REPUBLIC NATIONAL MONTE CARLO OPEN

April 19, 1999

Tommy Haas

Q. I have to apologize. I arrived as your match finished.

TOMMY HAAS: No problem.

TOMMY HAAS: I don't know if I prefer clay or hard. I like to play on any surface basically. If I'm feeling good about myself and if I know I'm playing well, it doesn't matter which surface I'm playing on. This is my first tournament on clay since I think Majorca last year, which is about seven months. I haven't played on it much. I tried to prepare last week in Florida. I got a little flu there. I was sick for about four days so I didn't have the greatest preparation. I didn't expect much about coming here. I just arrived on Saturday. It was raining all day. I didn't have a chance to practice. Yesterday was the first day. It's totally different when you come from Florida. The balls are heavy, different clay. I just tried to play my best. Obviously, Marat Safin didn't have his best day either. I'm glad to win.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, just keep on playing. Clay is obviously different. You have to be more patient, keep the ball going on clay. You have to wait for your chance. It's a different game.

TOMMY HAAS: Roland Garros is different than here again. They have faster balls. Here it's more heavy. I think it favored me this time. Plus we also had a battle at Davis Cup, which is indoors. His strokes and serve is more effective. This was a little easier.

TOMMY HAAS: I haven't really thought about that. Just trying to play a couple clay court tournaments before the French. I'm going to really try to play my best tennis at the French Open this year. Last year I didn't do too well. Just try to play a few tournaments. I'm playing straight through till the French.

TOMMY HAAS: Yeah, Munich, Hamburg, Rome, World Team Cup, then the French. Hopefully by then I'm physically fit, find my timing on clay. I'll give it a real shot for the French Open.