COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 11, 1993

Stefan Edberg

STEFAN EDBERG: I mean, it was a tough match to lose after playing so well in the first two sets. And I served as well as I have done for a long, long, long period of time, but then I lost the rhythm on my serve, and once I lost the rhythm, I started to try harder and harder and the worse it got. I went losing the timing on the serve, then losing timing on the volleys. Plus Michael started playing really, really well. He found the time and did everything right, and it is very, very tough, especially when you play on a quick court too; there is not a lot you can do. He served really, really well in the last three sets, so you don't get many chances.

STEFAN EDBERG: Probably some of the best tennis that I have played for some time. I played good tennis in the last month and a half now, which is a good sign, but the thing that I was happy with was the way I served. I haven't served this well all year, I think -- and when I serve like that, suddenly tennis becomes very easy to play, because so much pressure that it takes off and it gives you more time to volley and everything. So I really enjoyed playing the first two sets. But then, like I said, then I started to miss a few at the end. I couldn't hit a first. It was just hopeless. It was frustrating.

STEFAN EDBERG: Yeah, I just have to get the consistency. Like it is not going to come in one week's time. It is going to take some period of time, and now I got a chance to really work on the serve for a couple of weeks. I am sure by the time Australia comes, it is going to be even better, if everything goes the way it has been going, and I just need to play matches. At least, it gave me some belief today the way I played in the first two sets, so I think things will be better in Australia, and I just need to be physically a little bit stronger, too, and I think that will help, too.

STEFAN EDBERG: I will be in Sweden.

STEFAN EDBERG: Of course, it is in your mind. I mean, it is -- I can't say that I don't think about it. I don't think about it that much, because I always am of the opinion the more matches you win, the more money you are going to make, so it is an easy equation, but it is obviously very, very big here. But to me, at this stage of my career, obviously winning -- taking me to the final, and perhaps winning here, would have meant more to me.

STEFAN EDBERG: Both a little bit. I think, obviously, third set, that is where things started to change. He picked up the pace. He started to serve a lot better. Plus, I started to miss a little bit too many first serves. And that was the crucial turning point. From then on, I really didn't have too much of a chance. So you can say it was both. I let him in the match a little bit; but, at the same time, he started serving huge. I mean, he really served well the last three sets, and then it was really hard.

STEFAN EDBERG: Well, I mean, looking at it now, Michael has a good chance of doing well at the Australian Open, if he can keep his fitness. And same thing with Sampras. Then you have a little bit doubt, I think, with Courier who hasn't really produced that good tennis. So, for him, it is going to be a tough start of the year, where he has most of his points coming up the first half year. It is going to be a real test for him, as well as for Becker and Agassi. They are not going to find it easy because it is tough when you haven't played that many matches. Boris obviously isn't physically as fit as he needs to be, and Agassi, you never know. I mean, I have no idea what he is up to now, I have no idea. That is not going to be easy for him as well. It all depends what happens in the first few rounds, but it is going to be interesting. For me it is going to be interesting too because if I can keep playing the tennis that I played the last month and a half, I think things could be good for me in Australia. I just need to be a little bit fitter and I think playing out of doors is going to help me too - playing in the sun, playing in the heat, and you have little distractions like wind and sun, which I quite like. Indoors if you play against somebody who is serving really well, it is very, very difficult.

STEFAN EDBERG: I do not know about it. I haven't heard about it and I think -- I don't know, I think it is sometimes nice to come and play a tournament where you have a little less pressure. Certainly there is no points here but you have the attraction of the money. You are always going to try to perform well here whatever happens. For me, it would be nice just if it is as it is now, I think.

STEFAN EDBERG: Well you always have obligations. They came up with something different. Maybe it is not me, but they wanted to create a little bit of interest. It has been and it was-- afterwards it was fun doing them. It took a long time but it came out much better than I thought and what I -- there probably won't be anything this year, not what I know about right now. We will have to wait and see.

STEFAN EDBERG: On a quick carpet like this, obviously the serve is very, very important. Obviously the return is really important too. That is the two keys when you play on a quick court because the rallies aren't very long. It is the serve and the return. It is a combination. It is not enough just to serve well.