RCA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

August 13, 1996

Tommy Haas

TOMMY HAAS: That is right.

TOMMY HAAS: Also won it when I was 14.

TOMMY HAAS: This is my first major ATP tournament that I am in the main draw and, you know, just came out here to play really good and try my best. So first round everything went find against Dick Norman, and then playing Renzo Furlan, he is a very good player and I just tried my best, so no big secret, just playing my game and he was a little bit handicapped today. He was a little bit injured, I believe, on his leg, but even though, it is very tough to play players that are injured because you are injured and they are kind of like going for the balls and so it could be -- easily you could be a down a breakpoint and something, but I just kept my focus and played really well. Very glad that I won today.

TOMMY HAAS: I am overall player. Do most everything pretty well like everybody else, actually. Nobody really has weaknesses or everything is pretty strong.

TOMMY HAAS: This is my first wildcard.

TOMMY HAAS: For being here?

TOMMY HAAS: I think it is because it is a Nike tournament and I am with Nike now so they gave me the wildcard. IMG did that, so that is how I came here.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, I am. I have been playing well actually the last couple of months, really. I started on the Tour now in March and I got a wildcard for Germany and -- Challengers in Germany, got to the finals; that was really good for me, so I don't have to play the satellites. I skip that.

TOMMY HAAS: In Weiden, a Challenger. I got another one after that. I got a couple of points and got my ranking right up to 450 which was very good right away and then I just kept on playing, playing some tournaments and trying to move my way up as soon as possible and hopefully I can play these tournaments one after one, try to win one hopefully soon.

TOMMY HAAS: My forehand really is my weapon; run around my forehand sometimes and try to hit through it like Andre Agassi sometimes, just whip it.

TOMMY HAAS: Born in Hamburg, but I live in Munich now. But I live in Bollettieri Academy for the last four and a half years. I just finished high school in May; now I have time to really turn pro.

TOMMY HAAS: My coach is Nick Bollettieri. He is not here right now and I have assistant Red Ayme. He works in the academy a long time. When I am in Europe they are not there, and my dad is there. He taught me how to play tennis and Nick is just now the next one. Hopefully, soon I can have everybody around me.

TOMMY HAAS: If I get by Woodforde maybe to play Pete Sampras. That would be really, really nice.

TOMMY HAAS: I think Renzo is top tournament player that I played. He is ranked 30. He is the highest ranked player that I have played. I have practiced with other players like Agassi and Becker, but he is the one in the first in a tournament.

TOMMY HAAS: No.

TOMMY HAAS: I have been playing tennis for a very long time, so.....

TOMMY HAAS: Sure, I mean, it is a big thing, for sure, to win against a number 30th player in the world, but I just have other dreams ahead of me; maybe playing Sampras here in the quarters and beating him. That would be -- I would maybe be a little bit more happier.

TOMMY HAAS: ZDN German television, they wanted to make a story with Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. They flew me over there with my dad and I really thought I could make it as a pro there and I stayed there.

TOMMY HAAS: January 1991. I also was there in December 1989 when I was German champion on the 12s, 11s. My sister was there with me. We didn't like it first time we were there. I went there again and it was better.

TOMMY HAAS: Yes.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, play qualifying in Toronto.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, after that play U.S. Open.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah.

TOMMY HAAS: That would be nice.

TOMMY HAAS: Not yet, no.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah.

TOMMY HAAS: Pick up some more; maybe go to 320.

TOMMY HAAS: Sometimes people don't come in.

GREG SHARKO: Anything else?