WIMBLEDON

June 27, 2001

Barry Cowan

BARRY COWAN: Undoubtedly. As I've said in the lead-up to the match, I've never been put in that position, playing in front of a big crowd, on the biggest stage. So, yeah, I mean, I thought I quit myself very well. Just a shame when I had a little sniff of a chance -- well, it's not always a sniff against Sampras, but 4-3 in the fifth, two breakpoints. He came up with two aces. That's why he's won seven out of eight Wimbledons.

BARRY COWAN: I mean, it was strange because I felt really good on myself, I felt like I was hitting the ball very well. I was having a bit of a nightmare with my serve. I didn't have much rhythm. Really, all you do at two sets to love down is hang in, and that's what I did. Obviously, got more and more confident. Played a great tiebreak. Then I took the momentum through in the fourth, which I think it's important. Obviously, in the fifth was, you know, a little disappointing at the start, but came back really well. You know, he closed it out like a true champion.

BARRY COWAN: He said, "Well played." I mean, he's a credit to the game. He does it in the right way. You know, he came up at 4-3 in the fifth and hit two aces. I mean, too good.

BARRY COWAN: My mind goes back to February, when Liverpool played Crystal Palace and they lost 2-1 away. Clinton Morrison said some stupid things. They paid for it two weeks later. I mean, against great players, I mean, it's sport. Four weeks ago Mike Russell played Gustavo Kuerten and had match points. I played tournaments with Mike for years, actually beaten him a few times. I knew if I could get my game on the court, who knows. If I took my chance, you never know.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, I was. I find it helps me take my mind off the match. Yeah, I was.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, at certain stages. Obviously, when I'm going up to serve, when I hit the volley, I'm not thinking about Anfield. Change of ends, when the time is required to relax a little bit. You know, when you're playing five sets like that, you can't concentrate for five sets without a little break. But I thought I focused really well. So I was pleased, yeah.

BARRY COWAN: No, not at all. My focus at the start of the fifth was the same as throughout the match. It was just I wish I could play the second and third point again on my service game when I was a bit hesitant. Against a player like that, you can't do it. I was really pleased with the way I came back in the fifth. Maybe on another day he might have missed a serve. Who knows, I might have got back to 4-All.

BARRY COWAN: I haven't. I've literally just come off court, had a quick stretch and a shower, then come to see you guys.

BARRY COWAN: I mean, as soon as I walked off court, I was disappointed. But I guess the more I reflect and think about the match, I've got to be pleased with the way I handled myself out there. My first time in a match like that, you know, I was really pleased. I think the crowd were great. It's funny, actually. The start of the third when they started the Mexican wave, I was thinking, "God, I've got to try and play a bit better." But, no, they were great throughout the match. I think I said yesterday, a home crowd can give you a little advantage, and they did that today.

BARRY COWAN: I think it's up to the person. It's helped me a lot. I said in my press after my first-round match, before I worked with Gloria, I wouldn't have won my match on Monday. So she takes some credit for that. Then she helped me out there today. Because this year hasn't been the best for me in terms of winning matches. So hopefully this week will stand me in good stead for the summer.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, I mean, I've always felt I've had ability to play tennis, but certain things have held me back. One of those is physically. I've worked really hard over the last two and a half years on that. I think a lot of credit has to go to my trainer, Jez Green, who is involved with the LTA. He's helped me on that. I've seen over that time improvements in testing, and that gives you confidence. Also with my coach, David Sammel - my excoach - he takes a lot of credit. But I felt this year I was losing matches not because of my tennis or my fitness, but because of my mental mind, shall I say. I was trying to work it out myself. But two or three weeks ago, I sat down with Dave. We thought that the best way was to work with Gloria. I think it's helped.

BARRY COWAN: I think I'm more relaxed. I think believing in myself more. It's strange because I've always believed I can live with these guys, but then at strange times in a match, not always at 6-All or 4-All, sometimes early on in sets, you know, at strange times. You know, hopefully now, having had this experience this week, winning my first match here, then having the match today, I can build on that. That's important. Hopefully this is the start of better things to come, and I can build on that for the rest of the year.

BARRY COWAN: It's "You'll Never Walk Alone." As I said to a few guys yesterday, it's obviously very special to me, being a fanatical Liverpool supporter. When I go to the games, you hear the music, it is very moving. It helps me.

BARRY COWAN: I think so, yeah. It helps. I will do that in the tournaments to come.

BARRY COWAN: I play two challengers in England on grass, then I go away to Brazil straight after for three hard court challengers.

BARRY COWAN: It's $50,000 total prize money.

BARRY COWAN: I think it's something like $5,000 to win. It's important that I go with the same focus as I've done the last two weeks.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, I mean, I definitely did have him on the ropes. I mean, his reaction when he served the ace in the fifth set, difficult to say, but it gave me a little more confidence because I knew that I really had him. You know, it was a tough match out there. As I said before, he came up with the goods.

BARRY COWAN: Well, I've got doubles, playing with Jamie Delgado. I'm not sure if I play tomorrow. He plays Agassi. I'm not sure if we're playing. Also I'm in the mixed.

BARRY COWAN: I obviously won't practise that much. I'll probably be pretty emotionally tired tomorrow. I'll hit some balls, you know, get ready for the doubles. I've been playing with Jamie since March. We seem to be getting better and better as every week goes by. Looking forward to doing well here.

BARRY COWAN: I don't know. I'll just see what happens. I don't know.

BARRY COWAN: Yes, I did.

BARRY COWAN: Yes.