NEWSWEEK CHAMPIONS CUP

March 12, 1998

Thomas Muster

MIKI SINGH: Thomas Muster is into the quarterfinals. He'll play Andrei Medvedev, who was a semifinalist here last year. First question for Thomas.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, that's what I said. There's absolutely no reason to be afraid to go in and play a No. 1 player in the world, especially being in the same position, maybe not for such a long time. Obviously, as I've said, I've been around long enough to handle a situation like this.

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah. I mean, there's nothing to worry about. It was a great crowd. I knew it's going to be an evening match, which is mostly with the temperature very nice. It was a great thing to play. Conditions were great. There was nothing to worry. I just enjoyed really playing.

THOMAS MUSTER: I mean, I've played him many times. I know it's a tough position he's in. He's the No. 1 player in the world. Everybody expects him to win every time he goes out there. He mostly does. But, as I said, I'm not afraid playing him. I will always go out and try my best. Today I was good enough. Most of the times, I wasn't. Today it was the other way around. But I think I played a very good game tactically. I didn't make too many unforced errors. I served pretty well. I think anyone who wants to play me and beat me has to at least run and fight to win. That's everything I can put into the game, a lot of effort. That's why it's probably difficult to beat me. It's difficult for anybody else probably. As long as I have the power and strength, I'll do that.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, you always play like your opponent allows you to play. But definitely he wasn't serving as accurate as he used to. He made a lot of unforced errors. For whatever reason, I don't know. He must have explained that from his position.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, we practiced the other day. I felt he had a bit difficult timing the ball properly. The same happened today. But I don't know why. Maybe, as he says, he doesn't like the way the ball flies here. It's a very high bounce. Played a lot of topspin. As I said, he has to explain it. I don't really have any explanation for that.

THOMAS MUSTER: No. I have to put that really straight. I think he's one of the best players we've seen in maybe forever. But you can put him in the category with Laver, Borg, Connors, Lendl, all these guys. I think to play in these conditions with such a competitive field over the last years, I mean, he has been a great champion all the time. He still is and will be. Just because he didn't have a good start this year, maybe is a little shaky with his confidence, I mean, he's one of the best players we have. He's been in the No. 1 position for all those years. I don't think there's anything which is slipping away from him. I think it will be there when he needs it.

THOMAS MUSTER: Maybe he will be off for a week, two, three, four, whatever. But I think at the end of the year, might be Pete Sampras again. If I would have one dollar, I don't have one, but I'd put it on him (laughter).

THOMAS MUSTER: Maybe I should take a year off (laughter). Well, it's certainly a good tournament for me already, whatever happens from now on. But I've played well here all those years. I always enjoyed playing here. I think what Pete maybe doesn't like, I like. That's probably easy to explain. But I'm happy to be at the position to play in the quarters tomorrow and be back on the stadium court. I hope I can prove that I'm capable to play tennis like this through the week.

THOMAS MUSTER: I just ditched my knee on the concrete. Wasn't too bad. Just slipped a bit.

THOMAS MUSTER: No. I mean, you see how someone is playing in practice, but you don't pay too much attention. I'm worried about my own game. I just had the feeling that he had tried to get his timing together, and it wasn't as good as it usually is. But you can't tell in practice. Sometimes I've had practice sessions, they were awful, and I played great matches. Doesn't mean too much to me.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I don't know. I'm not a doctor. Some doctors even call you dead when you're still alive (laughter). But I don't know exactly what she has. It's not -- I would say it's pretty typical what happened to her, coming back after such a long break, playing a tournament which is more tense than any practice session, playing long matches. I think that's always difficult, especially for your muscles. You're probably compensating a little bit. That could be a reason for a muscle problem. But I think coming back after such a long time, playing the semifinals in the tournament, that's a great effort. I hope she will continue to believe in herself, that she can do it. I'm absolutely sure, knowing Steffi, that she's a great fighter, and she really wants to come back and play. I hope that she continues -- is going to play better, and her shape is going to build up, and we're going to see her back on the top level.