DAVIS CUP FINALS, USA vs. SPAIN

December 3, 2004

Carlos Moya

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Carlos.

CARLOS MOYA: It's a big difference. That match, I didn't play bad, but, I mean, I was really down because was the first point of the tie. Starting 1-0 down, it's not easy for us. And now, today, we were counting with this win. But you have to win on court, not off court. I think my game is much better than it was two months ago. We are very close to win, but still far. We have to go step by step and let's see if Rafa can win this match right now.

CARLOS MOYA: I know, sooner or later it will change. If he's able to play that level for the whole match, best-of-five sets on clay, that would be unbelievable. But I knew that his chances is to attack and try to go for the winner and serve very well the whole match. But there's no way that he can play that way the whole match. And I also was a little bit nervous at the beginning. But I knew that that was going to change. I started to play much more solid than I was doing, and he started to miss his first serves. That's what we thought that was going to happen. I'm very happy the way I played, very solid. I didn't do anything really spectacular, but I played a solid match. That's what I needed today to beat him.

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) Well, in tennis you can't take anything for granted, obviously. Two months ago, it's not that I thought I was going to win, but we were counting on this point. I was mentally prepared to start the tie 1-0, so I was ready for it. But I started playing during the first two games, and then I calmed down. I started getting like building up the pace, and it worked.

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I don't know how the captain is making the team. But I think it's obvious that Vince is a better player on clay, more solid player. But also I have a very good record against him. He's not a player that really bothers me to play on clay. Maybe I thought that Mardy has the potential to play really good tennis. He has a good day, he can beat any player. Maybe that's what they thought. But I think maybe on clay, is more solid, Vince than Mardy.

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) Yes, well, actually that's what I expected for the public. I expected a full stadium. I expected 26,000 people there, a lot of colors, cheering, a lot of flags. So I did have very high expectations for the public here. They have actually lived up to them. That's partly one of the reasons why it was decided to play here.

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) What do you mean?

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) Well, really? Where did you read that? According to whom were they the favorites? Well, yes, of course we can surprise them. Spain at least is 50% favorite. Spain does respect the US team a lot. We believe that the US team could certainly win, but Spain has the chance and we're going to try to make sure that Spain wins, and maybe we'll come up with the surprise that Spain ends up winning.

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) Firstly, well, it is impressive. It is even impressive for me, and I had them on my side supporting me. So I can actually understand what Mardy felt. But it's, as I said -- for him, it must be a very tough situation to play in that court, on clay, best-of-five sets. Of course the US team is under a lot of pressure. If they lose the point either this afternoon or tomorrow, that's going to be a deadly setback for them. It's going to be terrible for them. Of course, there's nothing certain. If we manage to win today or tomorrow, then it seems that we will have the ties much closer to us.

CARLOS MOYA: Well, it was a long time ago.

CARLOS MOYA: He was 12, I think. We were playing in Stuttgart, indoor tournament. I knew his uncle, his coach. He came to me with Nike guys that were there, asked me if he can hit with me. I said, "Of course." I heard about him already, but I never saw him playing. So I hit like 20 minutes, half hour with him. For his age, I realized that he was pretty good. But you never know what can happen with a kid, 12 years old. He can be very good, but then he can be unlucky or be injured or he cannot improve the way he was supposed to. But I realized he was very good. And after that, I became really close to him. Since then, I've been practicing with him very often. So I know his progression, I know what he's done all this time. I think he can be a great champion. He's the kind of guy that likes to play these kind of matches. So I really trust him, I believe in him.

CARLOS MOYA: (Translated from Spanish) Well, as for Sunday, it really depends on how we get there, what the score is when we get to that match. But in any case, it will certainly be a tough match because Andy does adapt to clay quite well. He can play quite low and he moves really, really well. As for the second question regarding the doubles match tomorrow, it is actually much more open than people think. I do trust very much Tommy and Rafa, what they can do tomorrow. Furthermore, the Bryans do not play that well on clay.