COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 7, 1994

Thomas Muster

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I think he definitely is in great shape right now. He is physically fit, and he is hitting the ball extremely well. And many times -- on all surfaces he is world class and an outstanding player. That is something I have to accept. That is the way he played, and I think to my game I could have served much better and would have been easier for my game which I think from the baseline was pretty even. From the point of my serve, it was very weak, and that cost me basically the match.

THOMAS MUSTER: Not really, because there was no other choice, and I made point. There was no reason to be tight there. So I think as I said, I served extremely bad, and I tried to force it too much, and then I hit too many doublefaults especially in the first set. And 3-All was fine and at 4-3 we changed balls, and I lost my rhythm a bit. And he just came over me, and then I got back pretty well in the second set and again bad service game cost me the match in the second set.

THOMAS MUSTER: What was that?

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it is not -- nothing I could compare with because it was almost on different surfaces. I beat him on clay court, and all the time, actually except one time when he was very young, I beat him on hard court. But every time I beat him was on clay and now every time I lost was either hard court or supreme court. And as I said, he showed on grass and all surfaces that he is an outstanding player. To place it, it is very difficult for me.

THOMAS MUSTER: I don't think my hair will grow any more, that long. But especially the same, I think, if two players playing the same style, it is always good tennis, I think. And if two servers are playing, you can just watch it. That is the whole secret. So I think, as I said, I lost the match with the serve today and that is the way I see it.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it has been this way in the past. There has always been a lot of changes but after all, the problem is always to get from the Australian Open, the long way to where the Davis Cup had been played otherwise -- semifinal, final, that is what makes it difficult, if you get through the semifinals or finals at the Australian Open; then it becomes critical. But otherwise most people eliminated before aren't there, so they have time to travel to their Davis Cup venue.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I think it is right because the umpire doesn't see the ball. The ball is very fast from the line and so he could repeat it. I mean, I gave one point to Andre at the U.S. Open and in a way, that was his return today, but I don't understand that overruling when they don't see a thing and they don't see the ball they ought to see. So this is something I am really a bit mad about.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, in a way it is funny playing here because there are many fans I have got in Munich and I can feel people support me and did so until the end, which is great and I have been playing here a couple of times now and at the Bavarian Open I played here quite a few times and the proximity to Austria, maybe the crowd is prepared to support me, but this is what it was like last year, too.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, they call me Alpine Boris, so I must play this role.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I was moving too fast,, so the glue dissolved and I had some problems with the court behind the baseline, yes. Some deformation. That doesn't have to be a problem with these prize monies, they might be able to buy a new carpet.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, I have seen such a lot of tennis these eleven years, no, I am going to Australia next Friday.