WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2001

Barry Cowan

BARRY COWAN: Yeah. I mean, everyone has been telling me that the last five days since the draw came out. I've been trying to stress to all the media I had to concentrate on this match today because if I let my mind drift to the future, I would have come a cropper today. Obviously now I've won. Really pleased to win. I can look forward. I think it will be a very special moment for me on Wednesday, if he wins, the best grass court player ever.

BARRY COWAN: It's actually strange because I actually felt very relaxed, but I was a bit low on confidence. Then sort of when I broke back, started to see the ball a bit better, I gained confidence. Second set for me was very good. Obviously, the third I broke early, had a tricky game to lose serve. You know, I was pleased to come through in the tiebreak. Played a really positive tiebreak. So very happy.

BARRY COWAN: It would have been definitely competing in the Olympics last year. It was a memorable experience for me. I was fortunate to play singles and doubles. To be involved in the sort of whole atmosphere there is something that will stay with me forever.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, these are the sorts of things you dream of when you're a kid. I've had a lot of tough times. Sort of stuck with it. Wednesday will be a great experience. I'll give it my best. You know, let's see what happens.

BARRY COWAN: Yes.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, I mean, Dave, I sat down with Dave after the Queen's match, which was pretty horrible. It was funny. Actually, both of us agreed at the same time that it would be in the best interest for me to further my career. I mean, I've been with him for two and a half years. He's been very good to me. He taught me a lot. At the end of the day, it's the player who makes the next step. You can have coaches telling you, trainers training you - but the player is the one who, at the end of the day, makes the difference. Hopefully, I would like to get back with Dave. At the moment, I'm enjoying it. So maybe in September.

BARRY COWAN: No, not at all. Not at all. I mean, the LTA have been great. Fortunate to have Dave traveling with us as part of a squad. It wasn't anything to do with financial. It was just both me and Dave thought it was the best for my tennis.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah, I mean, obviously '95 was my low. I had glandular fever then. By the time I got my ranking back, it was 18 months. That was the biggest low. Last year was my best year by far. I had a lot of highs, being selected for Davis Cup, going to the Olympics. This year has been a bit slow. It's difficult to sometimes get across that you feel your tennis has improved, my fitness has improved a lot, worked really hard on that for two years. But when the results aren't coming, it is tough. I've been working with a sports psychologist the last two weeks. I think that's helped.

BARRY COWAN: Yes.

BARRY COWAN: I guess I know his game (laughter). I'll just play my own game. I mean, it's pretty clear what I'll do. You know, I'll go out and enjoy it. I guess -- he would have thought maybe Court 1. It would just be a great experience.

BARRY COWAN: I mean, obviously it is very difficult when you do get wildcards. Although, early on in my career, when I did get wildcards here, that enabled me to travel. You know, with the money I got for losing first round, obviously the doubles, I was able to go anywhere that I wanted to, which is important. I think if you're an athlete, and you say, "Well, I can't afford to go to India, Australia, because of finance," I think that's wrong. If you have the money, you should invest, and that's what I've done. You know, I think it's nice. Someone said to me five minutes before the match, they were seeing the stats on Court 3, "I didn't realize you were 0 and 5." It was five minutes before the match (laughter). It was a bit strange. No, it's nice to win.

BARRY COWAN: Yeah. Playing a United fan. We've already done the double this year. Hope we can do the treble. It's been a great year for Liverpool. Obviously, very pleased with what they've done. I was fortunate to go to the cup final, which was a great experience.

BARRY COWAN: I can't really disclose that (smiling). But you're not far away (laughter).

BARRY COWAN: No. Haven't actually spoken to Mark after the match. Some players like to be left alone. Yeah, we've talked. We talked about the draw, had a laugh, said it was ironic. It's always nice to be a man united fan (smiling).

BARRY COWAN: No, no. It will be the same. Although, I think at the start of the third, it didn't work (laughter). I don't know. Maybe it's broken.