PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 21, 1998

Tim Henman

MIKI SINGH: First question for Tim.

TIM HENMAN: You said it.

TIM HENMAN: It is tough. I think probably against Krajicek I was due to lose one like that. You look at the nature of our previous two matches, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 7-4, that obviously can go either way. 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 served the match in that one. Yeah, sure, I'd like to have won, but I came pretty close, but I didn't, but that is -- you have got to bounce back from it. I don't think there are too many things wrong with my game, so, it is not the easiest thing just to forget about, but I don't think it is worth dwelling on too much.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah.

TIM HENMAN: I think last year, if anything, I didn't play to my strengths. When I was playing badly I think I was too negative and I wasn't aggressive enough, and I think having learned from some of of the bad periods of my career, I think those are the times when I have been a little negative and this year, with Toronto and here, I have been very aggressive. I have been serving a lot, volleying a lot more, and getting to the net. That is obviously the way I play to my strengths.

TIM HENMAN: No, I don't think so. You'd want to perhaps change a couple of things, but you can't always -- can't always hit the shots exactly right. But no, I feel very happy with the way I am playing and feel very confident going into the Open.

TIM HENMAN: No, I don't think so. Sure, when the tiebreak goes as it did, every point is key - and I think we both hit some great shots at the right time - we both hit a few that weren't so good, but played a 34-point tiebreak. There is lots of -- going to be lots of ups-and-downs.

TIM HENMAN: Sure.

TIM HENMAN: As soon as I hit it I thought it was going to be out. A lot of the time you have pretty good idea when you hit the ball and, yeah, in the first set in the 12th game I played great game, I get the pretty much the same shot and I make it. That wins me the set and in the third set I missed it by not a great deal and I don't think you could have -- I mean, the score is obviously very close, but I don't think you could have -- I don't think I have played a closer match in my career. I think there were so many breakpoints that were, you know, either made on the line or missed by, you know, matter of millimeters, but they went in my favor in the last couple of times we played. They didn't go my way tonight.

TIM HENMAN: I think, if anything, his serve started to I don't think he served great in the first set. But he really started to pick up his own serve in the second and third sets and I think when for a serve and volleyer, aggressive type of play, your serve can dictate your whole game and I think he really started to serve a lot better in the last two sets and then, hence, he started to return a lot better and was making many more returns, many more passing shots. That is the way it goes.

TIM HENMAN: Definitely the longest tiebreak I have played. I have watched quite a few other ones, but yeah, 18-16, takes some beating. There is not a lot you can say really. You just have to -- I'd love to have won -- love to have been in the semis, but it didn't happen for me.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, end of the day a loss is a loss. I came very close tonight, but yeah, it is interesting you can - you know, I would have been much more disappointed if I'd have gone out and lost playing really badly, but today I played a good match, so, I feel when you look at things in perspective with the US Open coming up, that is the big one, so, I feel very happy with my game going into that.

TIM HENMAN: I think so. I think my overall game has improved definitely. I think my movement's a lot better and I think that has definitely helped me with my serve and volley I think I am covering the net well. But I think, if anything, I perhaps understand my game a lot more. I am probably a little bit more smarter on the court. You know, going into the US Open very optimistic.

TIM HENMAN: We don't -- I think -- if you know your strengths, obviously if I go out and play the tennis that I am capable of, then the match can take care of itself. I don't really have to worry too much about what my opponent is up to. Sure you have to -- things aren't going your way, you have to be aware and have to be able to switch things around and vary things, but no, I think obviously had a good relationship. We worked together for nearly six years. Since starting off with -- as a professional with one coach to be No. 10, you have obviously made a lot of progress.

TIM HENMAN: A lot more consistent. I can play -- I have played better matches definitely. I have played better than I did tonight, but I think my overall consistency is really coming together and I think that is something that I have been trying to do and that is one of the positives. I think the more I can cut out the, you know, the matches against lower ranked guys that I should win - it always is going to happen from time to time - but I think it is happening too often early parts of this year and last year. So the more consistent I become, the more -- the better and better I am going to be at playing the matches and harder I am going to be to beat.

TIM HENMAN: No. Tonight, no relevance on that at all. I have always known that I have had the ability to be in the Top-10 and I am in the Top-10 - might not be on Monday - but I know that I am definitely capable of getting there staying there and going a lot higher.