REPUBLIC NATIONAL MONTE CARLO OPEN

April 20, 1999

Sebastien Grosjean

Q. You started off very well in the first set. Did you have good feelings on the court?

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, it's true. I started the match very well. Although the conditions were very difficult, the balls were heavy and the court was heavy also. I tried to hit the ball very early to surprise him. I played well during the first set, but in the second set, he started playing better.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. And this was difficult because I didn't know what his strong points and weaknesses were. I tried to play my game without worrying about his game.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I have good feelings on the court. I came here in the best possible condition.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: A lot better. I gave him a lot less free points. In Barcelona, I used to make two mistakes per game. My serve was better today.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I'll try to win as many matches as I can. It's going to be difficult with all the Spanish players and the South American players around. I would like to win a tournament.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: The French Open, of course. It's the most difficult one. It's the most difficult Grand Slam to win.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's true I went to the finals in Key Biscayne, but here is a wonderful club. Monte-Carlo is lovely, although today the weather was not so good. But it's a very good feeling to play on centre court. It was easy to remain motivated playing here.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. Maybe people see me differently because they know I can play well. But personally I didn't change.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I'm not very interested in the first place, being No. 1 in France. What concerns me most is my ATP ranking. If my French ranking is good at the end of the year, I'll be pleased, but what I'm looking at is mainly my ATP ranking.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's always difficult to change surfaces. It's also difficult to go from clay to grass, but I learned my tennis on clay so it comes back usually pretty fast after one week or ten days or so . I'm happy to be back on clay.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's the slipping and playing less winners, longer rallies. You have to have a very good preparation physically.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Physically, I made a lot of improvements. I am able to play long rallies, one after the other. I also improved my serve which is very important because it's difficult to make points from the back of the court. It's nice to have some free points with your serve.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, because it was Sunday. In the evening, I was in Nimes for the Davis Cup, then after I only had two or three days' break before Barcelona. On the one hand, I wanted to continue my winning streak, but on the other hand I wanted a bit of rest.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I didn't touch my racquet. I watched a soccer match, in fact.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Atlanta, Del Rey Beach, and then back to Europe with Rome.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Because my schedule had to be made six weeks in advance, and I hesitated playing Monte-Carlo because I was only in the top 80. I was hesitating between Monte-Carlo and Orlando that was not so strong and where I was sure I would be able to play. I still went into the quallies here.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I know him. We're the same age. I never played him. It's going to be a difficult match. He started off the season very well. He's starting playing on clay again for the season, so it's going to be an interesting match.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I don't know. But I hope Marseille will win.