COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 12, 1993

Petr Korda

PETR KORDA: I slept probably 7 hours today, and I had in my mind during the night against Sampras, and I woke up in the morning early in the morning, and I didn't feel great, but I didn't feel bad. I thought it was going to be much worse, that I would be much more tired. But then my doctor came today from Prague. He fixed my elbow, my back, and I was - since that time, I was really optimistic.

PETR KORDA: Yeah, I had some problems yesterday.

PETR KORDA: I knew I am going to finish for sure. I mean, I had only two pockets; I win or I lose. But you know --

PETR KORDA: Yeah? Yeah, but my father always told me, like, be a good fighter on the court. Never give up. That is what I did. Most important, you know, in the moment I am not playing for myself, you know; I am playing for my wife, for my daughter and for my coach. And they are very strong.

PETR KORDA: Did you ever watch billiards?

PETR KORDA: Yes. I mean, the billiards, not the snooker or pool. If they have a good shot, you know, they clap and they are doing this one (indicating); that means like a good shot. You know, not money. Money we have in the bag, you know. And, you know, I think if you are going to have a look, they always did when I did a good shot, and, you know, that is -- that was, you know, it is better than support me, like - I don't know - with the hands like this, they did, this one. (Indicating.)

PETR KORDA: And, you know, I like to play billiards and, you know, we did, like -- we did fun. (Indicating.) And if you are going to see some billiard clubs, you know, go inside and you will see, you know, how they they are doing this. (Indicating.)

PETR KORDA: I tell you in privately later. No, I feel great. It is a great moment in my life, and I would say after a bad season like I had this year, maybe I deserve it. I work hard for it, and I am very happy, and because I beat the No. 1 player in the world, No. 2 player in the world and most important, I beat one of the hottest players at the moment is Michael Stich at home, and I have -- I never -- he never beat me in Germany in the last, I don't know, five, six, meetings.

PETR KORDA: I am not going to tell you. Too many bad words went through my mind. But, like I said, most important, I didn't give up, and he had the chances. He was 40-Love or 40-15 on my serve, and I won the game again, and still I was fighting and, you know, like I said, that-- what was perfect-- my father told me never give up the match, try your best.

PETR KORDA: No. No. I think it is going to stay a secret, and maybe once I am going to retire hopefully my coach is going to write the book; then I am going to keep his secret and my secret together and, you know, hopefully we are going to be able to improve our secret in the future. But - I decide to tell you one thing - I was working on my serve and upper body, you know, to not to be Schwarzenegger, but to make it stronger to serve hard, and I served this week probably 203 kilometers an hour, no? On two occasion I was serving well whole week.

PETR KORDA: I didn't brought me too many clothes and too many shoes. That is the answer, but sometimes it is better. You have less clothes and less shoes.

PETR KORDA: Unfortunately, I am by car here because it is not too close, but I was changing my reservation because I had it for Friday first to USA; then I had Sunday my reservation and I had-- then I change it for tomorrow. But I don't know how much time I have left because I am leaving about 24 hours and I have -- we have to drive home, hopefully we were going to see our daughter and I have to fly just myself because our daughter is sick and I don't know how much time I am going to spend in the bed tonight.

PETR KORDA: I am flying to --

PETR KORDA: I am driving to Prague, but today it is snowing, I don't know if we were going to ski to Prague.

PETR KORDA: Why?

PETR KORDA: You want to know everything. No, I am going to United States because I am preparing for next season and what I start after U.S. Open and I need some couple of more days to spend there to practice and I have a house in Bradington. As you know it is in Bradington. It is Bollettieri Academy and my two friends from the Davis Cup team already left Friday; I am going to join there because they have a condition coach and I am going to prepare in Bollettieri Academy for next season.

PETR KORDA: My family is going to join me as soon as possible. My daughter is going to be available to fly.

RACHEL THOMAS: With this win you have just doubled your earnings for the whole year. What does that mean to you?

PETR KORDA: I don't know what it means. First of all, I have to receive the money on my account. Well, I mean, I am playing tennis because I like the game and you know, for me if I would -- I mean, if somebody would ask me before the tournament what is better for me to beat the No. 1 player -- No. 1 player in the world and No. 2 player in the world or to take the money, I would prefer to beat the No. 1 player and No. 2 player.