U.S. OPEN

August 29, 1994

Petr Korda

PETR KORDA: I have this problem for a long time. I mean, since Hamburg I had a problem and it is coming in an coming out always and only week I was okay during the Davis Cup and right now came back again. It is in the groin, around my hip. And I don't want to play with my health, you know, because it is getting sorer and sorer and stiffer and stiffer and I think it is better for my health to step out of the draw right now.

PETR KORDA: Left part of hip. I cannot start from my left leg. I don't have power. I cannot do the sprints and anything.

PETR KORDA: It is A very difficult question because I mean, like I said, I had the problem in the French Open; I had the problem in Wimbledon, but I could play. But right now, it is the worst pain I have had.

PETR KORDA: I made the decision yesterday night that I am not going to play at all.

PETR KORDA: Yes, I tried to play summer and without any success. I was one day good and the next day, I mean, I felt pretty bad, but I didn't defaulted because I was hoping I am going to pass everything and I am going to be able to play.

PETR KORDA: I tell you, I don't know. I have to see -- make an X-ray because it is my back, it is also lower back. It hurts and it could be some problem with the back. I mean, there is many problems which affecting my muscles.

PETR KORDA: It was very difficult decision because I am very competitive person and, you know, the most thing is I am not trying to give up. And the way I was hitting the balls last couple of days, it was the best I was hitting this year probably and then I had the hope I can play. And, in fact, I had -- for the first round I had the draw, you know, I could win and the way I played and yesterday I find out during the practice I couldn't make fast run to the left side of the court and I felt I don't want to go against my health; especially if you have to play best of five on the hard court.

PETR KORDA: I think with the way I am right now, I mean, I would make the similar decision on any surface; doesn't matter if it's clay hard court or grass.

PETR KORDA: I saw the draw for the first round just and I didn't check the draw because I did always in the past and I always lost in the first round. I was trying to change it this year and first time probably from New York I can leave undefeated, but in a different way than I was expecting.

PETR KORDA: I think there is 128 guys they have a chance. Pete was injured for quite a lot and Spanish clay court players, they can beat the guys that grew up on the hard court. In tennis these days everything is possible.

PETR KORDA: I don't know, maybe we are getting old.

PETR KORDA: I mean, if you are going to look on the schedule, top guys, they always play on the hard court two weeks and they have a week off. I think that is plenty of time to recover again.