COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

September 29, 1998

Tim Henman

Q. That started brightly, then turned to ashes quite quickly.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I think it was probably more -- I played pretty well to go up 5-1. I think I was playing pretty loose tennis, going for my shots. I kept going for them at times, but didn't make quite as many from then on. I don't think my concentration was quite as good as it could have been on some of the bigger points.

TIM HENMAN: Just, you know, I think I played a lot of tennis. I think definitely after sort of the intensity levels of the Davis Cup at the weekend, I felt -- I didn't feel very good yesterday physically. I felt pretty stiff, pretty tired. Yeah, if you play as much as I have, there's going to be times when you come on the court and you feel as if you're trying your hardest, but there isn't so much left to give.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, you definitely have to mix it up against him. He's got some of the best returns in his game. That's one of his strengths. Yeah, I think it's important just to worry about your own serve, you know, not think about the way he's returning. If you just concentrate on your serve, pick your spot and go for it, I think that's the best way to approach it.

TIM HENMAN: Did it?

TIM HENMAN: That's what you thought. I thought I was hitting the ball all right really. It's a very different surface, different conditions from the Davis Cup. There again, I wouldn't expect to be playing in the same type of conditions here as in Nottingham.

TIM HENMAN: I don't think it went like that at the beginning. I think I was playing pretty good tennis, but I don't think I was doing anything amazing. I think he was making a lot of mistakes early on, wasn't making many first serves. He was missing in the rallies. If anything, it was just a reversal. I started to miss, and I think he started to make a few more balls. Obviously, I had set points on my serve, and I would have liked to have taken one of those, but really didn't make any first serves at the time.

TIM HENMAN: A little bit strange. Yeah, I think we expected a few more -- a few less empty seats, rather. No, it's a really impressive arena to play in. It's something I've enjoyed.

TIM HENMAN: It is.

TIM HENMAN: A little bit. I think it's just been -- it feels like I've been playing week after week. Yeah, there is quite a lot of money at stake, but maybe I realize now that isn't the most important thing, and perhaps that doesn't mean quite as much as it used to.

TIM HENMAN: I think that could be a fair assumption. You learn from your mistakes, I think. I feel like I have played perhaps a little bit too much.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. You work backwards. I think that would make it about --

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, seems about right.

TIM HENMAN: I think one full day, yeah.

TIM HENMAN: I think there needs to be one found. I think it's a great tournament. You know, it makes sense with the four Grand Slams, four biggest tournaments, you've got a great opportunity to have a great field. At the moment, it does seem that the calendar is pretty busy. But I think a lot of people should try very hard to find a date that is suitable for everyone, not just the organizers and the players. You know, it's tough with the amount of tennis we're playing, with Rafter in Australia playing Davis Cup, Sampras injured. I think if they could perhaps find another eight weeks for the calendar to make it 60 weeks a year, then we'd probably be all right.

TIM HENMAN: Obviously, there needs to be things to be worked out. But I think a lot of people -- I'm not quite sure what the players' point of view is. If I'm talking personally, I think it would be a good idea. I think you put everything together and then you're going to have one big event instead of the World Championships and this, two tournaments where I think there should perhaps only be one.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah.

TIM HENMAN: No.