ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 15, 1993

Thomas Muster

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it's not frustrating. I think I had a great season. I never expected to be at the finals because I knew at the end of the year I had to go to the States to because of the trial going on for the lawsuit for Key Biscayne in '89, so I knew I had almost no chance, and the only chance was that the other players were playing bad and Goran Ivanisevic was playing very well at the end of the year and I think everybody up there deserves to be here, so I had a great year; my goal was actually to be in the Top 10, and I qualified for the Grand Slam cup, so I really really can't complain about the season.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it's basically 50 points, INAUDIBLE. The win against Sergi Bruguera in Monte Carlo, the tournament. The win against Volkov at the US Open or any other match I lost, I mean 50 points is nothing in comparison to what 50-thousand something you have to make over the year. It's just a pity I didn't make it. But as I said I'm not really frustrated. I'm looking forward any way to INAUDIBLE, to improve my game, so I'm not really INAUDIBLE.

THOMAS MUSTER: I think my biggest chance to win the Slams is probably Paris. I proved this year that I can play on hard court. Again, I was in the finals of the Sydney tournament, quarter finals at the U.S. Open, semi-finals at INAUDIBLE. So I think it shows that I have good potential to play on the surface. I'm very happy with my performance, but, of course, I'm missing a little bit-- or sometimes I miss the Grand Slam results, but what can you do.

THOMAS MUSTER: I really enjoy playing on grass, but I just don't have the possibilities to practice too much on it, and next year I'm probably going to do more about it. We'll probably play one or two preparation tournaments and we'll take a little bit of a risk to improve my game and to improve my ranking which I can only do by playing the bigger tournaments on hard court all over the summer. And also playing some indoor events, and also grass court. Grass court is an exception because it's only three or four tournaments played on that surface. So to me it was not always too serious because I had to make up some points at the smaller tournaments and particularly after the French Open because I wasn't too satisfied with my ranking, but let's put it that way, maybe next year I'm better after Paris, if I have enough points, then I can take a little bit of a risk on grass court.

THOMAS MUSTER: It really doesn't. But perhaps my schedule because I cannot play too many weeks on hard surface; I cannot play four or five weeks in a row. I have to play very precisely, rest time in inbetween the tournaments. It's just a different way of scheduling. I cannot do whatever I want, so I really have to be focused in planning my season very well.

THOMAS MUSTER: Not emotional, I mean you have to be on trial, you have to be present, ten hours in the court room. I mean, it was quite interesting in terms of American law that says -- I mean I could have practiced, I pulled out of tournaments in Europe, and I would have gotten maybe a chance to be Number 8 player so I had to do the other thing and I was planning for a long time to go there, so it's a pity. At least I won the lawsuit, so...

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah, I think it's a very good comeback, but the strangest thing is playing next year against the German team I think INAUDIBLE and I've been selected as the Davis Cup Captain which is very INAUDIBLE very emotional for me and it's very nice of them. I know it's a very difficult job, and INAUDIBLE my coach going to be on my side and helping me out with other things around Davis Cup, and going to the draw and things like that. After I have to concentrate on playing INAUDIBLE, but INAUDIBLE checked with this decision but I think we stayed together and we try to work it out again I think we have a good relationship.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, I'm not going to go because that's I cannot sit 8 hours a day and then playing my own match. In case I'm injured or let's say I finish in playing one or two years or three years or whatever INAUDIBLE by doing everything which is necessary that has to be done as Davis Cup Captain. But while when I'm while playing as I said my coach is going to sit there and going to give the courage for me INAUDIBLE.

THOMAS MUSTER: I think so INAUDIBLE INAUDIBLE and I think everything that happened in two years, everybody has learned from the last two years, and we know what it means to play Davis Cup together, and I think it's very good from the sport's side, for the country and for tennis, but also for the federation.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, maybe emotional, makes it a bit of an extra kick, I would say, for the crowd, but basically I think the best that the team is playing and the Spanish team is playing and I think INAUDIBLE and I think everybody is really excited about that even though it's five months away, but I think it could be very good like it was against the U.S.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, basically I think to reach -- maybe at the spring time around six or five in the world would be a goal for me. Playing well in the Davis Cup and being successful there, I think is another goal. And, of course, reaching the ATP Finals and the Grand Slam cup. It's all a wish, but every player has that wish. And, of course, to be Number 1 if the world is always a dream for me and I don't know if it's coming true, but I'm going to try my best.

THOMAS MUSTER: I don't know. I'd probably -- a tennis court probably, and probably studying economics or law.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, it's something I say that in my mind if I'm not playing anymore, and I think it's a very interesting combination economics and law. And I always enjoy it, and since what I saw especially now what I saw in the States, I think it's a lot of competition in law, and I like competition.