US OPEN

August 27, 1997

Thomas Muster

Q. Thomas, a really tough first round draw?

THOMAS MUSTER: I said at the beginning it is a very tough first round draw. He is not somebody you could warm up against, and if you don't have a real good rhythm and timing, it is easy to lose that match. Tim served well and took his chances and he covered the net very well. And, I obviously made too many mistakes at certain stages of the game.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it might be that, you know, he feels like that he is a player that -- not a great spring, really wasn't successful because he had an injury. So, it is really -- so, he was looking forward to playing. I think he played better the last few weeks and got his confidence back and felt like he could come in and put me under pressure and that is what he did. And, the conditions were quite windy and it is hard to really place the ball. And, it is always an advantage for somebody who attacks more than for somebody who has to pass really, close to the lines, because he is covering the net so well.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it is disappointing, but it is no shame to lose to someone like Tim Henman. We will see how he continues. If he keeps playing and serving the way he played today, he has good chances to win. I don't know who won -- Wayne Ferreira, probably, so I think his chances are there. So, it is a tough section anyway that -- that we are all in.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, we get along very well. I mean, I think he is a very nice guy and also, I mean, his coach has just been voted onto the board and we are just, Tim and myself, are on the ATP constantly, so we have quite a few things to do together. He is a good spirit and he is good for the game, I think.

THOMAS MUSTER: That was more like fun. Well, that just -- you know, situation that is happen on the court and I just a bit of fun too, sometimes.

THOMAS MUSTER: That was the only thing I was looking forward to the beginning of the year, just to be like that at the Open. (laughter).

THOMAS MUSTER: It is very good and I think the people in the last row must be very pleased. (laughter).

THOMAS MUSTER: I said he has great potential. He has a very stylish game, and especially on indoor surfaces, or on grass, I think that is where he has great ability and good game. As I said, I think he has a good coach and I think they both together can develop, you know, the game and work on his game. And I think, I mean, looking to his age, I think he is one of the few guys -- if you look at younger players -- who has potential to be in the top 10 for quite a while.

THOMAS MUSTER: I don't know where it came from. I am just sick and tired of -- I mean, that rumor has been going on six, seven times this year. I have heard comments about being tested positive at tournaments and I haven't been playing at -- haven't been there and there was no drug testing there. I am very surprised that I have been tested positive in Cincinnati as somebody said, since they haven't even unsealed the doping test from Cincinnati yet. Somebody must have known really well. Really good quality, I mean, that is something that really pisses me off. That goes on since years, and I don't know, it is not my fault that I might have better lungs than somebody else or bigger lung volume than somebody else. It's just disappointing to hear that all the time. Somebody has really interest to put it in the locker room or somewhere else. That is just a bit disappointing over the years.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, what do you have a chance for if some stupid paper puts a question mark, what can you do? But, that is -- obviously that is the way it is.

THOMAS MUSTER: I don't know. Less hair, bigger bank account, I don't know. (laughter) I don't know.

THOMAS MUSTER: Yes. That was something I was successful at.

THOMAS MUSTER: Yes.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, if it is true and it obviously --

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah, but today it is not probably. It is yes.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, from my side I have been tested several times, on-court, off-court, during practice, I don't know how many times. But, in my career I have been tested probably, I don't know, 15 times. It just --

THOMAS MUSTER: Somebody just --

THOMAS MUSTER: I don't know, somebody dislikes my style of play. I don't know. Somebody has a problem with my attitude on-court. I don't know what is the problem. But, I just -- I think that the doping program is very consequent. They do it really in a good way and it is good that it is done because I am somebody who is really against this and I think tennis should be a fair sport and there shouldn't be any drugs at all. That is just the way it is. I think it should be based on a fair level. I am somebody who really protects that and I am strong for the controls and I don't know why somebody has a problem or is always taking my name. I mean, --

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I have -- I still have a very aggressive style of play and I mean, I have played very well on clay the last two years and I am famous for playing good, two, three months and playing consecutive, I don't know. I can really play well for a while and some guys get tired after a tournament or two and I have been playing well for quite a while. And, people always ask the question: "How is it possible." Then there are stories here and there and that is -- it is just sad to hear.

THOMAS MUSTER: As I said, it is sad because people come up with the story and then I have asked myself three times to be tested.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, this year one time and after Boris had made the announcement -- I have asked myself to be tested because how you are going to prove that it is wrong what they said. That is the only way.

THOMAS MUSTER: How do you know that.

THOMAS MUSTER: You must be reading papers. That is the opinion which is all around the world and --

THOMAS MUSTER: You have got to change your opinion maybe.