VOLVO MONTE-CARLO OPEN

April 25, 1995

Andrei Medvedev

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: He played well. I didn't feel so good since the morning and I had a very high blood pressure not to come to the court at all, but I thought for my best interest it would be to try. I tried, but I couldn't do much. And normally should have lost in two sets, but I got a lucky break and I had the chance maybe to win in three sets, but I mean, I couldn't perform on my level and he played really good.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: No, no. I just didn't feel good, even now. I mean, I took the medicine when I had the break, but I mean, it helped for a while but not so much. It is hard to win when you don't even play well. It is hard to beat anybody. And Richard played well today, so I think he deserves to win.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I said I have high blood pressure, and I thought of not going to the court at all, but I didn't think I couldn't even stand -- I mean, I almost fell in the first set because I was losing the coordination. I was lucky that the rain started and I could have a chance to recover somehow. I did well in the beginning, but then he played okay and I started to feel dizzy again.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Honestly not. I mean, yesterday I didn't feel bad at all. I was playing basketball and I think I scored all the points for my team. I was a little bit sore after, but I really didn't feel any signs, even -- any signs of illness even on the breakfast. I hit a little bit in the morning. I felt well and then just before I was going to the court, I felt that I can't. I just -- I would rather not go on the court at all, but it was maybe ten or fifteen minutes before the match and I had no choice. I mean, I had to go. But the reason what happened, I don't even know. I don't feel -- I mean, my throat is fine, my heart is still working, it is just that I feel very bad.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Of what?

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Oh, no, no, no. I was just disappointed. I mean, obviously it is not -- obviously not what I am expected to fall on the court. I am expected to fall on the court when I get a lob. I just slip on the court because I wasn't feeling very good, and now I am still bad. My blood pressure was 150 to 100 and this is not very normal. What happened, I don't know - I slept alone last night - it is strange.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Not blood pressure. I mean, I was ill before, yeah, but never like this. I mean, this is the first time. It is very strange.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I already saw a doctor. I mean, he helped me a lot for sure. The same thing -- actually, more or less the same thing happened last year before the final here and the team of doctors, they did a great job. They made me play. This time it was the same. I went on the court, I felt good, I felt that I could play, but then after maybe ten or fifteen minutes I started to feel bad again. I don't think it is the fault of anybody. I mean, I don't think any medicine could help at this moment. But, sure, I am going to see them. But I think it is a bit late for help now.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I hope not. I mean, I feel, like, healthy, young man so far. I mean, maybe not very healthy, but healthy enough. I mean, I wasn't in Chernobyl yesterday, so normally it shouldn't happen today. It is just -- maybe the air here is something, I don't know. But then the rest of the players should feel bad, but it is really strange to me. I cannot even explain it because yesterday was a normal day for me. I almost had a day off, only it rained in the morning, played basketball in the evening, then today in the morning I felt good. I mean, if I would get the food poisoning or something like this, I would know. But I have no problems at all. I just feel very week and dizzy. It is something that you cannot control. Everything what I can do to prepare for the match I did. There was not much to do yesterday, but most of it I did. But it just slipped out of my hands; nothing I could do. I am sure there is nothing to do with Chernobyl.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Honestly, no, because I would probably feel the pressure if the points would drop off, but as it did last week, I had no control of the points or of anything, I just was defending the title. I mean, not very long, but it was a great feeling to be back and it is still my favorite tournament to play; besides Roland Garros. It is really nice here and I wish I could do better, but as I said, everything what I could have done, I done. I could have lost in two sets and I am happy I had the chance at least to fight. But, you know, I will be back. There are many more years for me to play, I hope. And it is -- today is one of -- these years is one of these years where things don't go my way. But I am 20, I am not 30, so I have time.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Well, of course. I mean, I was getting ready for the season. I played well in Australia and I was hoping to do well indoors and to do well in Indian Wells and Lipton, but unfortunately I fell in Australia and I had the injury, and to recover from that took me six or seven weeks, so I lost a lot of time. And the reason why I played now so many tournaments is just to try to get my confidence back; try to get my game back. And I have been working very hard. I mean, I cannot expect the results yet, but I am coming to the point where how I used to play last year and two years ago. And I mean, I just have to -- I just don't have to give up and I will not. I mean, as I said, I am 20 years old. I have a lot of potential and I have time. I am working. I am dedicated my life now to tennis and I don't think anything can stop me except for the injuries. I mean, this is one of the weeks where I wish I could do better, but, you know, it is a sport; you can lose and you can win. This week I lost, so I will practice next week and take each day at a time. But I am happy that I wasn't injured for the last two months. And anyway, it is surprising me, but it gives me some confidence that my health became better and I have energy to work. I have the will to work, so hopefully things will change. I know things will change, but it will just take some time.