Miles Kasiri

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everyone. Miles Kasiri for you.

MILES KASIRI: Well, yeah, it's not really overwhelming being in the final, because I expected it anyway before I even came here. I'm just happy that I reached my goal and I'm in the final now.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, that's true. A lot of people say that. But, I mean, if I don't set my standards high, then I'm not going to get very far. I have to do that.

MILES KASIRI: (Smiling) well, if I achieve as much as him in my career, then that would be amazing for me. But, I mean, obviously I'm not trying to be like him or anything. I'm my own player and my own person, so...

MILES KASIRI: Same as any other night. I didn't have any problems sleeping or anything. I don't really get nervous before the match. Maybe when I'm on the court a little bit. But, no, I was fine.

MILES KASIRI: Actually, no, that's the first time it's ever happened to me. But it was fine.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, actually I'm playing -- as soon as -- after my final tomorrow, I have to go to Nottingham to play in some challengers on grass there. So I'm hoping to do well in those tournaments, as well.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, of course. That's what I'll be working for, yeah.

MILES KASIRI: Uhm, well, I was very happy that I actually got to finish the match, you know, because yesterday I took -- it was a long first set, but I took it 7-6. I really wanted to finish the match before the weather came, but I didn't get to. I was just happy that I was able to finish the match and now I know I'm in the final.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, I've played him last year in the US Open actually, and I lost to him in the first round there. I know he's a very, very good player, an extremely good athlete. He's won the Australian Open and the French Open this year. So, I mean, he's only lost one match this year already on the Juniors. So obviously it's going to be the toughest match I've had so far, by far. I'll just have to try -- if I want to win, I'll just have to try to everything the best I can.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah. Well, he's kind of unbeaten, yeah, since before the Australian Open. So, yeah.

MILES KASIRI: I'll just have to, you know -- even if I'm behind, just try and stay with him, try and do all the things I do best. Try and serve well, try and return well, and try and be consistent, as well.

MILES KASIRI: Uhm, against -- well, actually yesterday in the first set, I didn't really do anything well. I don't think he did either, because the weather was just so windy that neither of us could really like -- even if you had a ball on top of the net, it was hard to put it away because the wind was swirling so hard. It was just a horrible first set. But today it was also very windy, but I think I was much more consistent than him on the serve and from the back and everything. In the end of the day, I won the match because I was more consistent and he made errors before I did.

MILES KASIRI: Well, I can't speak for the other Junior players. But for me, I mean, doesn't matter what other people are saying, I mean, it's good that they're looking maybe to me to do something in the game. But the only pressure I feel is the pressure I put on myself. It's not going to affect me, what other people are saying.

MILES KASIRI: I might be nervous, yeah. Obviously, extremely excited as well that I'm in the final and I might be playing on a show court. So, yeah, I guess I might be nervous when I go on the court. But, I mean, I'll be very excited and having so much fun as well that it will probably go away.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, exactly, yeah.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah. I knew her about two years -- well, when I went there when I was about 14 and she was 13 or 12. Yeah, we trained together a few times, with her father. That was good.

MILES KASIRI: Oh, yeah. Even when she was 13, she used to beat everyone, even the older guys. And she worked extremely hard, so.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, I suppose I learnt -- that's the attitude they teach you over there. But I think I had that anyway. It's just natural to me to not worry too much about my opponent or who's on the other side of the court, but just whether I'm winning or losing easily or whatever, just try and concentrate on myself.

MILES KASIRI: Well, it's obviously different because, I mean, over there, obviously people are working a lot harder. Yeah, it's a lot like, over there, they're not afraid to hurt you or to push you into doing something. Even if at the end of the day if I was tired, if you're tired, and you don't want to do anymore, they're going to make you do it because they know it's good for you, even if you don't want to. I know the LTA, since I've come back in September, it's been very good for me. They're provided me with a very good coach and fitness training and everything like that. So, I mean, it's very good for me. Yeah, they don't have the same kind of work ethic. So, I mean, that just comes down to me. I just to make sure I work myself hard enough.

MILES KASIRI: No, no.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah, it's fine.

MILES KASIRI: Actually probably when I was only a few weeks old. I wasn't playing, but when I was like six months old, I have pictures of me with a tennis racquet because my parents were always playing before I was born. So, yeah.

MILES KASIRI: Well, yeah, I'm not really from a wealthy family or anything, but I'm not from, you know, like a family that goes through big struggles either. I mean, but I've had a lot of, you know, help with all the finance since I was 12 or 13, because even when I was training in Bollettieri's, I was on a full scholarship there with Nick. I didn't really have to pay for much. But still obviously over the years, trying to bring someone up as a tennis player, you know, before you have sponsors, all the traveling and the racquets and everything, it costs a lot of money, so...

MILES KASIRI: I'm based here in Queen's now. I don't go back to America anymore.

MILES KASIRI: Well, I'm not -- you know, especially I've said on grass, I'm not someone who has a huge serve or great volleys like that. But I think what I do well, I think I'm more of a baseliner, but I'm consistent from the back. And I also use a lot of power sometimes, as well, and I can return well. So I think some people see it as bad that sometimes I can get frustrated on the court, stuff like that. But I think that helps me because it makes me more determined, you know, I care more. I want to win more.

MILES KASIRI: Yeah. Well, it's obviously a strength. It helps me. If I'm playing someone like tomorrow in the final, I'm playing someone who is an extremely good player and he's already been doing very well in the ATP tournaments, as well, so it's very tough. When I'm playing people like that, I have to believe or I'm not going to do well.

MILES KASIRI: No.

MILES KASIRI: I can't say what I'll be doing for the next few years. I don't have any plans now to go back to the US. No way.