TMS - HAMBURG

May 17, 2001

Nicolas Kiefer

ATP: Questions, please.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, I mean, if it would have been 5-0 -- if it would have been 5-0 up or 5-0 0 down, then it would have been okay. But he was up 4-3, I had a breakpoint, was my second one and I was standing there, I could hit the ball, but then the linesmen said "out" so I didn't hit the ball. Then the umpire said that I didn't want to hit the ball. So now I think if he sees in the replay he knows that he is wrong, but he is also just a person like me and like you, so this is tennis, it can happen and it happened. But that is not the reason why I lost. Fabrice played very good tennis today. I had a couple of chances. I made a couple of chances, but he was just too good. Agassi tried to blow him off the court yesterday. I tried to play a little bit slower and sometimes a little bit faster, but I couldn't find the right solution.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, he is returning very good. He is running like a rabbit or something like this. He is very quick. So I have to hit every ball not only one time, but 10, 15 times.

NICOLAS KIEFER: It doesn't matter if it's any other player, the ball is over, but Fabrice, it is not over.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Sure, especially I was down 3-Love in the second set and I had a great break, I broke him and this -- it cost a lot of energy, this break. After this game I had my chances. I felt quite good but also I -- my legs, they are going to be a little tired. Then he start playing very good again. I made a couple of easy mistakes, but his tennis I have to play a little risky against him.