RCA TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

August 13, 1996

Mark Knowles

MARK KNOWLES: Yeah, well, you know, when you are playing a top player that -- really good player, you know that he is going to save his best for last. Obviously it is easier for him because he is down 5-4; it is his last chance, so I think that what got me through it, I realized that he is going to play his best game here; I am just going to have to fight through and try to play the best I can. Like you said, it was really, really tight towards the ends there.

MARK KNOWLES: He was trying for every shot. I thought -- hit volley winner on the shot before; then I had to dive for that one. I think he was on a dead run. I am really good friends with him. I think it was just a little sportsmanship there.

MARK KNOWLES: Definitely.

MARK KNOWLES: I think in the beginning I was a little nervous obviously serving for the match - big match for me. And I didn't get enough first serves in the beginning. I was playing a little tentative. I think most of the time I was down breakpoint in that last game. I got in fairly good first serve; unfortunately, I couldn't get in a first serve on the match points when I really needed it, but I just -- whatever they gave me there, I knew I would have to hit a good second serve and try to work the point from there.

MARK KNOWLES: Not so much really. He really picked up his level of play. I think the first set he wasn't playing quite so well and I got a little cautious there. I thought I could keep the ball in play because he was missing a lot. Then he started hitting a lot more winners. He took the initiative. It was up to me to try to get the momentum back. He played a strong second set. I don't think it had so much to do with me playing that bad, but he played quite well.

MARK KNOWLES: I have had some good weeks. Got in the finals of Shanghai, a Tour event. I won a Challenger in Indian Wells. But I have my ups-and-downs definitely. It is not as consistent as it is in doubles. That is also hard because I am -- ranking in singles is around 100 where some weeks I have to play qualifying and some weeks I get straight in. And sometimes we have such good doubles success that I miss qualifying and I go stretches where I don't play any singles matches. That is how I felt a little out there today. I was looking for my partner. He wasn't there. But it is good to get a win there because I can play a couple of more matches and get ready for the U.S. Open.

MARK KNOWLES: I haven't played since Newport, which is about three weeks ago, so I was fortunate enough to play for the Olympics, so I kind of past up a few Tour events where I was straight in like L.A., Washington, so I think that hurt me a little, but Olympics is something that comes around once every four years, and so I felt it was a wise decision.

MARK KNOWLES: Yeah, we are, as well, actually. Obviously we had a big week last week winning in Cincinnati. We are really confident right now and coming here No. 1 seeds which really doesn't mean that much. A lot of good teams here, but I think we are going to be a little cautious of a let-down, but overall, we are playing really well. We kind of got our games back together; look forward to doing well.

MARK KNOWLES: Obviously Agassi and Sampras, which is, you know, a great field. Doesn't get much better than that. I am sure everyone is looking for that match in the final which would be nice. For me, I haven't even looked who I play. I had a first tough first round. It is nice to get through one round; just take one match at time and see what I can do.

MARK KNOWLES: Yeah, definitely. I think, you know, I knew coming in to today it was going to be around 90 as the average temperature. I felt it out there definitely. End of the second set I started to hide in the shade a little bit. It is still not that bad as it can get. I remember last year it was a little warmer, but it is something you have got to be weary of.

MARK KNOWLES: Thanks.