US OPEN

September 3, 2000

Nicolas Kiefer

MODERATOR: Questions in English.

NICOLAS KIEFER: No, it wasn't disappointing. I started off very good and I was injured for three months. I didn't play tennis. It takes a long way to get in the old rhythm, to get in your old game. I'm happy that it happened now. Step-by-step I feel better and better, feel much more comfortable on the court. I was practicing hard for the last two months. I'm happy that I get it back now.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, I mean, maybe at the starting of the hard court season, Toronto, Cincinnati. I could play without pain. Then I felt that I need a long time. Well, I started very good in Washington. I played semis over there. I had a very tough match against Alex Corretja, then I came here, practiced one week. I think from match to match it's getting better and better. My confidence is getting better, too. I'm looking forward to play good next round.

NICOLAS KIEFER: It's a new relationship. You can't compare it to girlfriend, but we have to talk a lot, we are working for five, six weeks together now. It takes a long time to get together. He has some ideas what he wants to do with me. I have some ideas what I want to do better in my game. We work together and we find the same way.

NICOLAS KIEFER: No, here. Well, not here.

NICOLAS KIEFER: First tournament in the States.

NICOLAS KIEFER: After Wimbledon, after Gstaad.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, he's a little bit younger.

NICOLAS KIEFER: I mean, he has a different mind. I mean, he coached a lot of players like Rusedski, Stich. I think he knows what to do on the ATP Tour, on the men's tennis. I think that he can help me for the next step. I'm ready for it.

NICOLAS KIEFER: This year?

NICOLAS KIEFER: Yeah, I mean, it started in Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, maybe also after Rotterdam. I played good in Dubai, won. I went to Rotterdam, London, felt very tired. Bob, he wants me to play every time with some pain killers. That's the reason why I also stopped working, because he wants me to play with injuries all the time. It didn't work good for me. So at one time, I had to stop working with him. I had a very long injury. I started playing some in Roland Garros because I just needed some matches. I wanted to get ready for the grass court season. It didn't work good, but I have to find my rhythm. Well, it took a very long time, maybe if you see it from March to August. It's a long period what I missed. Now it's getting better and better slowly. I'm happy.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, I twisted my ankle a couple of times. It was a ligament which was gone in two parts.

NICOLAS KIEFER: No, no. After Rotterdam, I was very tired. I was thinking about not playing a couple tournaments, just take time to recover and to get ready for next tournaments. Then I had to play Indian Wells, Key Biscayne because this is Super 9 tournaments. I came there, I had no preparation, I was tired, but I had to play. I just went there, tried to get some practice, I lost, then everything happened. But I learn out of this. I'm getting in good shape again.