REPUBLIC NATIONAL MONTE CARLO OPEN

April 22, 1999

Sebastien Grosjean

ATP: Questions, please.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, I had many opportunities, especially in the second set, I could have had a second break. I didn't serve as well starting from there. He started playing better and serving better. In the tiebreak, I was up 4-2. He made a backhand down the line, hitting the frame a little bit. He was a bit lucky.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Well, he hit a lucky backhand anyway. In fact, he was hitting harder. It was difficult to hit the ball early and then push him.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. I just asked him to do his job. In the beginning of the match he told us, "As soon as you throw the racquet, you'll have a warning point." I didn't think he would give him this second warning because he didn't do it on purpose, he didn't want to hit the spectators.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes. We were changing balls right afterwards, so it didn't really matter.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, I don't think so.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. I was not really tired. I had so many opportunities in the second set that in the third set I was thinking about that again.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes. I was disappointed. It was a little bit that, and I lost my concentration on two or three games also. He broke me. After, it was difficult.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's true for any kind of player. You should never let them ahead in the score, otherwise they become confident and they play better.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I served well for one set and a half. After, I didn't serve as well. After he started serving well, so it was more difficult for me.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: I'm not bitter because I played well yesterday and I played well during this match, so it's good for the following tournaments.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, I had a good week. After a tight match like that, it's a bit difficult to draw the lessons.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, a little bit. I think my forehand cost me the match. I lost important points on my forehand, especially in the tiebreaker. I made two or three mistakes on my forehand. It cost me the match.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, not at all because you have time to get away from the ball and to hit hard. The thing is, once or twice I didn't really hit the ball. It was no good.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's not obvious to compare them. I think Krajicek has the better serve, more consistent. But he plays better from the baseline, both sides. I just think one is more consistent than the other on the serve.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, not especially, because I broke him several times. I was up Love-30 several times on his serve. On clay, it's not so fast, so it's easier. I was able to read his serve pretty easily.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: On Saturday I'm leaving.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, I'm going to play two tournaments on clay, then back to Rome.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: It's normal that he gives points because he hits very hard every time. When he became more confident, he was playing better.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No. I think there are not many players among the Top 10 who would give up a set like that.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: Yes, but the conditions were different. This time I didn't believe he would give it to me. I was up Love-30, ready for a break, and I didn't make it.

SEBASTIEN GROSJEAN: No, physically I feel very good. I'm going to Paris and then to the United States.